In the latest (June 2009) issue of Comment magazine from Cardus, Jedd Medefind - a former Special Assistant to George W. Bush - answers the following question from a reader:
... My friends and I often wonder how to hear over the rhetoric and angry name-calling that often surfaces in political discussions... What would you say we should think about when we want to interact with our government?In response, Medefind lays out 10 questions he has used to guide his political choices:
Medefind fleshes these questions out in more detail in the magazine article. Great questions to consider for our Christian political activity.
- Is my political stance a reflection of the heart of God or merely a product of my own culture?
- Do the goals I seek to achieve flow from a vision for common grace, or merely the narrow interests of my own group?
- Will the tactics I use make it more difficult to influence hearts and lives positively in the long run?
- Is government really the best way to address this issue?
- Am I willing to be unpopular?
- Do I sincerely love my political "enemies" as Jesus taught, not just in theory but in action?
- Am I falling off the other side of the horse?
- Is my political stance reflected in my private choices?
- Have I embraced disciplines that will sustain me for the long haul?
- What is my ultimate goal?
