It’s Not About Politics
There have been nineteen presidential inaugurations during my lifetime. Of course, some of those were for second terms of sitting presidents, but that is still a lot of them. I was only about four months old when it happened for the first time in my lifetime, so I don’t remember anything about it. The same goes for the second time when I was only a little over four years old.
It really wasn’t until I was a little over twelve years old that I sort of got “plugged in” to what was happening. I was intrigued with all of the pageantry that went along with a presidential inauguration ceremony.
While all of that pageantry was very impressive, I was also somewhat aware of some, but not all, of the “behind the scenes drama” that accompanied the election that led up to the inauguration. At age twelve, I was totally unaware of an historic meeting that had taken place in Houston, Texas on September 12, 1960, but I have learned about that meeting over the years.
Even though, at that time, I was unaware of that meeting, I was very aware of some concerns my parents had. I now know that there was a connection between that meeting in Houston and the concerns of a couple of people on the Airport Road in Metropolis, IL.
As much as I could tell at that age, it seemed to me that they were supportive of the man who had served as our president from the time I was four until the time I was twelve. They seemed uneasy about some changes they perceived were possible. The concern seemed to not be merely that change was coming; they seemed to be concerned about the type of change that might be coming.
One reason for that concern was that there was the possibility that the new president might be a member of a different political party than the man who had served for the past eight years. By the time that the 1961 inauguration took place they were in their mid to late 40’s. They had lived through a number of changes in both the identities and party affiliations of the occupants of the White House. So, while some of their concern might have been of a political nature, this was something they had already experienced.
Another reason for my parents’ concern had to do with something they had never experienced. It was tied to that meeting in Houston the previous September. It is also tied to some concerns I have today.
The meeting in Houston allowed one of the then candidates for president to address and to answer questions from a fairly large group of preachers. Although there is very little probability that any of the members of the Greater Houston Ministerial Association had ever even heard of my parents, they had the same concerns that my parents had. In fact, the concerns were felt and expressed by millions of people in private conversations, via the various media that existed at that time, and by almost any means available.
The concerns went beyond political party affiliation and/or the fact that this candidate was a much younger man than the then current president. The concern had to do with the fact that, if elected, our nation would have a president who was a Roman Catholic.
I understand that this sounds a little (or a lot) strange in today’s world, but, six decades ago, people were genuinely concerned about that. There were concerns that, if elected, the new president would not be accountable to the people, the Congress, the Supreme Court, or to anybody else in our nation. There were serious, genuine concerns expressed by people who believed that, to one degree or another, our president would be answerable to the Pope and that the “seat of our government” would not be in Washington, D.C. but in Vatican City.
A little over sixty years ago, John F. Kennedy did, in fact, become our president. He did so after winning a hotly contested, bitterly fought, and very controversial election. There were charges and counter charges of what might euphemistically be described as “voting irregularities.” Does any of that sound familiar?
The extent to which those characterizations sound familiar serve as a “tie in” to my concerns in today’s world. Unlike my parents, my concerns have a lot less to do with party affiliation, religious preferences, etc. My concerns have to do with what I guess could be called the “political and social atmosphere.”
It seems to me that some who wear the name of Christ are more loyal to their political affiliation, a social cause, ideological or philosophical leanings, their own opinions, etc. than they are to the Lord. Things that, sadly, can only be described as rude, hurtful, and, even in some cases, vicious are said, written, and/or posted. What is even worse, some of these people “worship” in the same church building.
We may like to think that, because we put “In God We Trust” on our money and have the words “under God” in the pledge to our flag, God will always bless us and that our nation will stand as long as the world exists. We seem to forget that other leaders, political positions, nations, and entire civilizations have come and gone over the centuries.
I am all for standing with my hand over my heart while our National Anthem is being sung or played. I will attempt to join in when invited to do so. Likewise I will assume the same posture and recite the Pledge of Allegiance to our flag.
I need to constantly keep in mind, however, that my first allegiance is not to any individual person, institution, or even the wonderful nation in which we live. As a Christian, my first responsibility is to the One who said:
A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also should love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another (John 13:34-35).
The extent to which I live up to those words and all that He taught have a definite impact on something far greater than the future of a nation. The impact will be personal and eternal.
If we expect to be inhabitants of heaven in the next life, we must remember that, in this life:
“…our citizenship is in heaven…” (Phil. 3:20).
Receive All Our Articles for Free
AUTHOR: Jim Faughn
