Maybe I should just mind my own business. It is not an election that I get to vote in. I do not live in the state where the questions are being raised, but I am fascinated by the choices. There is a young woman who is rapidly becoming the leading candidate for the Republican candidate for Governor in South Carolina. As if South Carolina Republicans did not already have enough problems with their Governor. But Nikki Hawley is getting a lot of attention because of her attractive personality and her position on the issues. But the emerging issue upon many Republican evangelicals is that Nikki Hawley was raised as a Sikh disciple. She has recently converted to Christianity, but like other candidates from former religions who recently convert to Christianity, there are many leading right wing evangelicals who are "suspicious" about her commitment and her devotion to Christ.
I wonder if those who are complaining about her religious background know what a Sikh believes. Since I am so often flabbergasted by what Christians claim the Bible says, suggesting that they do not even know what their own Holy Book says, that I am not convinced that they would have taken the time to know what a Sikh believes. My own brief research on the subject says that the Sikh religion believes in one immortal being, God, has the requirement to follow the teaching of ten teachers. Those teachings focus on worship, mediation prayer; hard work and middle class (modest life) and a responsibility to share with others and to be of service to others. They are expected to be honest, content, selfless, "talk sweetly", fidelity and faithfulness in sexual activities, and to pray five times a day. There is a doctrine of reincarnation that is part of the teaching.
None of that sound too badly to me. I think the Reincarnation issue is a great divide, but it would have little impact on her political decisions. Maybe even help if she believes she would have to come back and live with the consequences of her decisions.
Seems to me the Boy Scouts and the Girl Scout have something of a similar life creed.
Nikki Hawley has joined a Methodist congregation and attends regularly the paper reports. But suppose she was still a practicing Sikh. I would much prefer to vote for a faithful, devout, obedient Sikh for an office of Governor, than to vote for some of the worthless people who claim to be Christian like the David Greene who is a Democrat running for office in the state of South Carolina. I am convinced that what we believe matters to what we do and how we live. The content of faith does have consequences. The old claim "It doesn't matter what you believe as long as you believe something" does not fly with me. What you believe does matter. But what you really believe is evidenced by what you do. If Nikki Hawley could live up to the Sikh creeds and teachings as a Governor she would be a much better Governor than what they have had.
Even Jesus said that it is by the fruits of their actions that you will know those who are of the kingdom and those who are not.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment