4 posts tagged “political”
A flag for a country often represents pieces of their history or values. Our flag for instance has its thirteen stripes representing the colonies and our rebellion against the crown onto independence. The stars represent the states and of course there is speculation as to the symbolism of the colors.
We have changed the flag throughout our history numerous times. The last time it changed was at the adoption of Alaska and Hawaii as states in 1959 to 1960. I love our flag and of course it has come to represent more than it's mere symbols as our history and national identity is attached to it.
The following illustration is not intended to desecrate our flag but rather I am using a powerful symbol that often represents a nation, and with a reconfiguration ask us to think about who we are and what we are becoming? This is a crude design focusing on some very negative conjecture, but the question I ask is "What indeed have we become?" I am convinced there in plenty of goodwill in America, but I will take a moment to focus on some very alarming realities I think have reshaped us.
This illustration explained.
1) Notice the enlarged star area. This represents the growth of government into a overtly huge and overwhelming entity. Bigger than it ought to be.
2) The federal governments control and scope has increased hence the strings holding the states as a puppeteer.
3) The parties are corrupt (by corporate interests) and capital hence their butts are tied to the world bank and brands encompass them. They of course hold power over us.
4) China is represented of course due to our oddly intimate relationship with a communist regime that seems to never be checked or balanced. Our financial dependance has created a compromise and hypocrisy in our policies economically and politically. These Chinese stars also represents all the weird and apparently compromising relationships we have had throughout history for the sake of gain.
5) The stars are different colors and shapes as we have morally taken a very polarized and odd direction from each other. This also represents the soon becoming chief value of America = Tolerance (the silencing of all disagreement with moral direction and the rejection of any one moral compass).
6) The flags multi-color, shapes and strings takes on the appearance of a child's mobil that might swing over their crib. This represents the markets (which run the country) attempts to infantilize and put to sleep "average" Americans (which = CONSUMERS). Keep a child-like mentality. This also represents the infantile mindset that comes on the citizens of welfare states. Personal responsibility slips away...
7) The stripes divided represent our disagreement over our history. Were the founding fathers godly or atheists? Were we founded on godly principles or not? Our division creates a re-reading of our constitution and leads to the continual erosion of its intent. It continues to be rewritten until it becomes a contradiction itself. This also represent the rewriting of our history that we are involved in (via the removal of monuments and writings).
8) Of course I will mention again the Department of Social Services logo whose growth represents our continued direction toward a more socialist state.
Let me know your thoughts. Again I want to state I am in know way attempting to to be disrespectful to our current flag or speak harm upon it. I am using this illustration to provoke us to think about our national identity as we are. How do you see your nation? We use images and icons to represent ideals and call people to rally around them. Are the images we are using truthful? What have they come to represent?
These are all questions I want us to answer personally. Especially as Christians. We are Christian Americans before American Christians. We are of a different kingdom and our understanding should be objective of the states we are in, not overtly patriotic.
To wrap this up, what actions and lifestyle changes do your conclusions call you too?
The graphic above (courtesy of futuremajority.com), illustrating the striking agreement had in this election among youth, ought to tell us something very significant about what's on the horizon regarding America. As the largest Generation (larger than the boomers) America has ever seen emerges we need to take heed. We need to pause a moment and recognize the critical fulcrum point we are at in American & Church History. I want to take a moment and highlight some thoughts that ought to hit us...
Important elements or questions to consider as leaders (as the church),
- How are we doing at raising up Parents who can effectively transfer faith into the life of their family and children? *We think in an hour like this that we need to ramp up youth and young adults ministry and in part we must but the shrinking of the church is by in large more a testament against strong parenting than it is in weak youth.
- Happy or sad about the new presidency they (Obama) ran one of the greatest "campaigns" in American History, if not the greatest. Many books will be written on the power of their story and the movement and energy they have created. They (he) was, is a great story teller. They painted vivid pictures and provided substantial inspiration and hope for change in the minds of millions. They addressed certain looming and haunting realities felt by much of America and then persisted to convince the American people (especially the youth) that they (he) was the answer. They solicited and inspired faith. They called upon and challenged effectively with a language and attitude that inspired. We (christians) need to learn more about influence. It's not enough to say things we must say them right and work to gain permission to speak into people's lives. Personal influence is based on permission.
- The population numbers are insane. I have attached another graphic here (from Gen-We.com) to illustrate, but 90 some million young people in it is massive and rivals the boomers by close to 20 million. The near unanimity in this generation politically and the trend toward a filibuster government situation (that appears to be with us for some time) is striking. Your policies, or not, the chorus of agreement could be wild in American politics some day soon. We could feasibly go from discussing the negative torn nature of our nation, to a more fearful (depending on how you see it) agreement. Either way if the church does not learn to engage this generation with the right conversation it will continue to become more isolated in America culture and even become stigmatized as a social evil. If we adjust and win the "vote" of the millenials we could see a massive resurgence of Christianity and a radical "volunteerism" (spirit of Christ) hit the Church and America. This generation is about GOOD but it does not entirely see it's need for the church to accomplish it. Whatever way it goes, with these numbers and this higher level of agreement it will be a more massive and impacting shift.
- What needs to be transferred to this generation from the older that might be critical to their future. Right now is the time for any influence and platforms that older generations have to use them. We are seeing the passing of what is called "the greatest generation" and what is going with them? What can our boomer parents impart? If the older generation fails to transfer any of the wisdom it has soon it may be to late and then the millenials will be left in charge with a whole lot of hope and confidence in their ability to lead with very few historical anchors to ground them. With out a healthy bridge of values and anchor of history especially those from the Greater Generation we are not going to lead as we ought to. Of course there are some new values that did not exist or needed revived and we are seeing this with Gen-We but overall we need the voice of Father's and unfortunately many millenials only have "very nice" parents or none at all. Where are the honored voices however even among the "nice" parents?
For now I will leave you with these... Maybe a part two? The bottom line here is that someone (in the church) better start getting a different game plan if they want any part in the shaping of America in the next 50 years. Gen-We is more corporate (hyper-corporate = being connected to many and varied circles at the same time without conflict), missional (proof and works oriented regarding the less fortunate and "our planet") conversational (used to having their comments and input matter and be factored in as a part of the equation) and anti-institutional (meaning they have an aversion to anything that looks greedy or insensitive to the people which also includes pompous attitudes) then previous generations. How do these elements affect the way we do church? How does our current mode assist or hinder our connection with this MOVEMENT?
"May the Lord give us all great WISDOM to lead such a GREAT PEOPLE." Rushed this post so forgive the grammatical errors if any (I am sure there are!)
P.S. Notice the "blue" Texas. Could we see the great state of Texas turn in the next decade? Interesting times!
I grabbed this blip of info off of wikipedia and was considering "What really are we working for and looking to see in society (in the world) as a Christ presence?"
THE LANGUAGE OF JESUS IN REFERENCE TO THE KINGDOM IN THE WORLD: I think the idea of sudden or radical reversals is something we carry but the idea of "leaven" as Jesus referred to the "kingdom," is a slow / subtle but steady and sure advance / change. A growth out...In the political context, the term "revolutionary" is often used in contrast to the term reformist. While a revolutionary is someone who supports abrupt change, a reformist is someone who supports more gradual change. The word "recalcitrant" is relavitely synonymous. When used as an adjective, revolutionary refers to something that has a major, sudden impact on society or on some aspect of human endeavor.
PERSONALLY / INDIVIDUALLY: I know from God's work in my life (a healed meth addict) that God has grown out in me and that the slow but sure advance of God in me has altered my character and person.
OUR ROLE OBVIOUSLY IS IN QUESTION: I just realized this but to think of ourselves as bringing revolution versus reform to the world we position ourselves rather aggressively and antagonistically against. I am not saying that is bad or good. I am throwing this out there to say our view in regard to either view says something about our view of the Church's responsibility in the world. Are we here to simply love, serve and to "change" the world by such an outpouring or are we here to gain power, influence, control and thus require change?
Just some crazy stray thoughts running around in my head... How is God using us in the world (people's lives, societies, cultures, nations)?
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