Politics and Religion

 I watched the funeral service for former First Lady Rosalyn Carter yesterday. It was a beautiful service and a wonderful tribute to a strong and gracious lady.  But to me, the saddest part was seeing how frail her husband, former President Jimmy Carter is.  Jimmy Carter shaped my political beliefs that have lasted to this day. 

In 1976, I was a junior at Mississippi State. One day as I was walking through the Student Union to find some lunch, I saw a crowd gathered in the lobby.  Some guy was speaking so I went over to see who it was.  One of the security detail was a Mississippi State Trooper I recognized. I went I over and asked him who this guy was.  “Some guy from Georgia running for president.  Name is Carter. I’ve never heard of him.”  Since I was finished with classes for the day, I stayed around and listened to what he had to say. He was talking about things that hit home with me. The struggle of farm families.  Fairness and equality for everyone.  Creating jobs.  Reducing our dependence on foreign oil. For some reason,  his message resonated with me. I liked the fact that his faith was genuine.  He seemed to be a true follower of Jesus’s commandment to love thy neighbor. Because of that accidental encounter, my whole political belief system was turned upside down. 

I’d grown up in a conservative family in a staunchly conservative state.  I was taught all the buzzwords.  Liberals were bad.  Civil rights workers were communists.  Schools should be segregated.  But listening to Jimmy Carter, I realized how wrong I’d been. Here was a southern man openly espousing what were thought, at the time, to be radical, liberal views. And I agreed with him!  

I’ve said before that I sometimes question my religious faith.  I don’t pretend to be a super Christian.  I do the best I can. I try to live by the Golden Rule. But I’ve always based my politics on what Jesus taught.  Love your neighbor.  Heal the sick.  Feed the hungry.  Welcome the stranger.  This is what our government should be about.  

Rest in Peace, Mrs. Carter.  God bless you, President Carter. Thank you for showing us what real Christianity is.  

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