In the middle of a presidential election...

It's amazing... and confusing sometimes.

Being, first of all, a follower of God but also being an immigrant in USA and coming from a really different background in life; I'm challenged in this season participating - as a witness - in the process that is core for democracy in a country that is seen as the icon of freedom in the world. The process is the election of the new President of USA.

Just 2 main political parties with defined positions seemed to me would make the process easier, specially coming from a country where we count parties by dozens. But is not. The human nature of men where goodness resides as we were created in the Image of God, but also darkness rules as consequence of our disobedience and separation of God, is reflected in the use we chose to make of our decision to serve our community, or our decision to support who does it. Not just decisions, but also the way we express them and the way we act on them.

This means we can use politics for good or bad; we can use it as an instrument to built up those who Christ died for; or to manipulate things to get our way. This old battle between good and evil is real everywhere.

For me the saddest testimony is to see the division the use of politics inflict among those who are called to be salt and light of the world. It's not just about the destination but also is about the way you walk there, and the way you face conflict, disagreement and difference in others... I guess that would be the biggest testimony about a heart, after all it's easy to be a 'good Christian' when there is no conflict or disagreement, or among people who think the same as you. Knowledge puffs up, love builds up. The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. But the man who loves God is known by God.

I wonder what would be the answer of Christ to the question of vote today... seems that giving Caesar what is Caesar's, and God what is God's would fit somehow. I'm not suggesting the the way is non-politic view; but rather a redeemed-politic view, where God - and the wise civil application of our rights and duties that can only be given by the Spirit - really are ruling over all.

Out of all the things I have been hearing and reading about the election process, this one is the one I would share today. It's take form Jim Wallis' blog:

So maybe we should have some rules of civility for this election. Let me suggest "Five Rules of Christian Civility."

We Christians should be in the pocket of no political party, but should evaluate both candidates and parties by our biblically-based moral compass.

We don't vote on only one issue, but see biblical foundations for our concerns over many issues.

We advocate for a consistent ethic of life from womb to tomb, and one that challenges the selective moralities of both the left and the right.

We will respect the integrity of our Christian brothers and sisters in their sincere efforts to apply Christian commitments to the important decisions of this election, knowing that people of faith and conscience will be voting both ways in this election year.

We will not attack our fellow Christians as Democratic or Republican partisans, but rather will expect and respect the practice of putting our faith first in this election year, even if we reach different conclusions.

On Nov. 4, Christians will not be able to vote for the kingdom of God. It is not on the ballot. Yet there are very important choices to make that will significantly impact the common good and the health of this nation -- and of the world. So we urge our Christian brothers and sisters to exercise their crucial right to vote and to apply their Christian conscience to those decisions. And in the finite and imperfect political decisions of this and any election, we promise to respect the Christian political conscience of our brothers and sisters in Christ.