(Bono, lead singer of U2)
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I want to honor God with my life. I'm tired of attempting to be just a good citizen or a good man. I want to be a sold-out-disciple of Jesus.
Wow, bono. Great quote. I always wondered why we can fellowship the right but the left was always wrong. Funny that for some, fellowship is just one sided. Hope all is well.
ReplyDeleteAwesome quote!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great quote Josh! Thanks for passing this on. Bono, one of the great theologians of our time.
ReplyDeleteI like Bono, and I read Jim Wallis, but this four line quote is simplistic at best, disengenuous at worst. Great for pop songs, not so great for nuanced conversation.
ReplyDeleteWhat if we DO understand the other side's point of view, why they believe what they believe, where they come from, and just think that they're wrong? What if we tease/semi-embarrass them because their positions are comical to us, much like Jesus did to the pharisees?
If you're not on the left or the right, would you be considered lukewarm? The left and right aren't groups of people, they're desciptions of ideals and principals, and hopefully (for Christians, at least), rooted in a Christian ethos (God loves all people equally, we're made in the image of Christ, take care of the orphans/widows, thou shall not steal, etc).
People eat these kind of quotes up, but it doesn't get us anywhere. The quotes on the back of book covers are the hard candy of literature: great taste, little nutritional value.
The comments give much love to Bono.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, it is fair to argue that this statement is simplistic. That argument can be made. But I don't think people are drawn to statements such as these because they are simplistic, but rather because they pave the way for people to come to a table to join in healthy dialogue. This statement by Bono is at the heart of his passion to tackle big social issues in the name of Jesus. For him it is not about Bush/Obama, left/right, dem/rep, but about people who have been made in his image and everyone is worth redeeming. Instead of operating under the paradigm that says "what side are you on...okay...now let's talk," it functions under the paradigm, "We have been made in his image...and this is going to be our foundation."
If Christ is central to us, isn't everyone on the right and left wrong?
ReplyDeleteI want to be in the center. Too often, I'm off course but I want to be in the center of Christ's love for me and living His desire for me.
Jeff, that's a nice saying, but it misses the point. It's disinginuous to say that one with political views on the left or right can't have Christ in the center of their life. Most Christians on both sides would say that they hold their political beliefs BECAUSE Christ is at the center. So your comment gets us no closer to realizing how to engage when we disagree (because of values we hold as a result in faith in Christ).
ReplyDeleteJosh, I appreciate healthy diaglogue and communication. Only then can we truly understand each other's points of view. However, once we understand each other's viewpoints, a judgement must be made on whether it's correct. If it's correct, I should change my position on the issue. If I believe it to be incorrect, I should be free to disagree and inform the opposite party of the disagreement.
The "image of God" issue is a straw man. All humanity is created in the image of God, but this fact does not authorize ignorance.
Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the dialogue, though I must say that is rather difficult to have a conversation with "anonymous."
"Issues" are not just about ideologies. They are about stories and experiences. Every conversation doesn't have to end with judgment, and this is why many people are so turned off by "traditional" politics. It doesn't have to end with a winner and a loser...I'm right, you're wrong...either you're in or you're out. This is where enemies are made and division is fueled. This approach to "issues" does not promote unity or the good of humanity.
Are their arguments made out of ignorance that are absurd and wrong? Yes.
But when we listen beyond an argument and we begin to hear that many arguments are wrapped up in stories and experiences, not just argumentation, then we are able to keep respect and dignity on the table.
I'd love to continue this conversation, but not under the title of "anonymous."
I apologize if my statement came across improperly. I had no intent of being disingenuous or mean to say that people on both sides had Christ in their life.
ReplyDeleteI'm no great intellectual nor philosopher so please give me a little latitude to think aloud. Coming from an active political background, I have come to understand that political disagreements over right-living will be a never ending battle until it is addressed as a matter of the heart. The battles we fight in the political realm occupy our time away from the battles that must be fought in the spiritual realm.
I am not saying there is no place for politics in the operations of a nation but I do not believe faith and politics can be intertwined successfully so I do not see the issues of what Bono was referring to as a political struggle but a struggle for Christ-likeness.