"Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees."
I've always struggled with the interplay of the church and politics. I'm not comfortable there, but my wiser self can see that God's message is for all of society. And our mission as church is to spread that message to all people and all society - to speak the good news.
I've had the "separation of church and state" drilled into my American head so much that I forget that the church is free to speak its opinion (God's viewpoints) in the public arena as much as anyone else.
When I was in college, my cousin worked as a lobbyist for the church in DC (She's currently clergy in the UCC, so I think that's the denomination she worked for.) to the best of my knowledge, every major denomination has some form of a lobbying arm in the US. The Pastors I worked with during my internship were ardent about social justice -- they participated in marches on the Massauchesetts capitol building, wrote letters to and called political leaders, and preached social justice often.
This week, we all received an email from a member of our own church advocating political action in Massachusetts because it is in accordance with the word of God and our mission as God's people - calling for increased stewardship of the earth.
I've never been the person who speaks loudest on social action...it isn't my call, my identity, my passion. But I have grown to deeply respect it. In a church where we are so often afraid to tell others of the Good News, to Evangelize, there are still those among us who call the whole of society to God's justice.
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God's law and the rule of law of goverment usually are going in opposite directions. Whether it be democrat, independent, or republican in this country the motivation speaks more to that particular parties leanings and not that of what our Lord commands. God's word when brought up in political circles is met with disdain more times than not. The machine of goverment's role is to keep "power" solely in the control of the few. This country was founded on Christian values, were are those values today?
ReplyDeleteI firmly believe that God's light and truth is to shine through us, even in political circles. When in our own self interest (or the interest of our party or voters or our own financial bottom line i.e. lobbyists), we go against God's way, things are out of whack. This goes for our personal lives too.
ReplyDeleteI think these verses put it best, "Does an ax take over from the one who swings it? Does a saw act more important than the sawyer? As if a shovel did its shoveling by using a ditch digger! As if a hammer used the carpenter to pound nails!"
We need to have a reality check on our role in the world. I don't think we can emphasize "God's work, our hands" enough. We need to live it too. I am so proud of the youth and adults who packaged 15,132 meals while fasting for 30 hours. They are hungry for justice! Lord, let it pour out like mighty waters.