What Do We Look Like?

     In the aftermath of the election, about the only consensus I've heard is that our country's demographics are changing.  We look like a different country, and we will continue this trend.  Demographics clearly had an impact on the outcome of the presidential election with a strong turnout of Latino, black, young, and women voter's playing a pivotal role in swing states.  For instance, of Hispanic voters, 71% voted for Obama.

     These groups have traditionally been society's marginalized.  These are not white males.  It's interesting that in the Bible, it is the marginalized who are prized.  The mantra of the "alien, the fatherless, and widow" is reverberated again and again.  Luke highlights God's remarkable choice of a teenage mother for the Christ.  Jesus is constantly found hanging with the "wrong" people, the tax collectors and sinners. 

     Much has been said about Republican "soul-searching" in light of the demographic shifts.  For conservative Christians who count themselves a Republican, there is another layer added.  Is pro-choice and pro-traditional marriage the only platform for a political party?  Is the Republican party too narrow?  Can one be theologically conservative and inclusive?  How can a conservative Christian take up the cause of the immigrant, the single woman, the demographic minority?

     Did you see the difference between the Democratic and Republican crowds?  In Boston, Mitt Romney supporters were predominantly white and older.  If there was a woman, she appeared to be next to a man.  In Chicago, you saw a smattering of color.  Black, white, and tan.  There were a diversity of ages, although clearly younger.  And there were blocks of women with no man standing next to them.  As the body of Christ, who are we?  And on Sunday mornings, what do we look like? 

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