Guilty and Inspired

Analysis of Tuesday's election results will occupy the MSM for weeks to come, which is good for them, since it is unlikely they could find much else to report. Some of the best analysis will be in the stands at a basketball game, over lunch, and around the Thanksgiving table.

I have just begun my own thinking, but something early leaps to mind. This was not about getting more Republicans to vote. It was not about getting more Christians to vote. It was not even about the Republican Party being true to genuine conservatism, although that surely would have helped. I see a bigger issue here, one that convicts and inspires me.

For far too long, I have genuinely thought that, on any given issue, most people really knew, deep down, the right thing. I have operated on the assumption that, while they may have rejected the Christian faith, or never practiced it, they nevertheless knew what was right and all we had to do was bring them back to their senses

This is patently false.

These are the days of Polycarp.  Read the martyrdom of this incredible man.  When called by Caesar into the arena to die for his faith, he did not play with subtleties of persuasion and in so doing betray the faith that was his and ours.  He spoke boldly of the truth and died for it.  These are the days of Telemachus, who marched into the arena during gladiatorial combat, and to the jeers of those who wanted no part of his preaching, and boldly spoke the truth, that this entertainment was murder.  He was in turn murdered for his effort.

The list goes on, but that great cloud of witnesses is not for mere adoration or to elicit the pious comment, "My, weren't they faithful!"  The martyrs who have gone before us, and are going to their reward even today in many parts of the world, speak to us with the words of this classic WWI war bonds poster.





Yes, we must stir up the votes when elections come around.  We must speak from the large platforms on the issues of our day.  We must, however, do the infinitely more difficult work, work that may get us martyred in terms of friendships, jobs, or even our lives, by speaking the truth and spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Yet even this is not enough, if we think we have done our work by checking off names on a baptism list.  We must disciple as well as evangelize.  No Christian should ever think that he has made the right vote if he has cast it for a candidate who uses his power to promote sin.  This is, of course, in no way saying that a Christian must only vote for Christian candidates.  That is not feasible.  The Christian life, for it is far more than merely a list of precepts to be accepted or not on whim, must inform everything we do.

Why did people vote to legalize so-called "gay marriage" in some states this past Tuesday?  Why did people vote to legitimize and further murder in the womb?  Why did some who call themselves Christians do these things?  This happened in part because I have not done my job in both evangelizing and discipling.  I have not played the man, as the voice from heaven called Polycarp to do.  I have not walked into the arena with Telemachus and spoken the truth about what my neighbors find enjoyable and of no offense.  And so I stand, guilty as charged by the challenging gaze of those who gave all for the faith.  I also stand inspired, more passionate than ever before to get down to the work that our Lord has called me to do.

Where do you stand?