I've said it once...

I said it here.   http://ballymennoniteblogger.blogspot.com/2008/10/whos-job-is-it-really.html
I said it again here...http://ballymennoniteblogger.blogspot.com/2008/11/whos-job-is-it-really-version-20.html
And again here... http://ballymennoniteblogger.blogspot.com/2009/08/have-we-lost-our-way.html
And here... http://ballymennoniteblogger.blogspot.com/2011/03/where-is-third-way.html
And, to an extent, here... http://ballymennoniteblogger.blogspot.com/2011/08/two-excuses.html

And, really, generally, the theme is constant in my critique of the church's role in American society...

But really... I have not heard it said more clearly than here... (H/T to Sam Wilcock for posting this at http://nolongernormal.wordpress.com/2011/10/10/government-or-church-whose-job-is-it/)

Really...  Why are we championing political activism that is, essentially, continuing this practice of giving over to either the government or some other institution that responsibility with which we have been tasked?  To paraphrase a few points from Mark T. Nation from his article in "Radical Ecumenicity" (edited by John C. Nugent titled "The Politics of Yoder regarding the Politics of Jesus" in 2010), here's a brief theological perspective.  Nation speaks concerning pacifism but I think the ideas go beyond that narrow focus to church and state relationships in general:

1. "Christian ethics are for Christians", meaning that you can't expect someone or a group of someones to consistently act like Christians when they do not share the faith background that dictates such ethics. (Of course, not all Christians act that way either, but that's another topic)
2. "the short-circuited means used to 'Christianize' 'responsibly' the world in some easier way than by the gospel [has] had the effect of dechristianizing the Occident and demonizing paganism" - This is a little hard to follow but it means that if we want to redeem anyone, even the "other" in the world, it cannot be done in the absence of the truth that is found in the gospel of Christ.
3. "the church's responsibility to the world is first and always to be the church".  Before we can demand that the world conform to the ideals of the central incarnation of the Kingdom in this world (the church), that incarnation first needs to BE the incarnation... we've gotta act the part, people... we have to be Jesus ourselves before we have any hope to try and get others to be like Jesus
4. "there may well be certain functions in a given society which the society in its unbelief considers necessary, and which the unbelief renders necessary, in which Christians will not be called to participate."  In other words, there comes a point in time when Christians need to say "That's the way the world does things... but that's not our way" and step away.  

Let's just stop it, please...  Stop the politicizing of the church.  Stop taking sides in the government.  Stop trying to use a political party for our particular means (and I'm pointing my finger at Republicans, Democrats, Communists, Libertarians, etc.).  Stop trying to justify voting in a particular direction as being the only "Christian" vote to cast.  We have a job to do and all this politics is just distracting us from what is important.  I mean, really... it's very easy...   I mean, there was this guy Micah who caught on...  It's really very simple...

But he's already made it plain how to live, what to do,    what God is looking for in men and women.It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor,    be compassionate and loyal in your love,And don't take yourself too seriously—    take God seriously. Micah 6:8, Message

Everything else is just a distraction... we have a job to do... really, a VERY easy one...

Let's get to work...