Faithful Politics

Our young adult conversation after worship yesterday focused on faith and politics.

The woman who led discussion talked about how disorienting she found this campaign. She referenced the nastiness--she had written on the room's chalkboard two dozen ugly words and phrases used by both candidates to disparage the other during these last few weeks. She described how disorienting it was to hear both men profess a Christian faith, then engage in what appeared to her as mudslinging and unfaithful treatment of the other.

She asked the 30 or so of us who gathered to think together about how Christians are expected to participate in the political process--not what issues to support, but how to engage with others.

A few observations from our conversation:

-Politics is inherently combative. If it were purely "moderate" or "civil" it wouldn't represent a real struggle over meaningful differences. We fight in politics because we the issues are significant and the differences are real. Fighting is a form of testing the strength of the respective positions and the passionate loyalty of those who would support them. One person commented that he felt strongly that our politics NEEDS to be combative--a certain level of intensity is not only warranted but is essential--a kind of refiner's fire.

-One participant said that if he weren't as angry as he is, he wouldn't be involved. He's going to Pennsylvania every weekend to canvass because he's mad. We observed together that people who engage in politics out of anger or fear often bring (unconsciously) stronger rhetoric than those who engage out of high minded ideals. When we're fearful or angry, we're both more likely to be involved and we're more likely to engage with passion and aggression. "Aggressive" politics that seems un-Christian is a reflection of the animating passions that spur political engagement.

-However, one participant noted that in Christianity, it is rare, if ever, that the ends are used to justify the means. Are we permitted to dismiss, disparage, misrepresent, slander, or otherwise demean someone in our pursuit of a "victory" for our cause? If Christ suffered and died for those he loved, even his enemies, isn't the Christlike way (in all places, but even in politics) to suffer in love, even risking "defeat" for the sake of glorifying the power of love? Shouldn't Christian politicians bend over backwards to love their enemies, thereby "heaping burning coals" of kindness upon their heads? Isn't love of enemies (not agreement, or deference, or pandering, but real love) the single most identifying ethical characteristic of a faithful follower of Jesus? Hasn't a politician who won't follow this "love ethic" already sold his/her soul for worldly gain?

-And shouldn't we expect, at the very least, that all Christian politicians show sincere humility? Shouldn't they be their own best critics? I remember George Bush in a 2004 debate being asked which decisions he made during his first term that he either regretted or would change in hindsight... and he didn't name one. He was unapologetically arrogant. It was, for me, the antithesis of Christian conduct. He was eager to take the speck out of his opponent's eye, but comfortable with the log in his own.

This was a good conversation--earnest, thoughtful, diverse, loving, hopeful.

It left me believing that there IS a sea of people in this country who are neither ignorant of the brutal proclivities of politics nor satisfied with Christian politicians who won't strive for a still better way.

I'm lucky to be a minister in this community.