Political rhetoric has been heating up in this country in advance of the 2012 Presidential election. Charges are flying fast from one camp to another, people trying to genuflect to one issue or another. Certainly the right wing has had a field day blaming the president for every ill that the country is suffering. I am surprised that he hasn't been blamed for the earthquake and for hurricane Irene.
We certainly pull out the stops when we want to make a point, and often we don't seem to care whom we hurt in the process. I know that politics is a messy business and that politicians have been saying rude and hurtful things about each other for generations, and also that it isn't necessary to take seriously everything that they say. But I want for a moment to look at our Christian roots in all of this and to say something about how we ought to treat each other in the middle of our disagreements.
Many of the candidates emphasize their Christian roots. Sometimes simply to make points about gay rights or abortion, or the influx of Islamic religion into our country. But if Christianity is the basis for their politics, I think it ought more so to be the basis of their morality.
In Matthew's Gospel, Jesus discusses a method of dealing with conflict that might be helpful, not only to politicians, but to all of us as we deal with the minefield of issues on our doorstep. It is a rather simple formula that tries to put feelings above the conflict. Jesus is talking about church members, but his formula is certainly applicable to a much larger community than that.
He says to his disciples: "If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fact of that to him when the two of you are alone." He is being careful here to keep the conversation at the lowest possible level. He goes on to advise, "But if you are not listened to, take two or three others with you, so that the evidence can be confirmed by several witnesses." Again, he is here being careful to keep the conversation at the lowest possible level. It is only when the conversation fails at this time that he advises his disciples to "tell it to the church." In other words, to involve the larger community. If the offender refuses even to listen to the church, we are advised then to treat the offender "like a Gentile or a tax collector."
What is somewhat amusing here is that Jesus treated Gentiles, like the woman near Tyre with the afflicted daughter, or the tax-collector Matthew who is the author of this Gospel with great care and compassion. But such as that is, let's look at what this formula means for all of us as we deal with the myriad of issues that seem to be driving us at the moment. Wouldn't we be much better served if we could keep our conversations about these things that divide us at the lowest possible level? Wouldn't it be better if we could somehow stifle the name calling and assume the best rather than the worst about each other? Again, this is not only true for politicians, but for all of us.
We certainly have opinions and disagreements about a lot of things these days, but it is our certainty that drives our passion and our anger about it all. There is a more useful middle ground that we can inhabit that can lessen our anger and increase our compassion for each other. That is the real basis for compromise, and compromise is the essence of democracy. Compromise is the only thing that will get us out of the dilemmas that are confronting us: the deficit, the economy, the dearth of jobs and also all of those things that divide us culturally. How can we care best for those who are marginalized, the poor, the outcast and the deprived. Certainly not by name calling and blame. Keeping everyone in the game is essential. Respecting everyone's stands on issues is very important to our mutual life. It is how we come to understand the solutions to the problems that lie at the root of our common life.
Speaking softly is essential. Our "Christian" politicians need to continually reflect on their religious center and keep their Christianity before them. If they did, we would be much richer for their input and for the good sense and compromise that would naturally result.
We certainly pull out the stops when we want to make a point, and often we don't seem to care whom we hurt in the process. I know that politics is a messy business and that politicians have been saying rude and hurtful things about each other for generations, and also that it isn't necessary to take seriously everything that they say. But I want for a moment to look at our Christian roots in all of this and to say something about how we ought to treat each other in the middle of our disagreements.
Many of the candidates emphasize their Christian roots. Sometimes simply to make points about gay rights or abortion, or the influx of Islamic religion into our country. But if Christianity is the basis for their politics, I think it ought more so to be the basis of their morality.
In Matthew's Gospel, Jesus discusses a method of dealing with conflict that might be helpful, not only to politicians, but to all of us as we deal with the minefield of issues on our doorstep. It is a rather simple formula that tries to put feelings above the conflict. Jesus is talking about church members, but his formula is certainly applicable to a much larger community than that.
He says to his disciples: "If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fact of that to him when the two of you are alone." He is being careful here to keep the conversation at the lowest possible level. He goes on to advise, "But if you are not listened to, take two or three others with you, so that the evidence can be confirmed by several witnesses." Again, he is here being careful to keep the conversation at the lowest possible level. It is only when the conversation fails at this time that he advises his disciples to "tell it to the church." In other words, to involve the larger community. If the offender refuses even to listen to the church, we are advised then to treat the offender "like a Gentile or a tax collector."
What is somewhat amusing here is that Jesus treated Gentiles, like the woman near Tyre with the afflicted daughter, or the tax-collector Matthew who is the author of this Gospel with great care and compassion. But such as that is, let's look at what this formula means for all of us as we deal with the myriad of issues that seem to be driving us at the moment. Wouldn't we be much better served if we could keep our conversations about these things that divide us at the lowest possible level? Wouldn't it be better if we could somehow stifle the name calling and assume the best rather than the worst about each other? Again, this is not only true for politicians, but for all of us.
We certainly have opinions and disagreements about a lot of things these days, but it is our certainty that drives our passion and our anger about it all. There is a more useful middle ground that we can inhabit that can lessen our anger and increase our compassion for each other. That is the real basis for compromise, and compromise is the essence of democracy. Compromise is the only thing that will get us out of the dilemmas that are confronting us: the deficit, the economy, the dearth of jobs and also all of those things that divide us culturally. How can we care best for those who are marginalized, the poor, the outcast and the deprived. Certainly not by name calling and blame. Keeping everyone in the game is essential. Respecting everyone's stands on issues is very important to our mutual life. It is how we come to understand the solutions to the problems that lie at the root of our common life.
Speaking softly is essential. Our "Christian" politicians need to continually reflect on their religious center and keep their Christianity before them. If they did, we would be much richer for their input and for the good sense and compromise that would naturally result.
Rock on, Dad! This is such a tough lesson to put into practice, though. It's especially tough when it seems like some hold most of the cards and compromising means handing over more cards to them. Yet I know you're right: keeping everyone in the game is essential. I am so glad that you're posting these blogs! Love, Jennie
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