Christian Politicians?

When we look at politicians in the United States and hear their claim of being Christians, do we believe them?  Do any politicians that we currently have actually act as Christians?  Many politicians in fact claim that they belong to some form of Christianity, not all by any means, but a good number of them.  (Before I go any further, let me state that the ideas I am presenting today are not all mine, but they intrigued me when I heard them and felt I had to share and build off of them.)  I don't believe that many of the "supposed" Christian politicians that we have actually act out their beliefs.  In order to understand this, we must first look at what it means to be a Christian, to claim to hold certain beliefs.  In a nutshell, to be a Christian is to act out of love towards others, to not disparage or in any way degrade others or their image, to not act violently either verbally, emotionally, or physically in any way.   After reading that and now looking at our current politicians in office who claim to be Christians, does what they say hold true?  I would have to argue that in many cases, it does not.  Many politicians these days are solely concerned with their own well being, not that of others, and as such act in ways that belie their claims of being Christian.  Some may claim to hold their constituents concerns at the forefront of their agenda, but do they really, or are they just trumpeting that as a means to get re-elected and win favor amongst others?  To me, if a politician is going to claim to be a Christian of some sort, than they should either act as a Christian or leave their religious beliefs at home. 

Considering all that has gone on this year from budgetary issues to the upcoming presidential election, we have much to look at in regards to politicians and their behaviour.  Lets look first at the whole budget debacle that took place beginning last summer and to a certain extent, continues to this day.  In the midst of the whole mess, Christian politicians were not only acting childish, but they were acting in ways that sought to degrade the image of their fellow politicians who happened to be from a different political party, either Democrat or Republican.  Their bickering and name calling went so far as to make them look as they had regressed back to kindergarten and begged the question as to whether they needed a teacher to educate them on proper manners.  Not only were they acting childish, but they were acting as if they had no religious beliefs.  They didn't even attempt to be polite or to act out of love towards one another.  Despite their actions, they continued to make the claim that in fact, some of them were Christian.  Really?  I didn't see it then and I don't see it now.  Lets move on to a bigger show, the bid for the nomination to run for president in the Republican party.  When was the last time anyone saw one of the presidential hopefuls act with a Christian attitude towards another from their own Republican party.  I personally can't think of one.  Just for example, lets look at Mitt Romney, a "Christian".  Given the option, he would be the first to throw any of his opponents under the bus to ensure that he wins the opportunity to run for president.  From mud slinging to name calling to outright lying, he will do whatever it takes to ensure that he gets to run against Obama for the presidency.  A "Christian"?  Not by a long shot judging by his words and actions. 

So why even bring this whole issue up of politicians acting like Christians?  Well, if you are going to claim to hold certain beliefs, I believe that you should at least make the attempt to stick to those beliefs and live up to them.  Is it easy to do?  Not by any means, especially when someone across the aisle or your opponent starts berating you, degrading you, and by any means necessary stripping away your personal character.  When someone acts out against you, either verbally, emotionally, or physically, it is much easier to retaliate than it is to take it and still act out of love in return.  In fact, it could be the hardest thing we ever attempt to do.  But if we are to make the claim of being "Christian", of holding certain beliefs true to our hearts, than we should do everything in our power to act as "Christians".   I find it hard myself, especially in a society that holds violence and retaliation as sacrosanct, to always act as a "Christian".  My first reaction is usually to make the other person pay, to hold them accountable by whatever means, and put myself first.  But as a Christian, that is not what we are called to do.  If our politicians who claim to be "Christians" actually acted as such, they might actually attract more involvement in the political process.  Part of the reason that I find I can't watch any debates or listen to politicians is because of the way they act towards others.  I despise the name calling, the degradation, the mud slinging.  Most of all, I despise the fact that they don't even make the attempt to act out of love towards one another.  Their whole concern is with getting elected or re-elected, and their beliefs do not matter at all.  I could go on and on about this, how it pertains to many different areas, but I won't.  Lets simply start, if you are a Christian, to act out of love towards one another, to attempt to sympathize with others, to hold ourselves to a higher standard.  Then maybe, others will change around us.  Its a hope, maybe a small one, but a hope nonetheless.