Politics and Religion

stumbled across this article... and i've been thinking a lot about this subject recently. Jesus didn't come with a political agenda, so why do Christians today feel burdened with political agendas? I have to include myself in that. I used to so proudly wave my flag as being conservative because that meant I was a Christian, but now I hesitate to advertise that. What does it matter, except to satisfy the curiousity of men as to which "side" I'm on?

The author says:

For example, some equate Christian cultural engagement primarily with political action or public policy influence. While impacting the political sphere with the gospel is part of the cultural mandate, political action alone is not only an unbiblical focus, but it will never succeed. Not only has history proven that fact, but the scriptures teach us that the only way to change a culture is to change the individuals in that culture. What is needed is a change of hearts and minds in terms of worldview. That radical change that is necessary in those areas can only be accomplished by the Spirit applying the gospel to hearts and minds. Political ideology and the gospel are separate things. It is the gospel that must and will affect political ideology.

"...we must remember that just because an idea is conservative does not necessarily make it biblical."

The apostle Paul gives us some serious and sobering words in Eph. 4:29-32. "Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you."
When the bible says that "no corrupt word" is to proceed out of our mouths, there are no exceptions. When the bible says that we are to speak "what is good for necessary edification," that means that our words are to build others up and not tear them down. Note too that Paul says our words often are not what people deserve. Our words are to "impart grace to the hearers." We speak words they do not deserve.