Vote Jesus

I haven't posted anything since I got back from our travels, so I don't know if anyone is going to see this, but I think I will start writing a few things when I have something to share. Let me know if this strikes a chord.

I had to come up with a sermon topic for last Sunday and with the election coming I was looking for something to do with an election. I love old testament stories so I decided on the story of Jeroboam and Rehoboam. It is not really an election, but it was a tax revolt, and a change of leadership, and since I was doing it, it was my call. In the process I thought about all the adds and phone calls I have been getting for and against candidates, so I decided to make one for Jesus. I listed what are the hot button issues this year and started filling in what I thought Jesus' position would be. Then I decide that it would be more fun to make a negative campaign add. Here is what my add would look like;

Jesus too RADICAL for us

Here are his positions on these important issues

Taxes; Pay them, He doesn't really care about taxes!!

Borders; He says welcome strangers, He says we aren't really citizens here anyway!

War; Love your enemy, Pray for them, Turn the other cheek, Seek peace.

The Economy; Store up treasures in heaven, God will take care of you, You can't love God and Money.

Jobs; Be happy, no matter what you do, work as if you were working for God

Religion; He argues with all the religious leaders and spends time with unsavory friends.

Crime; JESUS IS SOFT ON CRIME!! He failed to prosecute a woman caught in the act of adultery, He pardoned a convicted felon on his execution day! He has been convicted HIMSELF!! He has been seen in the company of prostitutes.

JESUS IS TOO EXTREME FOR US!!!

After I finished I compared this with my positive add and there really wasn't much difference. I realized that as I chuckled about my negative add I was really convicting myself. I am too American, too invested in my own comfort and ease, too much in charge of my own life. As I thought more I realised that we have an election every day, we vote for who is in charge of our lives, too often I vote for myself instead of Jesus