touching the third rail!

I go away to the Algarve for a week of sunshine and tennis only to stumble back to Ref 21 and find that the whole thing has gone politics mad. Talk of the left and the right, Trueman trying to sell his new book on his third way. Derek's off to the Kremlin. The issue for me is why are so many reformed Christians in the US seemingly obsessed with politics? I just don't get it, I don't mean that in a critical way, I just don't understand it. Derek alludes to it in his post but the issues across the pond here are just not so clear cut. One of the joys of ministering in the congregation where I serve is that politically all of life is here from the loony left to those who are just to the right of Genghis Khan. I would have it no other way.

 

I enjoy politics in the UK though at the moment the political scene looks more like the seven dwarfs with no snow white. I'm conscious that Christians are to play an active role in the world where they live, we're to engage and get stuck in.  We're to pray for leaders of our governments, we are to lobby and exert influence where we can. There is not one inch of life that Christ does not rule over. Of course, of course, of course. British evangelicalism has wrongly often retreated into pietism. Dr Lloyd Jones is a great hero of mine but as far as I can see makes no mention in his writings or made no public stand on abortion. In 1967 when it would have been being debated in parliament and the Dr was at the height of his powers, if he would have lent his weight to the campaign it would have had a significant galvanising effect on reformed Christians but it seems he remained pretty much silent at least in public.

 

On the other hand I've been to America 3 times, as you can imagine the invitations have been flooding in since joining Ref21. (I've been asked to host the reformed dyslexics awards ceremony, Christian Focus will sponosring the event!)  but each time I've preached in the US apart from people commenting about my accent on the door, most of the questions have been about politics. When I said I was a big fan of the West Wing my hosts teeth nearly fell out and I was told whatever you do don't mention that in your sermon.

 

It's an honest question from a simple seeker in the UK, why the big fuss over politics? It may well be that I'm missing something. I'm sure Carl may address it in his book but unless a free copy arrives in the post there's no chance of me reading it so tell me fellow bloggers!