05-15-2007, 03:39 PM
Another blog entry of mine on religion and politics! Enjoy...
"Government is not the solution to our problems, government is the problem"
-Ronald Reagan
Amen, preach it brother! I am not a true libertarian in my political beliefs (nor am I a particularly big fan of Mr. Reagan) but I share the contempt of that particular wing of American politics in my contempt for the effectiveness of government. Government is, in the words of George Washington, "a dangerous servant and a fearful master". The overuse of government has resulted in nothing but wasted money and incompetence at best and a lot of bloodshed at worst. And perhaps, most disturbing of all, is the passionate belief of countless Christians-both liberal and conservative-who believe that government is the answer to their prayers, the tool handed down by God to achieve their goals. Politics is the way to solve problems. "Salvation by legislation" is the way to get things done. Whether it is a crusade to ban homosexuality and abortion or to care for the poor and save the planet Jesus has been co-opted by the Right and is on the verge of being adopted by the Left...who else can claim that distinction?
There are several problems here, both from a political and a religious perspective. Let's take a look first at the political and then the religious.
POLITICAL:
1. It doesn't work. Big government has had far more failures than successes. The welfare state is a failure-in the words of one wise man the world is a graveyard of failed socialist experiments. Socialism doesn't work. Over-regulation, massive government programs, big-time spending...the list could go on and on of the many things we've attempted to do with government. It doesn't work. The government is incompetent. Even with legislating behavior it doesn't work-for one enforcement of some rules (like coveting thy neighbor's wife) is for all intents and purposes impossible, but the nature of liberty and the failure of something like prohibition are suggestive that more rules are likely only to create more heat as people move to evade the rules. Many of the social and economic programs adopted by political Christians are simply impractical and some just don't fit with our government.
2. The extremes-communism and fascism among others-are quite undesirable. When pushing an agenda backed by religion government rarely stays in a safe and stable place.
3. Politics is a dirty business and one that is essentially amoral by nature. Trying to do anything moral with politics is like trying to practice chastity by having sex with a prostitute.
4. Finally...it isn't government's job to do many of these things. Some of these belong to individuals, families, businesses and communities. Oh yeah-and the Church. This shouldn't be about passing the buck.
RELIGION:
1. Jesus wasn't a politician. Shocking but true. That little comment about Caesar's coin is often ignored, but the concept there is that there some things that are only God's and some things that are for the government.
2. The nature of Christ's message does not fit neatly into a left-right political paradigm. While Christ talked a great deal about personal sin, the need for personal regeneration and had a great deal to say about ethics his message was not the harsh, quasi-fascist message of today's Religious Right. And while his stresses on social awareness and the responsibility we have for our neighbor he was not as some would believe the first socialist. He was a social prophet who demanded a better vision of the world (as Marcus Borg has pointed out) but did not use politics to achieve his means.
3. The mixing of religion and politics is bad for both-it damages the political process (when God enters the mix there can be no compromises) and corrupts religion. And let us not forget the history of theocracies, the countless number of lives taken in the name of God in the old days of Christendom and today in the Middle East. And let us not forget-Christ was killed by an alliance between political leaders and religious leaders.
4. To re-used #4 from the above-we have shirked our responsibility and passed the buck. The CHURCH was commanded to care for the poor, not the government. The government cannot do what we can do as Christians.
But is there a better way? YES!
So what is my solution to the government-politics divide? In true politician fashion I will offer a 5-Point Plan to address the problem. Here goes!
1. Respect the Separation of Church and State. We must accept that there are separate spheres for the church and the state, that God's authority cannot and should not be legislated and that there are better ways to do our work then to jump in bed with the government. On the other hand the knife cuts both ways and we should fight to protect our right to worship free from interference by Big Daddy, Big Mommy or Big Brother government. Also, the nation should not ever become an idol. Extreme patriotism (read nationalism or ethnocentrism) is idolatry).
2. Be Good Citizens But Use Faith as Shield, Not a Sword. We should participate in the Democratic process and be politically astute. But we should use our faith as a personal inspiration and source of strength, not as a weapon to be used on the political battlefield.
3. Accept Our Responsibilities: The World is Waiting: Come to terms with the fact that Christians must change the world, that we must care for the sick, the poor, the hungry, the dying; that we must fight for equality and justice; that we need to stand for ethics and values; that we must set an example.
4. It Starts Small: Our actions as individuals and through the local church will be the primary way of loving our neighbor and carrying out the commands to care for the sick and lift up the weak.
5. Be Creative: Instead of crying out for government help or running to politics look to more creative public-private and faith-driven solutions to problems in the world. The government should only be used when absolutely necessary-and then, without a political agenda or partisan bias.
The essence of this plan is to reject the idea that only government can accomplish our goals or that politics helps the church. If anything, politics only tears a deeper rift in the church and too easily reduces religion to being a mouthpiece of a politician or political organization. This is not the way. We must accept that we have responsibilities to the world: To fight for the right to worship, to stand for morals and ethics, to care for the poor and to fight for justice and equality (charity and justice must go together). We must change the world, we are the hands of Christ, the hands of God. God's kingdom will never become a reality without this work. Cesar cannot help us with this.
Politics is addicting, it's easy, it's narcissistic-hence why so many churches leech onto it. But it is not the way to do things. Government has failed. We must move on. There are better ways.
* The Grameen Bank project of Muhammad Yunus is a great example of a better way to fight poverty than welfare handouts
* Private organizations like The Nature Conservancy and grassroots movements are better at saving the environment than Al Gore could ever be
* The movie Freedom Writers (I just saw it the other night) shows the incredible impact compassion and a good teacher have on individual students
* The church does better with social programs than the government does-prison ministry, health care ministry-faith-based outreaches may well be the key
The crux of these ideals is the power that a religious organization can bring. Organizations dedicated do justice and charity are likely to burnout without divine fuel. And after all, it is the responsibility of the church.
What about government? I am not a believer in liberation theology, I'm not a modern big-government liberal and I'm certainly not a socialist. Regardless, I am not a true libertarian either. I think there are moments where the government must intervene to protect the weak from exploitation, to help protect the rights of the oppressed and to insure that the government can keep the economy running reasonably smooth (I do support some regulations to protect worker's rights, the environment, etc). Here the church must step in, as Martin Luther King did. It is true that laws cannot change hearts and minds, but as Dr. King once remarked "The law cannot make a white man love me but it can keep him from lynching me and that's just as important" (let it never be said that Dr. King did not have a sense of humor). The fact is occasionally we must turn to the government, but the church should not mingle too closely with political parties, and should be extremely careful in its positions. All Christians (well, almost all) agree on the ends of social justice. But we do not agree on the means. Some are absolute pacifists, some believe in the "just war" doctrine. Some are pro-choice, many are pro-life. We need to find some common ground and we can't do that with hardcore partisanship.
But the most vital part of this new "third way" is to understand that such love begins with ourselves. We must practice love, peace, compassion, tolerance and respect ourselves. We need, as individuals, to work to strengthen our families and practice a way of life based on honesty, integrity and respect for values. When we see someone in distress we need to reach out. It is US who need to offer kind words, a helping hand, the kiss of peace. We cannot delegate our responsibility to our neighbors. "Love your neighbor" does not offer a 5-Point government plan or a political platform. It is a way of life. We can live together as a community, and work to change society but this begins as individuals. It can't be imposed from above.
When we all begin changing our lives and doing the simple, little things that are based on love of God, Neighbor and Self; when we work together as the Church to care for the world; then the Kingdom of God will begin to make itself known. Caesar, Uncle Sam and the rest cannot help us with this. This is our job.
What are we waiting for?
Politics and Government are Not the Answer
"Government is not the solution to our problems, government is the problem"
-Ronald Reagan
Amen, preach it brother! I am not a true libertarian in my political beliefs (nor am I a particularly big fan of Mr. Reagan) but I share the contempt of that particular wing of American politics in my contempt for the effectiveness of government. Government is, in the words of George Washington, "a dangerous servant and a fearful master". The overuse of government has resulted in nothing but wasted money and incompetence at best and a lot of bloodshed at worst. And perhaps, most disturbing of all, is the passionate belief of countless Christians-both liberal and conservative-who believe that government is the answer to their prayers, the tool handed down by God to achieve their goals. Politics is the way to solve problems. "Salvation by legislation" is the way to get things done. Whether it is a crusade to ban homosexuality and abortion or to care for the poor and save the planet Jesus has been co-opted by the Right and is on the verge of being adopted by the Left...who else can claim that distinction?
There are several problems here, both from a political and a religious perspective. Let's take a look first at the political and then the religious.
POLITICAL:
1. It doesn't work. Big government has had far more failures than successes. The welfare state is a failure-in the words of one wise man the world is a graveyard of failed socialist experiments. Socialism doesn't work. Over-regulation, massive government programs, big-time spending...the list could go on and on of the many things we've attempted to do with government. It doesn't work. The government is incompetent. Even with legislating behavior it doesn't work-for one enforcement of some rules (like coveting thy neighbor's wife) is for all intents and purposes impossible, but the nature of liberty and the failure of something like prohibition are suggestive that more rules are likely only to create more heat as people move to evade the rules. Many of the social and economic programs adopted by political Christians are simply impractical and some just don't fit with our government.
2. The extremes-communism and fascism among others-are quite undesirable. When pushing an agenda backed by religion government rarely stays in a safe and stable place.
3. Politics is a dirty business and one that is essentially amoral by nature. Trying to do anything moral with politics is like trying to practice chastity by having sex with a prostitute.
4. Finally...it isn't government's job to do many of these things. Some of these belong to individuals, families, businesses and communities. Oh yeah-and the Church. This shouldn't be about passing the buck.
RELIGION:
1. Jesus wasn't a politician. Shocking but true. That little comment about Caesar's coin is often ignored, but the concept there is that there some things that are only God's and some things that are for the government.
2. The nature of Christ's message does not fit neatly into a left-right political paradigm. While Christ talked a great deal about personal sin, the need for personal regeneration and had a great deal to say about ethics his message was not the harsh, quasi-fascist message of today's Religious Right. And while his stresses on social awareness and the responsibility we have for our neighbor he was not as some would believe the first socialist. He was a social prophet who demanded a better vision of the world (as Marcus Borg has pointed out) but did not use politics to achieve his means.
3. The mixing of religion and politics is bad for both-it damages the political process (when God enters the mix there can be no compromises) and corrupts religion. And let us not forget the history of theocracies, the countless number of lives taken in the name of God in the old days of Christendom and today in the Middle East. And let us not forget-Christ was killed by an alliance between political leaders and religious leaders.
4. To re-used #4 from the above-we have shirked our responsibility and passed the buck. The CHURCH was commanded to care for the poor, not the government. The government cannot do what we can do as Christians.
But is there a better way? YES!
A New Vision
So what is my solution to the government-politics divide? In true politician fashion I will offer a 5-Point Plan to address the problem. Here goes!
1. Respect the Separation of Church and State. We must accept that there are separate spheres for the church and the state, that God's authority cannot and should not be legislated and that there are better ways to do our work then to jump in bed with the government. On the other hand the knife cuts both ways and we should fight to protect our right to worship free from interference by Big Daddy, Big Mommy or Big Brother government. Also, the nation should not ever become an idol. Extreme patriotism (read nationalism or ethnocentrism) is idolatry).
2. Be Good Citizens But Use Faith as Shield, Not a Sword. We should participate in the Democratic process and be politically astute. But we should use our faith as a personal inspiration and source of strength, not as a weapon to be used on the political battlefield.
3. Accept Our Responsibilities: The World is Waiting: Come to terms with the fact that Christians must change the world, that we must care for the sick, the poor, the hungry, the dying; that we must fight for equality and justice; that we need to stand for ethics and values; that we must set an example.
4. It Starts Small: Our actions as individuals and through the local church will be the primary way of loving our neighbor and carrying out the commands to care for the sick and lift up the weak.
5. Be Creative: Instead of crying out for government help or running to politics look to more creative public-private and faith-driven solutions to problems in the world. The government should only be used when absolutely necessary-and then, without a political agenda or partisan bias.
The essence of this plan is to reject the idea that only government can accomplish our goals or that politics helps the church. If anything, politics only tears a deeper rift in the church and too easily reduces religion to being a mouthpiece of a politician or political organization. This is not the way. We must accept that we have responsibilities to the world: To fight for the right to worship, to stand for morals and ethics, to care for the poor and to fight for justice and equality (charity and justice must go together). We must change the world, we are the hands of Christ, the hands of God. God's kingdom will never become a reality without this work. Cesar cannot help us with this.
Politics is addicting, it's easy, it's narcissistic-hence why so many churches leech onto it. But it is not the way to do things. Government has failed. We must move on. There are better ways.
* The Grameen Bank project of Muhammad Yunus is a great example of a better way to fight poverty than welfare handouts
* Private organizations like The Nature Conservancy and grassroots movements are better at saving the environment than Al Gore could ever be
* The movie Freedom Writers (I just saw it the other night) shows the incredible impact compassion and a good teacher have on individual students
* The church does better with social programs than the government does-prison ministry, health care ministry-faith-based outreaches may well be the key
The crux of these ideals is the power that a religious organization can bring. Organizations dedicated do justice and charity are likely to burnout without divine fuel. And after all, it is the responsibility of the church.
What about government? I am not a believer in liberation theology, I'm not a modern big-government liberal and I'm certainly not a socialist. Regardless, I am not a true libertarian either. I think there are moments where the government must intervene to protect the weak from exploitation, to help protect the rights of the oppressed and to insure that the government can keep the economy running reasonably smooth (I do support some regulations to protect worker's rights, the environment, etc). Here the church must step in, as Martin Luther King did. It is true that laws cannot change hearts and minds, but as Dr. King once remarked "The law cannot make a white man love me but it can keep him from lynching me and that's just as important" (let it never be said that Dr. King did not have a sense of humor). The fact is occasionally we must turn to the government, but the church should not mingle too closely with political parties, and should be extremely careful in its positions. All Christians (well, almost all) agree on the ends of social justice. But we do not agree on the means. Some are absolute pacifists, some believe in the "just war" doctrine. Some are pro-choice, many are pro-life. We need to find some common ground and we can't do that with hardcore partisanship.
But the most vital part of this new "third way" is to understand that such love begins with ourselves. We must practice love, peace, compassion, tolerance and respect ourselves. We need, as individuals, to work to strengthen our families and practice a way of life based on honesty, integrity and respect for values. When we see someone in distress we need to reach out. It is US who need to offer kind words, a helping hand, the kiss of peace. We cannot delegate our responsibility to our neighbors. "Love your neighbor" does not offer a 5-Point government plan or a political platform. It is a way of life. We can live together as a community, and work to change society but this begins as individuals. It can't be imposed from above.
When we all begin changing our lives and doing the simple, little things that are based on love of God, Neighbor and Self; when we work together as the Church to care for the world; then the Kingdom of God will begin to make itself known. Caesar, Uncle Sam and the rest cannot help us with this. This is our job.
What are we waiting for?
I don't understand why some people believe that the only way to create equality is to rob Peter to pay Paul (which is essentially all liberation theology is). I think this is nothing more than a cop-out...and as mentioned a failure! Socialism does not work! The Great Society...great idea, nice try. But it has failed.