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Christianity Today, December (Web-only), 2008 |

Theology in the News

Another Guv Bites the Dust

Who shall save us from these corrupt politicians?

Collin Hansen | posted 12/15/2008 10:09AM

Stunned, saddened, but not surprised. That's how many Illinois residents reacted to news that the FBI had arrested Gov. Rod Blagojevich on December 9. Despite the state's pride in "Honest Abe," Illinois ...

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Bill Scudder

Posted: December 26, 2008 3:58 PM


Blagojevich has not been found guilty of anything yet. Let him have his day in court.

Rev. Stephen King

Posted: December 19, 2008 3:08 PM

Governor Blagojevich said it best today, when he asked for the same consideration, to be treated as innocent until found otherwise, as any of us are assured by our code of law. The tenor of Mr. Hanson's opening paragraph is typical of today's irresponsible writing, the taking of the positions of judge, jury, and pronouncer of punishment, without regard for the due process of law. There is simply no excuse for writing such as this, especially in a Christian periodical. Jesus himself castigated the Pharisees and teachers of the Law for their "legal misapplications." "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone (at her)." John 8:7b.

Tesfatadelle

Posted: December 19, 2008 9:17 AM

Why do we hand such power to politicians lacking moral character? Because of the choices we make for our standards even in our "Christian life". When was the last time you heard in Church preached or sang "Called unto holiness children of our God, Called from the world and its idols to flee...Holiness unto the Lord is our watch, word and song. Yep, you probably are thinking that I am dreaming and not thinking for penning those words because we live in a pluralistic society. If the past election was an indicator many of the major leaders in the USA Church were positioning themselves to endorse a candidate inspite of his/her world view. Our leaders preach grace without the cost (CROSS) of justification. And so Blagojevich has supporters because sin is not hated where he dwells but is seen as something smart will do to profit.

Joe	Posted: December 18, 2008 10:35 AM

I have to challenge Jason's ignorance of history about WWII. President Truman stopped Japan from killing even more people. Hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of Chinese and other Asians died in the hands of the Japanese soldiers during that war, and untold millions suffered. My parents suffered greatly during that War. Thanks to America, and to President Truman, who had the real encourage to confront and stop evil.

Deborah Solomon

Posted: December 17, 2008 10:09 PM

December 17, 2008 I didn't fully know what corruption was until I got involved with politics in this nation. I have repeatedly requested the FBI investigate five suspicious deaths and they have refused to do so. I sincerely believe they have already investigated but don't want the public to know the extent of the murder and corruption that goes on in this nation. So much for having any faith that the FBI can be trusted for help! I actually have six peoples deaths that had suspicious circumstances and one possible attempted murder. Jean Byers, John Teuber, Pfc Brian Bradbury (who was "accidentally" dropped 30 feet to his death in Afghanistan) Scott Jett, Bertha Selden, and Mark Selden's attempted murder. After those peoples deaths have been fairly and independently investigated I will acknowledge the validity of the recent elections and not until! May God help the USA to hang or put in prison for life pre-meditated murderers and the people that ordered them to murder!

Theodore

Posted: December 17, 2008 1:25 PM

I respond as a Christian who has held an appointment from Gov. Blagojevic for three years. I know several other Christians in Illinois State positions, as well as many Jews and others, all of whom are honest and hard-working. Two of my prior bosses were also convicted: 1) John N. Mitchell, Republican Attorney General of the U.S.; and 2) Otto Kerner, Democrat, Governor of Illinois. ( People may conclude that hiring me causes criminal problems !) The volume of negative news seems overstated and naive to me. Illinois is no different from other places I have lived -- New Jersey, Pennsylvania, California. Many prominent people have done illegal things, but are circulating among us, never having been exposed or caught. The tares will not be separated from the wheat until the final harvest. Matthew 13:24-30 As Christians, our prayers are needed by persons in public offices. Daniel 4:27; I Tim 2: 1-6.

John	Posted: December 17, 2008 10:34 AM


Jason, good point about Clinton and Truman. Did our evangelical leaders speak out against these things at the time? Can we look back in the Christianity Today archives and see what they said about the sanctions in Iraq that caused the deaths of 500,000 children?

Jason

Posted: December 17, 2008 5:35 AM


Under Clinton, 500 000 children died in Iraq because of sanctions. And that was before the BushII "Blessed be the Warmakers" Neocons moved in. Harry Truman atomic-bombed Japan three weeks after the Japanese government signalled their willingness to him to negotiate a surrender: (Robert Junck Brighter than a Thousand Suns (1958) pp. 189-191, Martin J Sherwin A World Destroyed (1975) pp. 235-237).

Robert

Posted: December 16, 2008 1:56 PM

Aye, there's the rub Collin! "Certain new theologians dispute original sin, which is the only part of Christian theology which can really be proved" -G.K. Chesterton in Orthodoxy (1908) "Whatever happened to sin?" -Steve Taylor (1983) Until the larger society takes sin seriously, we'll continue to elect pols with the attitude "The people are my property; hooray for me!" We'll also fail to deal with the prevailing philosophy "I'm going to make my problems everyone's problems," instead of "I'm going to make others' problems my own." Our government's former strength was that it didn't trust human nature at all. It worked to suppress human nature, because it saw it clearly as the only possible secular response to the human condition. As far as that went, it minimized the symptoms but did not cure them.

Rob Schwarzwalder

Posted: December 16, 2008 12:20 PM

Outstanding, Colin. From William "Icebox" Jefferson to Duke "Mr. Fun" Cunningham, sin knows no ideology or partisan allegiance. Two additional thoughts: We put out trust in princes because we don't put our trust in God. Also, we pretty much get the government we deserve. The American people are occupied with a thousand things, from wayward children to getting an oil change, and attention to politics - something that seems far-removed, if not irrelevant completely - is hard for them to pay. As a result, elections are determined often by last-minuted deciders who operate out of impressions and visceral reactions (thus, they get Rod "The Reformer" Blagojevich. Very human, but also very sad.

Kirk Rowland (Registered User)

Posted: December 16, 2008 11:33 AM

How do christians and other concerned American citizens deal with the sins and abuses of our outgoing president? Why wasn’t he impeached? Isn’t going to war under false pretenses, condoning torture, and abusing his executive power with signing statements and undermining the rule of law enough? Evangelicals overwhelmingly voted for Bush in 2000 and 2004. And in 2008 they overwhelmingly voted for his ideological successor, McCain. How about a thoughtful article on this?

pastorjohn

Posted: December 16, 2008 8:44 AM

Here in Detroit we know to well about the corruption of politicians. Our former mayor is in jail serving a four month sentence for lying under oath and his chief of staff is waiting for sentencing on similar charges. The school system has a $400 million deficit because of corruption and mismanagement. Hansen correctly identifies the theological issues. Hopeful his reminder will awaken Evangelicals to the reality that their politicians are just as susceptible and we need strong safe guards in place to prevent this. Even the truly moral politician can fall to temptation if he/she thinks that she/he will not get caught. Politicians have forgotten that they are called to serve the public good not the personal interests of a privilege few.

LastDazeMan

Posted: December 15, 2008 4:33 PM

I grew up surrounded by Evangelicals but when I started crossing paths with folks from other backgrounds I was shocked to learn that other Christian groups don't see things the same way Evangelicls do. I was shocked to learn that other Christians believe that we are created in the image of God and that makes us inherently good. For some other Christians sin is like a infectious disease we breath in from our poisoned environment. Original sin for them is like losing our immunity to the disease.

caveatBettor

Posted: December 15, 2008 2:56 PM


Those who live by government programs and politicians will die by public choice theory.

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