Faith in Politicians?

What happens when people put faith in politicians as they would put faith in God? First, what is biblical faith?

Webster's definition 2 fits this type of faith, especially 2b.

2 a (1) : belief and trust in and loyalty to God (2) : belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion

b (1) : firm belief in something for which there is no proof (2) : complete trust

New International Version (NIV)

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Belief without proof.  You can tell that Republicans have faith in their politicians because all it takes is a look around to see that the tax cuts for the rich didn't create the jobs that were promised. They still believe in Reagan's trickle down economics in spite of the fact that the only thing that ever seemst to have trickled down is more burden on the poor and middle class. What about Democrats? Do they suffer the same kind of faith in their politicians?

There are people who still have faith that President Obama is going to save the day in spite of the evidence. He didn't include a single payer option for health care, leaving the health care bill more of a way to force people to buy corporate insurance than real reform. Every time he has caved into the Republicans in what he calls compromise, the Republicans got what they wanted and the people got the shaft. People who love Obama said it was a strategy to get something in place that we could build on. Really? With a Republican controlled Congress?

Even now people are saying that putting Medicare and Social Security on the chopping block is part of some brilliant strategy of his and they have faith that nothing bad will come of it. They're putting faith in humans... if you can call politicians humans... as if they were God. What they need to remember is that politicians are as human as they are and are going to let you down at some point, if not every point.

Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. ~ Lord Acton

Your politicians are not Jesus, no matter how much they may claim to be a Christian politician. In fact, it seems that those who make the claim of being a Christian politician are those who seem to most enact legislation that is against what Christ tried to teach us.

The Founding Fathers of the United States were wise in writing the first amendment which separates church and state. For those who don't remember, here is the text.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. This doesn't prohibit politicians from practicing their faith or prohibit them from praying, but they should make no law establishing a religion or prohibit the free exercise of religion. Politicians should not use religion to get themselves elected, especially when they intend to do the exact opposite of what their religion is supposed to stand for; moreover, they should not use their political clout to promote one religion over another. Politicians are there to write laws for the fair governance of people. Despite Supreme Court rulings, corporations are not people, yet many fail to open their eyes and see that fact.

No matter which side you are on, you should remember that your politicians are not gods. They only think of themselves as such. For you to think of them as gods is only going to leave you disappointed. When it comes to politicians, you NEED to look at the facts and past actions of the politicians. Look at whether or not their policies have been successful rather than just listening to party rhetoric. Past actions are a good indication of what their future actions will be and what results they will yield.

Here is a biblical way to look at it.

New International Version (NIV)

By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

Think about it.