Hamilton for Kansas
Recently, Faith UMC hosted Rev. Dr. Adam Hamilton who shared his latest book with us and participated in the ribbon cutting for our newest location. Adam is pastor of the largest UMC church in the country. Today he announced his intention to run for the US Senate representing Kansas. If you would like to hear this announcement, click here. When I heard that Adam was traveling around the state of Kansas listening to people talk about their worries, he indicated that he was doing these stops as an Independent. I honestly thought it was brilliant because he would not anger or alienate his members for picking one of the parties. It also allowed all kinds of people to attend the listening stops rather than assuming it wasn’t for them. But my husband pointed out to me that without the backing of one of the parties, he would not get the funding to help him run his campaign.
In his speech, Adam talked about how his church was equally attended by Republicans, Democrats and Independents. He also shared that they lived, worshiped and served together as human beings looking for ways to make the world a better place. This is a beautiful thing in a world that tells us to hate each other based on political party. I have heard both sides of the aisle lament “How could you be a Christian and vote for ____________?” (Just fill in the blank of the opposing parties candidate.) But I know from personal experience that none of the parties get to claim exclusivity to Jesus or Christianity despite what you hear. None of them can claim the moral high ground when corruption, greed and fighting are the normal way of participating in politics. When party loyalty becomes more important than solving problems and finding solutions than we have serious problems. When pointing fingers and demonizing the “other” is more important than working together to make the world a better place then we have abandoned our Christianity.
Pundits and lobbyists know that humans are often motivated by fear. When we let this lead our decision making then we are easily influenced. Fear that our retirement will go away, fear that “those people” will have some advantage over us, fear that the murderers, rapist and pedophiles are overtaking and not being punished. But the Bible clearly tells us that we can not let fear determine our future. We need to be led by faith. Faith is not simply believing but putting those beliefs into action. Jesus was always getting in trouble for stepping out of line to teach a lesson or prove a point about what is valued by God.
I hope that Adam Hamilton for Kansas will be a good thing for that state and for our country. I worry for his family and the horrible words that will be thrown their way. I will pray that their faith stays strong and their purpose is united. Adam described himself as “an independent minded Democrat working across the aisle to make the world a better place.” Yes, he has aligned himself with a party. But I pray this doesn’t stop him from being able to do more good work for the kingdom of God. As Oklahomans, we are not being asked to vote for him or volunteer for him. But I do think that we should pray for him and for those he loves as he bravely steps out of the pulpit and into the messiness of politics. Lord help him.
God loves you and I love you,
