God's Politics: An introduction
The following is a selection from the interview conducted at yesterday's panel discussion conducted by the Brookings Institution. The speaker here is Jim Wallis, editor in chief for Sojourners, from whose book I will be posting some excerpts tomorrow. The discussion included religious and political leaders from a wide political spectrum. I hope you enjoy what you read. Jim Wallis is one of the most widely respected Progressive Evangelicals in the country.
***And Dad..... this one's for you.
"I often ask how did Jesus become pro-rich, pro-war, and only pro-
American? It sometimes feels to this evangelical that our faith has been stolen and it's
time to take it back. We need sometimes a rescue operation. Because I am an
evangelical Christian, I don't apologize for that. But when I find 3,000 verses in my
Bible about the poor, I want say poverty is a moral value, a biblical value, a religious
matter. The environment, the protection of God's creation, is also a religious issue for a
growing number of young Christian activists and people across the spectrum. Human
rights, the defense of every human being created in the image of God, is a moral
absolute and a religious matter. War and peace--how we go to war and when and
whether we tell the truth about these things is a fundamental theological issue, as Bryan
here has often showed us. As my friend E.J. just two days after the election said, social
justice is a moral value and war and peace are life issues, too.
Given the day, we must ask where would we be if Martin Luther King, Jr.
had kept his faith to himself? No other American religious leader has brought faith into
politics more effectively or faithfully. He said that churches are not meant to be the
master of the state nor the servant of the state, but the conscience of the state. That
means we don't try and ram our agendas down the throats of our fellow citizens or just
clean up the mess of bad social policy as faith-based providers, but rather, tell the truth
about the fundamental issues of justice and injustice, right and wrong, as he did.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was not a member of the religious right. He
focused on issues that are not much a part of their agenda today--racial justice, poverty,
and war. But neither was he a member of the secular left. He spoke unapologetically
about how the words of the prophets and Jesus apply to politics. And this book tries to
do that, too.
As John said, Martin Luther King, Jr. was part of a proud, progressive
religious tradition in this country. It helped to fuel virtually every major social
movement for reform. King always did that in a way, though, that was welcoming, not
just to Baptists like himself, but Catholics and Jews and those of no particular faith but
who cared about spiritual issues and moral values. King knew, as we all must say again
and again, that religion can claim no monopoly on morality, but a vital and socially
conscious religion is crucial to shaping the moral compass of a nation, especially when
so many of us in this nation are religious. King is a model for how to bring faith to bear
in our pluralistic and diverse society."
** Let us pray: Loving Father, we thank You for Your grace and love. We are forever grateful for Your patience with us in our imperfection. Please help us to strive to be better symbols of Your brilliance. Please heal the rifts that divide us. Teach us how to live without judging one another. Show us that we should not hide our faith any more than we should hide behind it. Give us the courage to stand up for our principles, the wisdom to seek truth in Your will, not our own, and give us the strength to proudly do it in Your name, for the glory of Your son, Jesus the Christ. It is in His name that we ask these things Lord. Amen.
January 16 - Romans 12:12 - More on electoral reform
12: Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
(New International Version)
**"In today's world, the liberals are the idealists, the people who still believe, in spite of everything that has happened, that they can make the world a better place for everybody. They believe that government is inherently good, that it can make the human condition better. They believe that we have some obligation to our fellow human beings. They believe in personal freedom, in freedom of speech and religion. They believe in the common good, the things people cannot do alone." -- Henrietta Hay, Grand Junction Daily Sentinel
I think that these statements from very different sources really say it all. This is why the "morals" discussion should not be dominated by right wing fundementalists. The scriptures tell us to adopt liberal ideals.... plain and simple. We are to be "joyful in hope".... "idealists", as Ms. Hay explains; "patient in affliction".... "still believing in spite of everything that has happened, that they can make the world a better place"; "faithful in prayer".... "They believe in the common good, the things people cannot do alone."
The ministry of Jesus is all about our "obligation to our fellow human beings." It can't be more clear. We are to be compassionate, charitable, forgiving, considerate, and non-judgemental. This is not a hard puzzle to put together. So why did the democrats lose so miserably on the "morals and values" front in the last election?
Simple - for too long, the Democratic party has been unable to define its views. Half of the party holds more centrist views while the other half leans to the left. Meanwhile, there are tons of tiny liberal parties who have thusfar gone unrepresented in the federal government. I argue that perhaps the more liberal members of the Democratic party should form their own party, emphasising a more liberal platform focused more on reform than moderation, and encompassing the under-represented left wing of the nation.
Upholding liberal ideals is fundemental to the security of our civil liberties and our reputation in the world. These Biblical and political ideals are the heart of the America the world should see. For too long, liberal ideals have been dismissed as radical, unethical, immoral, unpatriotic, and dangerous. For too long, liberals have been forced to choose between obscurity and ultimate comprimise of their beliefs. Liberal values aren't radical or dangerous. They are the values on which this nation was founded.... Values of freedom, protection, diplomacy, charity, hope, and social responsibility.
The two party system has, for the last 40 years, failed to uphold liberal ideals. Since President Kennedy's assasination, the democratic party has chosen to abandon its progressive principles and liberal ideals in favor of a more moderate, centrist approach. This effort has been met by limited success, as we have enjoyed only 1 two-term democratic president, and only 3 democratic presidents of ANY distinction, since Camelot. Two of those democratic presidents, Lyndon Johnson and Jimmy Carter, were far more centrist than liberal both economically and socially.
The solution is very simple. The two party system has become obsolete. A three party system would be better, but a multi-party system like those in Switzerland and Germany would be more effective in ensuring that everyone is effectively represented. The republican party could use a split as well, seperating the neo-conservatives from the libertarians and economic conservatives.
Christian ideals encourage us to hope for a better world. They encourage us to pray and to allow God to guide us. That brings with it a certain responsibility. We must follow the path God sets before us and not question Him when He speaks to our hearts. When the Word is available to us, we can't squander it.... This is ancient wisdom, inspired by God. If true Christian and American values are to be represented in the government of this nation (as the election shows to be the general desire of the majority of Americans), today's scripture tells us that liberal ideals must not be cast to the side. Instead, they should be an integral part of the legislative, executive, and even the judicial process.
2 Chronicles 1:8-12 - Why we need electoral reform
8: Solomon answered God, "You have shown great kindness to David my father and have made me king in his place.
9: Now, LORD God, let your promise to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth.
10: Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?"
11: God said to Solomon, "Since this is your heart's desire and you have not asked for wealth, riches or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king,
12: therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, riches and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have." (New International Version)
Published on Friday, January 7, 2005 by the Long Island, NY Newsday
It's One Tentative Step Toward Fairer Elections
by Melissa Harris Lacewell
What does it mean to live in a democracy? The citizens of the Ukraine, Afghanistan and Iraq are asking and answering that question at great cost.
Yesterday, the members of the Congressional Black Caucus, with the aid of Democratic California Sen. Barbara Boxer, interrupted business as usual on Capitol Hill in order to force Americans to face this same challenge. House Democrats who challenged the electoral votes from Ohio knew they would not alter the results of the presidential election. They simply hoped to pause the grinding machinery of government long enough to examine the operation of American democracy.
Interrupting the electoral vote count has occurred only twice before in our nation's history. It happened in 1969 because of a single rogue elector. Far more critically, the votes of the Electoral College were challenged in 1877 when a razor-thin election between Rutherford Hayes and Samuel Tilden generated a congressional deadlock. Congress eventually retreated behind closed doors, where Southern Democrats conceded to Hayes' presidency in exchange for the end of Union occupation of the defeated Confederacy.
This compromise cleared the path for Southern states to institute Jim Crow. Freed from the oversight of the federal government, the South used the rhetoric of states rights to strip black men of their right to vote, to segregate public accommodations, to provide inferior education to black citizens, and to allow and promote the terrorist rule of lynch-mob violence.
African-Americans learned from the unholy alliance of the Hayes-Tilden compromise that the rights of citizens can never be left to unexamined processes in Washington or in the states. The Democrats who objected yesterday were castigated as lunatics and undignified extremists. Their opponents lamented that their actions were pathetic, and advised these representatives to "get over it" and allow the Congress to get back to work. The reality is that democracy is messy, difficult and often dangerous. When the revolutionaries of the American colonies took up arms against King George, it was not to establish a more efficient government. When the soldiers of the Union marched into battle, it was not to ensure that the federal government would always run on time.
When old men and young girls fell from the force of fire hoses in Birmingham, Ala., it was not a struggle for bureaucratic convenience. These were sacrifices made to create, protect and extend the right of people to govern themselves and to hold accountable the governments instituted among them.
The issue at stake is simple. On Nov. 2, voters cast ballots in 50 separate and unequal elections. Not only do voting procedures, machinery and oversight vary tremendously among the states; they also differ precinct to precinct. The evidence is clear. We live in a nation where it is systematically more difficult for some citizens to exercise their right to vote.
There is no question that these citizens tend to be black, brown, poor and urban. Such glaring disparities in our electoral system demand both a full accounting and a remedy. Yesterday's floor debate was a first, tentative step in that process.
Four years ago African-American representatives challenged the electoral vote in Florida, hoping to provoke this same discussion. In a scene now made famous by Michael Moore's "Farenheit 9/11," not a single senator would join the members of the Congressional Black Caucus in their fight to address these core issues of democracy. This year the story was rewritten.
Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-Ohio) proudly announced "a senator has signed the objection." It was a potentially important moment for the Democratic Party.
As senators such as Hillary Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois consider possible presidential bids, they will have to decide if they will be cowed by the Republicans or if they will follow Boxer's courageous example and join in the fight to protect our basic liberties. Clinton and Obama did speak supportively on the Senate floor about the election challenge. But Boxer was the only senator to vote to sustain the objection. Thirty-one House members voted to sustain it.
The coming year will reveal if others will find the moral courage to reframe our nation's political debates. The words of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. should silence those critics who dismissed today's debate as a distraction. "Human progress never rolls in on the wheels of inevitability; it comes through the tireless efforts of men willing to be co-workers with God. We must use time creatively, in the knowledge that the time is always ripe to do right."
Melissa Harris Lacewell is assistant profesor of political science at the University of Chicago and author of "Barbershops, Bibles, and BET: Everyday Talk and Black Political Thought."
I highlighted Rev. King's quote for two reasons. I believe that Rev. King embodied the true American spirit. The spirit that always strives toward justice, freedom, and discovery. Rev. King was not only a great civil rights leader and a fantastic public speaker, he was a devoted follower of Christ. He got it. He understood not only what it means to be an American, but what it means to be a Christian as well.
I also feel that Rev. King's quote gets right to the heart of where the conciousness of this nation needs to be right now. We all need to be "co-workers with God". We need to stop ignoring the root of Christianity and embrace change.
Freedom is a choice. We think of it as an inalienable, God given right. But it's not. It can be taken from us at any time. The last two elections and the subsequent apathy of the American people are frightening to me. I can't believe that Americans are watching their rights get taken from them on C-SPAN and do nothing about it. It's hard to imagine that we are being told that we must sacrifice liberties for the sake of protecting our nation. So we get to lose all say in our government, but if we do so quietly, we get to retain the privilage of living within American borders? What IS that? Don't people get it? Obviously not.
Today's scripture is clear regarding God's reward to those who rule wisely. I am dismayed that so many openly Christian Senators and Representatives chose to turn their backs on what they knew was right and take the easy road. But God will not make it so easy for those people. They are hungry for power and wealth.... They stand to further their careers by following party lines and forming alliances across the aisle.
There are two problems with this strategy.... One political, one spiritual.
The political ramifications are enormous. There are people in this country who lean FAR to the left of Teddy Kennedy. People like say..... Me. We are not being represented by any political party with even 1 official in office. In fact, I'd bet if I asked you who the green party candidate was, you probably wouldn't know. The democtrats are not a liberal party. I repeat... the democrats are NOT a liberal party. The democrats, by definitions set forward by their party platforms and economic policies, are CENTRIST. Yes.... Centrist. So what does that make republicans? CONSERVATIVE (i.e. Ronald Reagan) and NEOCONSERVATIVE (i.e. Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter). So who is liberal?
Well, we're all scattered out..... Green party, communists, socialists, anarchists; and the thing about being liberal is.... You can disaggree (dissent is ENCOURAGED in the progressive movement), as all of those seperate movements do, but you can respect each other anyway. But because dissent is the tie that binds liberals together, it is also the one that, until now, has kept us apart and prevented any real organization within the ranks. That has to change, and those Senators and Representatives who lacked the courage of their convictions show us why. We are being denied our right to be represented in the government.
The spiritual ramifications are obvious. The people who chose power over principle will not be rewarded as God rewarded Solomon. They will watch as their more courageous counterparts rise in status and they fade into the background. How do I know this will happen? Because God tells Solomon how a ruler gains favor with Him. The 31 Representatives and 1 Senator who stood up for their constituents' rights and chose wisdom over personal gain have set themselves apart from the pack. Thank God for them and for their courage.
Anyone with a concience knows that whether the election results would change or not, every single citizen has the right to participate in their government, and if they are being denied that right, the problem must be addressed.
Even God chose a ruler for His people who asked for wisdom above all else, so that he could be a fair and effective ruler. Is it wise to look the other way while our democracy erodes? Is it fair to allow thousands of voters to become disenfranchised because they might vote the "wrong" way? Is it effective to leave about a quarter of your nation unrepresented and call your government a democratic representative government? Do we really think that God doesn't see this? Or do we think He just won't care?
Support the local, state, regional, and national elected officials who aspire to be "co-workers with God". Tell them you appreciate that they are standing up for your rights against those who would imply that those thousands of votes didn't matter. Make sure they know they have your support, because they are being called lunatics and worse for making a stand. Let them know that you get it.... And that you like it. This is the first step. We have opened a dialogue about election reform. Now let's make some changes.
1) Get rid of the two party system. It is ineffective and leaves too many of our nation's diverse ideas out of the mix. Furthermore, it promotes greed, aristocracy, and dishonesty among its participants (as evidenced in 2000 and throughout the last four years), distancing them from God.
2) Create national voting standards that embrace a multi-party system (many European nations use instant runoff voting.... To check it out, click here), to ensure that ALL citizens are represented and no one's views are considered "a spoiler".
3) Eliminate the electoral college in favor of direct democracy.... Instant Runoff Voting would also be helpful in this field, ensuring that the popular vote was accurately represented. The President should be the person the people choose..... Not the answer to a math equation.
4) Invite international monitors to observe our election process and get feedback from them. There are many countries throughout the world that have very effective voting systems that we could learn from.
Just some suggestions..... I'm sure I'll come up with more. God bless you all.
-Tea
December 30 - Rambling Thoughts
In light of the tsunami in the Indian ocean, Let us pray:
Awesome Father, please be with the Asian people and their governments as they struggle to cope with this unprecendented tragedy. Lord, we never claim to know Your motives. We trust Your perfect judgement. We only pray, Lord, that You will show us how to help those in need, and that You be with the families of those whom you took home to be with You. We ask that you touch the hearts and minds of humanitarian aid workers and empower them to do Your will. Deal harshly and swiftly with those who ignore Your commandments of charity and love. Help us to get our priorities straight. We ask all of these things in the name of Christ, our Saviour. Amen.
Just want to pass along an e-mail a friend of mine sent me. Oh gee.... I'm so glad we have a "Christian" president. What a joke.
December 29, 2004 Us, Stingy? It's All Relative
By DAVE LINDORFF
Cost of one F-22 Raptor tactical fighter jet -- $225 million
Cost of the ongoing U.S. war in Iraq--$228 million/day
Amount spent by Kerry and Bush campaigns -- $400 million
U.S. aid to Yushenko camp in recent Ukrainian conflict -- $30+ million
Estimated cost of Bush's Second Inauguration and Ball -- $ 40+ million
Amount of U.S. tax cuts under Bush -- $1 trillion
Cost of the U.S. Iraq War in 2004 -- $147 billion
U.S. reconstruction aid budgeted for Iraq (though never spent!) -- $18 billion
Amount the U.S. initially in aid to Indian Ocean tsunami victims -- $ 10 million
Amount U.S. offered in tsunami aid after being chastised by UN official -- $35 million
Dave Lindorff is the author of Killing Time: an Investigation into the Death Row Case of Mumia Abu-Jamal. His new book of CounterPunch columns titled "This Can't be Happening!" to be published this fall by Common Courage Press. Information about both books and other work by Lindorff can be found at www.thiscantbehappening.net.
***Having a "Christian" president in a "Christian" country with its priorities straight?...... Priceless.
Seriously.... this is pathetic. Are you thoroughly disgusted yet?
-Tea
December 22 - Psalms 72:9-14
9: Foes will fall on their knees before God, his enemies lick the dust.
10: Kings remote and legendary will pay homage, kings rich and resplendent will turn over their wealth.
11: All kings will fall down and worship, and godless nations sign up to serve him,
12: Because he rescues the poor at the first sign of need, the destitute who have run out of luck.
13: He opens a place in his heart for the down--and-out, he restores the wretched of the earth.
14: He frees them from tyranny and torture-- when they bleed, he bleeds; when they die, he dies.
(The Message Bible)
Many people that I talk to believe that this war is somehow necessary. They believe that as the "sole surviving superpower", we have an obligation of some sort to throw our weight around. They believe that the only way to ensure that America remains the wealthiest and most powerful nation on earth is to democratize everyone; by force if necessary. They believe that our cause is noble and that the global opposition to this war is resentment of our influence from the rest of the world. They are wrong.
Today's scripture, which is from the Old Testament, prior to the New Covenant in Christ's blood, explains how God wants us to handle foreign policy.
The first three verses sound like typical "Glory and Wrath of God" Old Testament themes. No big surprise. The enemies will fall down and worship God. Yay. God is mighty and feared. Yippee. Haven't we heard this about a thousand times before? We get it.
But the last three verses explain WHY kings will follow the law of God and why rich men will turn over their wealth to honor God and why the whole world will respect Isreal, God's chosen people. It's not because of military might or ruthless battle tactics. It's because of things like charity, love, and social justice. Even in ancient times, peace was preferable to war and diplomacy garnered more favor than battle.
But somehow, our "Christian" president and his "morally sound" administration haven't figured that out yet, and amazingly enough, neither have the majority of the American people.
What this passage tells us is that to truly be respected in the world, it is not necessary to bully other countries by brute force. Respect is earned. It is earned by acts of charity and compassion. There is a fine line between respect and fear, and this nation crossed it a long time ago.
We do have obligations as the "sole surviving superpower". Our obligation is to use our wealth and power to lift up the downtrodden, cure the sick, and promote freedom. But make no mistake.... Freedom is given by God and taken from God..... No government, no matter how well intentioned, can ever force freedom. What our government CAN do is promote freedom through example.
Our personal freedoms are eroding in the face of terror threats and partisan politics. Our economy is failing. Huge portions of our population are persecuted for their sexual orientation. Our electoral system is in desperate need of an overhaul. Our commercial press is no longer free or fair. Our education system leaves too many children behind. The seperation between church and state is slowly closing. With the nation in this state of affairs, it seems to me that maybe our government should be concentrated on the reconstruction of OUR democracy, and they CERTAINLY shouldn't be forcing their failing system on other nations.
If we spent the same amount of money on humanitarian aid that we did on the invasion and occupation of Iraq.... Well, it boggles the mind.
Currently, the Iraqi people are bleeding and dying, as are our soldiers and international contractors and aid workers. This scripture tells us that God bleeds and dies with them. The last verse of the scripture says, "He frees them from tyrrany and torture". Americans have, until this point, believed that we were God's vessel to deliver the Iraqi people from tyrrany and torture, but a quick look at the news on any given day wipes that out. We have become the instruments of tyrrany and torture; symbols for brutality and aggression throughout the world.
It's incredible to think that just 4 years ago, the world rallied to our aid when we were victims of the worst terror attack in history. But were we really victims? In a recent address to the American people, Osama Bin Laden explained that American aggression in the middle east directly caused the Jihad that they currently wage against our country. You see, we started it. It's been going on for decades. But when we, with our soverign status and organized military, attack another nation that never attacked, threatened to attack, or had the capability of attacking our country, well, we never think that THAT action could be construed as terrorism.
I assert that George Bush is a terrorist who should be tried as such before the UN. He certainly shouldn't be our president. He should have been impeached, not re-elected. And I am ashamed to say that Christians played a large part in preventing that justice from occurring. I am shocked and dismayed that the "Christian" vote in this country had nothing to do with Christianity at all. I am angry to know that a primarily Christian nation could not only allow its government to conduct itself in such immoral and unethical ways, but also condone and reward that behavior. I am disgusted that Americans refuse to see the error in their ways, and that Christians are the most stubborn of all.
Today's passage tells us that God rewards those who love and take care of one another with glory, power, and riches. The Iraq war represents the exact opposite of that goal. By fighting this ungodly war and masking tyranny and oppression as freedom and democracy, we not only lose favor with the rest of the world; we also lose favor with God.
-Tea
****Let us pray: God of Grace, please forgive us for the pain and suffering our nation has caused throughout the world. Please do not bring Your wrath down on our soldiers, who follow orders faithfully and serve their country well. Deal harshly with those who call down Your name to justify brutality and cruelty. Fill the hearts of the innocent soldiers and freedom fighters with love and compassion, and watch over them. They need You now, as do we. We ask these things in the name of Christ, Your son. Amen.
