Author: Rob Woodrum

I serve as a pastor among the people of Eastgate Christian Fellowship in Panama City Beach, Florida. I'm not very good at it, but it's what God has called me to do...so I do.

Christians and Politics

Rob Woodrum10 Comments

Rob Woodrum

“We’ve got to be more politically involved as the church!  We’ve got to take this nation back for Christ!  We’ve got to get God back into our schools!  We’ve got to support our president and his war on terror, and stop the media from spreading lies and liberalism!  It’s our duty as Christians!” 

 Is it really? 

Why wasn’t Jesus political at all?  He was dropped right into the most tumultuous political and governmental turmoil that region of the world had known for a long time. Even apart from the Roman occupation of Palestine, the theocratic nation of Israel was intensely divided between Conservative Judaism and Hellenistic Judaism. The debates and conflicts were raging all around him, begging for his opinion and denouncement or support. 

Why didn’t Jesus get involved in politics?  Why didn’t he weigh in on whether the right or the left was closer to the truth?  Why didn’t he “take a stand” on at least one issue of political purpose?  As followers of Jesus, why is it our duty to take a political stand now?  Why do we need to be politically involved?  Why do we need to endorse Republican agendas and denounce Liberal Democrats and their values?  Or, on the other side of the coin, why do we need to write our congressman to stop a war in Africa, or push for social reform that will end poverty?  When did writing a congressman become something that superceded praying for peace? 

What changed?  Jesus didn’t involve himself in the politics and governmental struggles of his day.  The early church declined to do so as well.  In all of Paul’s writings, there is no mention of a Christian’s duty to get involved in the system and make positive civil changes.  Why are these things taken for granted as the Christian duty today? I can’t imagine that we shouldn’t vote…but is that our highest good?

I really want to know.

A Pirate’s Keyboard

Rob Woodrum2 Comments

Ok…so they have a keyboard ergonomically designed for pirates now. 

 

Ninjas need not fear, because they have one designed for them as well.

 

Uh…no, they’re not real. But they are funny.  Why?  Well, because of course, ninjas hate pirates.  Beyond that, I like this concept.

 

I like it that a pirate knows who he is, and has no use for things that don’t pertain to who he is.  Extraneous issues like “J”, “K”, “L” or “;” have no place on his keyboard.  All he needs is “RRRRRRRRRRRRR” and “!” with a hot key for “avast!”.

 

Ninjas live on an even narrower plane of existence.  One button, one kill.  I suppose my personal make-up is more collaborative with a pirate.  I feel I’m a little more complicated than a ninja….but the simplicity of both keyboards intrigues me.

 

It makes me think of the Bible. (“Doesn’t everything make you think of the Bible?”  “No.  Well…maybe, I don’t know.  Stay out of this!”)

 

Paul said when he came to Corinth, he was determined to know only one thing.  One thing summed up his identity.  Sure there were lots of other things about his life, peripheral keys that could be touched if he felt like it.  Paul, like a pirate, knew who he was, and had little use for a lot of other keys.

Paul’s keyboard may have looked like this:

 

Jesus Christ and Him crucified made up his core identity.

“But Paul, don’t you care about evolution vs. intelligent design?  Don’t you care about political scandals?”

“Maybe…but its not on my keyboard, so I don’t have a lot of use for it.” 

There is something to be said for stripping things down to core essentials.  I like Paul’s essentials.  Short, easy words whose depths can never be fully known. 

Jesus.  The closeness of that name.  God with human name.  The forever God-Man who touches my frailty, shares it with me, adding His infinite strength. 

Christ.  The Hero King.  The Rescuer.  Aragorn, Braveheart, Arthur, Superman…who only have meaning because they mirror Him. 

Crucified.  Love so unspeakable it had to be acted out in blood and agony.  The result of a world gone wrong, yet the course for a world made new.  

I can see why this was Paul’s obsession.  The depth of these simple words stir something deep in me.  It’s a good keyboard design. What do you think of as you ponder those words?  Jesus Christ, and him crucified.  What stirs in you, what do you feel?  Could that ever be the sum of your keyboard?

Welcome to Wonderwhat!

Rob Woodrum4 Comments

thewonderwhats-1.jpg

Welcome to the thought-lines of the Eastgate leadership staff. We hope this space will encourage and challenge, as we post our thoughts, questions, observations and rants on our journey toward home. Read what’s put up, and post your thoughts in the comments….agree, disagree or ask your own questions! Welcome to the ride!