A Few Thoughts on the Debt Ceiling Debate

If you are looking for me to jump in with my "solution" to the current debt ceiling debate, you will be highly disappointed.  There are enough pundits to go around on that one.  Depending upon one's particular political persuasion or deeply held assumptions, one is either blaming Democrats, Republicans, or both parties for the impasse.

I have personally found it intriguing the tenor of negotiations at this point.  Words like "heated", "walked away", "angry", "uncompromising" and "blame" are thrown around more and more as the deadline approaches.

I guess it's not too surprising considering the rhetoric each side has used in the past several years.  Over time, as such rhetoric is used over and over and over, anger and resentment builds up inside.  I don't care who you are, such words take their toll, until one snaps.

Perhaps one see such snapping in this debate over the debt ceiling.  Neither side is really willing to budge.  Neither side wants to give the other the benefit of the doubt.  Each side is looking to win--in the legislation and in the public spin job.  Their actions and rhetoric indicates a win at all cost attitude.

One need only to look at the actions of our elected officials to see just how far away we are from truly being a Christian nation.  I challenge anyone to read the following words of Jesus, apply them to our elected officals and then call the U.S. a Christian nation:

But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire. --Matthew 5:22

³⁵James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.”  ³⁶And he said to them, “What is it you want me to do for you?” ³⁷And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” ³⁸But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” ³⁹They replied, “We are able.” Then Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; ⁴⁰but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” ⁴¹When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. ⁴²So Jesus called them and said to them, “You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. ⁴³But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, ⁴⁴and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. ⁴⁵For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.” --Mark 10:35-45

And from St. Paul:

²⁵So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another. ²⁶Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, ²⁷and do not make room for the devil. ²⁸Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy. ²⁹Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. --Ephesians 4:25-29

Do you think if we were truly a Christian nation we would have such issues among our elected leaders?  And I say truly in the sense that our leaders truly acted in a Christ-like fashion.

Unfortunately, a "win at all costs" mentality along with seeing one's neighbor as an opponent and "enemy" does not allow one to seek the greater good.  Self-centeredness reigns, and it is a detriment not only in the church but in society as well.