"Hypocrisy of Faith: Deciphering the Will of God in an Election Year"

Hypocrisy of Faith; Deciphering God’s Will in an Election Year
By: Lanni Alecia Lantto

Here it comes.
He is going to say it soon. The intentions. This is usually where my heart starts skipping beats. Okay, alright, this happens every week, just breathe.
"We pray for the sick and those afflicted with addictions, that they may come to find peace in your loving arms."
"We pray for our men and women in the military and for their swift return."
No one else around is moving. For the most part, aside from some small children, the congregation stands erect, their faces forward, pale and solemn. They repeat in unison, "Amen".
So far so good. But, it's coming I know it is…
"We pray for an end to abortion. That the sanctity of life be preserved."
If my toes could curl in these shoes they would. My head flops forward and my hair dangles over my mouth as I mutter, "…and an end to killing of innocent life in war". The person to my left shifts their eyes in my direction. I don't actually see this but I sense it.
My head flops back up in disgusting defiance. No one has moved from their positions. No one else has joined in my mini verbal act of disapproval, no one's throwing their arms up and crying to the heavens, "God are you hearing what we pick and choose to pray to you!" In reality, I don't think anyone's even heard me.

My relationship with God has directed my path since I took my first steps. My mother baptized me Catholic, and I did the Sunday Bible studies in the church basement, the CCD religious education classes, Confirmation, retreats, & was an active member of the Lifeteen band. My understanding of God is that s/he is a peaceful being, and the words of Jesus advocated a harmonious and simplistic lifestyle that, during his time and still today, is revolutionary in a world dominated by self-fulfillment and greed. I understand the message with my mind, but I believe it is true because I can feel it. I feel it in how my soul aches to end oppression, in how my eyes water when I see suffering, in how my feet can't stay still long enough to acquire possessions, and how my heart, not reason, continue to guide my life. I wouldn't change any of this either because I've turned out to be an incredibly caring and compassionate human being. But why is there a huge gap between the Jesus I've learned from and the hypocritical Christian stance of the Church and more significantly our politicians?

If I believe so strongly that God would never endorse any policy that brings about human suffering (and subsequently great wealth to others) then how can I passively accept them? It's so effortless to proclaim oneself as pro-life and say in church, "We pray for our leaders to put down their use of arms," but how hard it is for us to actually act on these convictions? Why are we screaming our lungs out at abortion clinics and at the same time supporting a government engaged in an unjust war among? Since when did life become hierarchal for us Christians? Life is an American fetus more than it is an Iraqi baby girl, or better yet, an Iraqi mother who is bombed to death while carrying a fetus.

I've been having a particularity difficult time with where my Christian family & friends are aligning themselves politically. Because for the most part, they are basing their vote on how politicians identify themselves religiously; and politicians are strategically proving to us just how religious they are…and if they aren't they are "born again" in a press conference. The Republican Party has traditionally appealed to the religious voter base; but it is exactly within these candidates that I see the most hypocrisy of beliefs and a malicious demeanor and tone that are undeniable un-Christlike.

The Republican's choice of Sarah Palin has ignited new enthusiasm from fundamental and undecided Christian voters alike. She was raised Pentecostal but now attends a non-denominational Bible Church. Pastor Ed Kalnins has said that, "She is a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ." Well, what does a disciple of Jesus think is God's will? "I think God's will has to be done in unifying people and companies to get that gas line built, so pray for that." This is an incredibly indulgent human interpretation and speculation of the will of God that I cannot passively accept. She also has stated that she hopes we are sending our troops out on a task that is from God. Mrs. Palin later said that she was paraphrasing and that she truly meant that we should pray that we are on God’s side. However, justifying any war, especially one deemed unjust from the beginning, in relation to God should raise apprehension from Christians not compliant acceptance.

For many people, Sarah Palin is a good Christian because she is pro-life. But what would Saint Francis say when she opens fire on his wolf friend and kills it with no purpose then to have killed it. She isn't starving so it isn't for survival; the wolf made no choice to die, she made that choice for it- from an airplane. And what about her faith that we be on God’s side in Iraq? A war that Catholic Bishops declared unjust in 2002, "We pray for President Bush and other world leaders that they will find the will and the ways to step back from the brink of war with Iraq and work for a peace that is just and enduring." If we believe that Palin, and other politicians like her, are pro-life than we need to start declaring what we really mean by that; that we are (and subsequently believe that Jesus was) strictly pro-American baby fetuses. We can no longer broadly encompass ourselves as “pro-life”. After all, if you voted for GW Bush you voted to kill human beings because he advocates for the death penalty.

This isn't just about Sarah Palin, it's an assessment we should be making on all our leaders including Democrat & Independent candidates. We need to understand firstly that politicians, as much as we'd like to trust them, have other interests in mind besides ours, and besides Christs'. There are corporate lobbyists, there is money to be made, and human agendas to be fulfilled. Modernization and capitalism have played a huge role in leading our country away from Jesus. Our society has become a product of man-made desires for individualistic goals. His teachings call for open communication, non-violent resolutions, a strict adherence to social justice, peace, and service. Our current leaders have strayed away from these teachings but are leading us to believe they are, in fact, devout Christians. So far it has been a very strategic and beneficial move. Let's wake up to the reality that we might be being deceived. It hurts to hear that one is being used, that one is being mislead- we get defensive- let all those emotions happen, get mad at me for writing something that challenges how we act/think and then sit in silence, and really truly let your heart and mind ponder, "What would Jesus do?" I can't imagine we wouldn't possibly be on the same page.

We as Christians have a responsibility and we are failing. We have a responsibility to uphold Jesus' full message; to not let politicians dictate what defines credible lives to save- if we don't we should consider who exactly we are celebrating at mass. In the very least we all need to start openly admitting that we base life in a hierarchal order. As a dear friend audaciously stated, “Both political sides are hypocrites by supporting life on one hand and tarnishing it in the other. However, this is probably my sin but if the life lost must by one or the other, as it must in this election, I would rather that loss be an Iraqi, than an American.” If we are basing our choice strictly on the “pro-life” ticket than none of us, from either side, should be voting at all.

We need to consider the full spectrum of our politician’s policies and who they are affecting; do they benefit the wealthy, do we secretly want economic policies that benefit us when we know those in need are suffering as a result? Are we being greedy but downplaying it as "The way it is", "Too bad these are hard times for everyone" or "Well, they need to do more because I do a lot"? The most difficult part about Jesus' teachings is that they require us to sacrifice, to turn the other cheek, to do that thing we just don't want to do but know it is the right thing in our hearts. This way of life comes from a place of immense love where no hatred, revenge, or prejudices reside. We need to not only hold our politicians accountable but ourselves as well.