Pisteuomen - πιστευομεν - T. Michael W. Halcomb

In the last couple of weeks I have had to place blogging on hold and give priority to other matters.  I hoped to write a few more posts in this series but at this point, time just does not permit.  So, just a few days from the election, here I will offer my last post in the "NOT Voting: A Christian Perspective" series.  Links to all of the previous posts in this series are at the foot of this post.  Here then, is the final point I wish to make: Point #13: The "Kingdom of God" and the "United States" are not synonymous. I raise this point because as of late, I have heard many folks actually fall into the trap of equating or nearly equating the two.  This is evident in rhetoric that acts as if the next president is "God's man" or depending on who gets chosen, we will either end up with a type of political "messiah" or "antichrist."  Such views are terribly problematic and very flawed.   First of all, God's c...

In my previous post, I mentioned a comment made by president Obama during a recent interview, which he spoke as he was exiting the stage:  "There's no excuse for not voting."  The host, Jon Stewart, offered his ditto to this remark saying, "That's for sure!"  I've already made the point that this series I'm writing is NOT a list of excuses to abstain from voting but rather, a bunch of good reasons.  I want to respond to the president's comment once again and ask here, "What is the purpose of voting?"  This question leads me to my next point in this series: Point #12: Voting cannot fulfill the role of or replace repentance . For Christians, the New Testament concept of repentance is found in the Greek word μέτανοια (metanoia), which carries the idea of recognizing a wrong or transgression (against self, other, or God), confessing that transgression, and then turning away from and abstaining from that transgression.  Repentance...

So far in this series I have made 10 points in relation to NOT voting.  Before moving on to the eleventh point, I think it will be good to bring to memory the previous ones.  I will simply include today's point at the end of the list (click on any of the "points" to open those links).  Here it is: Point #1:   Choosing between the lesser of two evils is still choosing evil . Point #2:   NOT voting can be a VERY American thing to do . Point #3:   Being a good citizen, even a politically active citizen, is not confined to voting . Point #4:   Voting has the potential to divide the church . Point #5:   Voting can cause you to compromise your deepest held beliefs . Point #6:   Voting has the potential to become idolatrous . Point #7:   Voting has the potential to be blasphemous . Point #8:   Voting in this election would actually silence or negate my voice and views . Point #9:   This election is a gross misrepresentat...

As I continue this series on NOT voting, I offer here my next point: Point #10: Even politicians abstain from voting at times . I bring up this point because I realize that this series in general has the potential to offend many groups.  Historically African Americans and women have had the ability to vote withheld from them and suggesting not to vote could be viewed as me taking for granted my privileges and overlooking their struggles.  Legal immigrants, those who have worked hard to become American citizens and who have been granted the ability to vote, might also have a similar sort of feeling.  Just as well, there are many who believe that those who have served in the military could be offended.  The notion here is that they risked life and limb so others could live freely and vote.  I might also bring up convicted felons here, those who have had their rights to vote stripped from them.  Not casting a ballot might be controversial enough, but e...

In this short post, I want to give one more reason as to why I will not be voting in this election.  Here it is: Point #9:   This election is a gross misrepresentation of politics in action . I realize that this point will likely be quite controversial.  What I'm getting at, however, is the difference between using political rhetoric and giving political speeches and actually engaging in the political process by doing something substantive.  Of course, I'm not suggesting that either the Obama or Romney camps are apolitical.  But let me just give an example of how I see each group talking the talk but not walking the walk. Many folks have pointed out that in terms of finances, this election is already in the books as the most expensive one ever.  To date, it is suggested that the Obama administration has had nearly $7.55+ million in election funds come through the door while the Romney campaign has had about $7.10 million come in.  That's...

In this brief post I want to offer another reason as to why I will not be voting in this election.  Here it is: Point #8: Voting in this election would actually silence or negate my voice and views . One of the problems with the whole American electoral system is that it is built upon and runs upon a two-party system.  In this framework one party selects a nominee who, along with their vice presidential pick, will represent their party.  For this election, the Democrats have Barack Obama and Joe Biden, while the Republicans have Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan.  While each of these candidates have some views that I agree with, they all also have views and policies that I am strongly against.  As I have already stated in this series, I refuse to vote against my own conscience and therefore, I will not vote for any of these candidates. My beef with this whole process is that we only have two parties and I'm simply out of luck if I don't agree with them. ...

In the previous post of this series I spoke about the fact that voting has the potential to lead to idolatry.  It seems to me that some of this might have been committed by folks yesterday when the vice presidential debate was held in the county that neighbors mine (about 20 minutes from where I live).  Everyone was obsessed with it.  Anyway, to reiterate once more, I was not saying that voting is by default idolatrous, nor was I suggesting that anyone who votes is by default an idolater.  Instead, I gave several ways that voting could lead someone down that path.  In this post I want to address something of a related matter.  This leads me to my next point: Point #7:  Voting has the potential to be blasphemous. As we saw with idolatry, the concept of blasphemy as shown throughout the Bible is multifaceted.  On the one hand we can commit a form of blasphemy that Mk 3 refers to a the "unforgivable sin."  This is the sin not simply o...

In the previous post of this series I suggested that every four years when the presidential election rolls around, some people end up sacrificing their deepest and most cherished beliefs and convictions on the altar of American politics. This leads me to my next point in this series. Point #6: Voting has the potential to become idolatrous . Now, I realize that some will read that and immediately snub their noses at such a comment but please, hear me out for a moment.  What I am not saying here is that voting is idolatrous.  I am also not saying that if you vote you are, by default, committing idolatry.  I'm not saying either of those things.  What I am suggesting is that there is a very real "potential" (because it has happened many times and to many people!) for voting to become idolatrous.  Indeed, I believe that even now, for some folks, voting really does take on a form of idolatry. Typically, idolatry is described as "the physical worship o...

In the fifth entry of my "NOT Voting" series I want to make a point that, to many, will likely seem obvious once stated.   Here it is: Point #5: Voting can cause you to compromise your deepest held beliefs .  This point is not unrelated to the first point, which was choosing the lesser of evils is still choosing evil .  On the one hand, I am not at all surprised that so many people are so quick to turn a blind eye to what they espouse as their deepest beliefs and convictions in the name of a political party, after all, putting Christianity on pause to pursue self-interests is quite common these days.  On the other hand, however, I would hope that many who identify themselves as Christians realize that the one thing nobody can ever take from them is their faith/beliefs; the truth is, only you can choose to let go of them.  Every four years when the presidential election rolls around, people get behind one party or another and in the process,...

In part four of this "NOT Voting" series, I want to briefly address an issue related to politics in general and voting in particular when it comes to Christianity, namely, division.   Point #4: Voting has the potential to divide the Church .   As if all of the divisive language about red states & blue states, democrats & republicans, and conservatives & liberals is not enough to place a chasm between members of society as a whole, it also comes to bear on the church. In fact, voting can cause a deep polarization in the church. Thus, it is not uncommon to see bumper stickers that say "You can't be Catholic and vote for (insert issue here)," "Jesus is not a Republican or Democrat, but he votes Republican" or something similar. You get the point! Just as well, it is not uncommon to hear persons on one side of the political aisle deeming others heretics or apostates because they plan to vote for a different candidate. Indeed, fo...

In the second post of this series I mentioned the fact that people often see abstinence from voting as civilly irresponsible or morally lazy.  Here, I want to touch on a related matter, which brings me to the next point: Point #3: Being a good citizen, even a politically active citizen, is not defined by voting. In this country society has been led to believe that casting a ballot during the presidential election is one of the highest forms of American patriotism.  A narrative has also been created that leads folks to believe that voting in the presidential election is one of the highest forms, if not "the" highest form, of political involvement that one can participate in.  In fact, voting is the only real conscious political activity that many ever get involved in and well, in terms of the presidency, that only occurs every four years. In my view, however, voting for the president is not the highest form of American patriotism, nor is it the highest form ...

In the opening post of this series I offered my first point in relation to NOT voting:  Choosing between the lesser of two evils is still choosing evil .  At this juncture, I want to offer my second point. Point #2:   Not voting can be a VERY American thing to do . Let me begin with a story.  Several months ago I went to the local demolition derby with my wife and children (another VERY American thing to do, by the way!).  We had a great evening of fun.  However, there was something that bothered me right at the beginning, something which I have encountered at many public events such as concerts, athletic competitions, etc.  Just prior to the derby's start, a man came over the intercom and issued this command:  "Alright everyone, stand up, guy's take your caps off, and y'all let's get ready for our National Anthem."  Now, on the one hand, I know where the idea behind this comes from:  "As an American citizen, you should honor ...

I want to begin a series of short posts today in which I reflect on the topic of NOT voting.  I want to be up front from the beginning, just in case it is not absolutely clear, that I am writing from a Christian perspective.  Just as well, I am not suggesting that my perspective speaks for all Christians everywhere at all times.  Neither am I suggesting that if you think differently than me, you are apostate.  I am keenly aware that my evangelical perspective is not shared with many others who self-identify as Christians.  This, I am willing to live with; I do not necessarily see it as something that fellowship needs to be broken over.  Having said these things, let me say a word about how this series will proceed.  As I have already alluded to, I am going to try to keep the majority of these posts brief.  Thus, I intend on having one focal point in each post.  Of course, there will likely be related points and tangents that need...

I was floored last year when Liberty University invited Glenn Beck to be the commencement speaker. I guess I shouldn't have been, however, because Liberty has a long history of and has made a name for itself by mixing right-wing politics with Christianity. In fact, in many ways, the two seem to be equivalent in the eyes of said university. In the last several years, Liberty has invited the following speakers: * 2004 - Karl Rove * 2005 - Sean Hannity * 2006 - John McCain * 2007 - Newt Gingrich * 2008 - Chuck Norris (actually kind of cool!) * 2009 - Ben Stein * 2010 - Glenn Beck Based on this lineup, can you guess who is speaking there this year? Okay, I know the picture above has already given the answer away, but if you said Mitt Romney, you'd be correct . (If you guessed wrongly, you might need glasses!) In the last decade, Liberty has secured and reserved some of the most well-known right-wingers out there to speak at the graduation event. What is the...