Religion and politics?

I have no wisdom, but what time has afforded me.  I have searched and studied and poked and prodded, and made my own conclusions, but what bothers me now, and no heavenly or earthly wisdom can clarify, is why Christian Americans think that they are above the law?  And I am not talking about man's law, I am writing of God's Law.

Mans desire to delve into the seediness of politics is above my understanding, not from a civic nature, but a biblical one.  When push came to shove Jesus said, regarding the politics of the day, "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesars and unto God the things that are Gods."  The esteemed biblical scholar and commentator, Matthew Henry, suggested that the meaning of Matthew's verse was that attempting to argue against the politics of the land was futile and takes Christians away from the task at hand and that is Worshipping God.  Now throughout the bible certain men and women were called out to take a stand and hold the line for God, but the masses were admonished to Worship the Lord with all their Heart, Soul, and Might.  Now it seems to me that this would take extreme focus and dedication to accomplish this fete.  So why is there an Egyptian style Exodus from this teaching to stand on a wall and defy the government?  Well the most obvious reason is the fight over a woman's right to choose what is best for her body.  The idea, from the perspective of the "Right" is that abortion is murder.  And while I am not even remotely qualified to participate in that debate, I find the focus to be inordinate.  And here is why:  As humans, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Pagans, agnostics, atheists, and whatever other religious or philosophical leanings abound, at the core of all of it is personal responsibility.  And that is extremely biblical, moral, Buddhist, etc, etc.  And also what seems to be lacking most.

The idea that your moral code is to be respected and revered by anyone other than yourself is just ludicrous.  For one thing, to focus so strongly on a topic of abortion is to detract from many other events and dilemmas that occur across the land.  Abortion?  Oh my no!  Gun regulation to curb violence and even accidental death?  No way no!  Starving children...here and abroad?  Eh, not my problem.  Climate change due to rampant pollution?  God is coming soon, no need to worry!

Obviously I could go on and on about injustices as seen by every type of religious or spiritual group, but again, it comes down to personal responsibility.  Do you remember the parable of the mote?  Jesus said you are trying to pull the splinter out of your neighbor's eye when there is a beam in your own.  Or in other words, you have your own problems that you refuse to deal with so don't go trying to fix everyone else.  Fix yourself.  This is VERY important, folks.  So get this.  Hear this!  The reason the world is in the trouble that it is in is because each of us is too busy butting into everyone else's business and not taking care of our own.  Paraphrasing here, but Jesus said let people see your light when they look at you, don't shine it in their face when they are trying to find their own path.  Light their path.  It is by your deeds that you will be known.  And the way to encourage others is not by telling them how they are evil and need to come to Jesus, but give them something to look at that they will see and want to emulate because it is Love.

Do you believe that you are more powerful when you are against something or for something?  Personally I believe that a soul is more effective when they are for something good rather than against something bad.  Because what we focus on we attract.  If your focus is on the good, you will begin to attract that goodness into your life.  And for those of you who think that is heretical and anti biblical, I encourage you to re-read it.  The Bible that is.  "as a man thinketh, so is he!"  What is in your heart will be made manifest in your life.  So you see warring, bitterness, hate, disgust, disdain, and a critical world out there?  Turn that inward and look into your heart, you will find it there also.

If you believe in the sanctity of life, live it in your heart.  It is your right.  It is even your right to believe that others who disagree are not right.  But you have to judge yourself on your convictions.  And if you deem it necessary to judge others...judge them by their convictions.  Live what you believe.  Believe what you live.  For the best way to begin a change in the world is to begin a change in your own heart.