Sarah Palin and Congressman Bill Sali: Faithful or Fools?

From time to time on this blog, I've moved in-between political discussion and issues of faith.

To some who visit the site, it's a wee bit uncomfortable. To others it's downright painful.

I certainly understand.

I've spent my life involved in a sort of tension between politics and faith...and the verdict's still not in.

Has it worked? To be honest, not fully. Like many, I've worshipped my work, worked at my play and I've played at my worship. Much of the time, it involved politics. A Jewish king from many centuries ago probably said it best: "It's all foolishness, like chasing after the wind."

Or is it? Why would a Bill Sali run for US Congress or a Sarah Palin run for VP? Ceratinly not to start fights, right?

The personal attacks against Bill Sali and Sarah Palin make me sad. They are made out to be idiots. Opponents mock them and treat them as fools. Yet, both have an intense faith in Christ.

Could it be that those who worship their "work" may be caught off-guard by the fact that neither Palin nor Sali NEED their titles to complete themselves. They simply don't care what the mockers think of them.

They love God and speak as if He's a part of their lives...because He is.

For those of you who don't "get" Palin or Sali, let me help you: they serve an audience of One. And you are not that "one". To those who are angered by that assessment, realize that though politics may mean EVERYTHING to you, people like Bill Sali and Sarah Palin could walk away from it tomorrow. They have a sure-fire faith in the God who creates. He's the object of their affections and the sounding board of their thoughts and policies. He is the reason they initially ran for office. He "created" an opportunity to serve others and represent Him.

And that competes with some folks' religion, doesn't it?

Probably not yours, but I bet you know someone who fits the bill, don't you?

Den

Comments

[Dennis Mansfield]

Good discussion, speak on....by the way FSM, why the mocking of Palin riding Dino? What's really behind that?
Den

[Believer]

I can't speak for Rep. Sali. I can't say what he meant. I do not know his heart. And I absolutely refuse to participate in bashing a candidate for any reason, regardless of their faith or lack thereof. That amounts to gossip in my book. I will stand up for God every chance I am blessed to have. The rest is up to His plan. Perhaps that seems to be a cop-out to many. It is not. Believe me, trusting in someone else is not something I am very good at because I never have before. I trusted science. I believed in the tenants this country was founded on, until I was hit over the head on a personal level. Then my eyes were opened and I could no longer believe in what I used to. What I wanted to see wasn't there. But what I now see is so much bigger, wonderous, and yes, scary. And it is worth every struggle to attain. Peace in times of trial, comfort when your heart is breaking, a genuine love for people, surity that God is in control and that nothing is a coincidence, knowledge that I don't have to be perfect--those things are priceless. I wouldn't trade them for anything or anyone. And I have been asked and put to the test.

[Bubblehead]

OK, so will you at least agree that Rep. Sali has shown he's not very "fully informed" in the use of trial and error.

[Believer]

No, trial and error proved that.

[Bubblehead]

I'm sorry, but Science has definitively proven that you can't get 40 barrels of crude oil from a tree.

[Believer]

Since when does science answer anything definitively? Isn't that why so much of "science" is theory? And a theory is an educated guess, partly proven, partly not. Science is not an exact science as many would have you believe. And the Bible has never been proven false. And much of it has been proven to match the times and events. So who is the fool: those who put their faith in man (in the form of science which has been proven time and again to be wrong) or God (who has proven time and again that He is faithful)? I would rather have someone in office who is truly enlightened by God than someone who is deluded by the glitz of easy answers and answers that make man a god. But that's because I have had my eyes opened by the ultimate optician/optomitrist. I used to believe that God was a myth or a crutch or outdated. Thankfully, He loved me enough to wake me up before it was too late.

[FSM]

Where is that picture of Sarah Palin riding a dinosaur? I think that would definitely add to this blog post.

Or how about Jesus cuddling with a velociraptor young?

Pushing non-scientific ideals shrouded in religious terms no longer will be regarded as sacred. It will be mocked, it will be broadcast as an embarrassment justifiably earned. The crazy guy on the street corner gets away with it, elected officials don't get that luxury.

[Bubblehead]

I'm sure Bill Sali is a Christian man of faith, but it pains me that he won't give me and those who share my faith the same benefit of the doubt. And let's face it... he certainly does seem to be, shall we say, less than fully informed when it comes to things like science and history. His apparent willingness to withhold the fullness of the American Dream from those who don't share his religion (among other things) disturbs me, and I think we 1st District Idahoans deserve better representation.