Jarrod McKenna’s Wednesday’s with Gandhi:
“Those who say religion has nothing to do with politics understand neither.” -Mohandas K. Gandhi
“God will judge you for what you did today!!!”
If phone text messages could yell, I think this one I received might have been screaming. It was clear, not just from this sentence but the whole message (which I will not repeat) that this brother or sister (Identity withheld under the “I’m not being a fantastic witness” protection program) wanted to ‘open up a can of correction’ on me. What provoked this responce? The day of the last election we had in Australia I sent the following message to friends on my mobile phone:
“G’day, was think that while many don’t care about today, maybe if we live today for “the least of these”, the poor and the marginalised, today could be an act of worship. Grace and peace, Jarrod.”
While it sparked some amazing conversations with people who aren’t Christians, it really upset this one Christian. Another friend message back:
“So I guess you’re voting for [insert party]? :)”
I replied,
“Who’s talking about voting for a party? I’m just talking about daily following Jesus. :)”
Political options in Australia: Howard, Rudd or… Jesus?
Both major parties in Australia are kissing more than babies in the hope of votes. In an interesting twist it looks like political parties are “finding religion”, in the faith that this move will find them votes. As the political master minds are plotting how to capture the Christian imagination to win their vote at the next election, I wonder what would happen if the church had it’s imagination captured by the politics of a suffering servant that saves not through tickling ears, the way of the sword, scapegoating others or by enforcing what is ‘right’ on others. Rather who saves through the suffering love of a crucified God. I wonder what would happen if we would let the Holy Spirit empowered the church to live the politics of the kingdom of heaven instead of in our own power seeking to be ‘a force for influence’ in running the violent kingdoms of this world?I’m not talking about retreating into a holy huddles and letting the world go to hell. While Ammon Hennacy words ring in my ears, “When choosing the lesser between two evils people often forget they still chose evil”, I must admit I’m a “lapsed-Christian-anarchist” and I do vote. But I don’t think voting is my primary form of ‘political engagement’.
My political engagement happens daily living as church in community, by housing those without a home, hanging out and making food for local kids without a meal, welcoming refugees to live in our home, visiting people in prison, growing food in the garden, getting to work on my skateboard and bus, teaching the practicalities of nonviolence. And other ways God lets our lives be a megaphone of amazing grace despite the fact we’re cracked vessels (or crackpots!)
We are to be ‘in the world but not of the world’. So what are we to be of? We are to be of the way of Jesus. The way of the kingdom of God. The politics of grace. The politics of generosity. The politics a new age where it’s not the rich but the poor who are blessed. The politics of the ministry of reconciliation. The politics of the weightier matters of law. The politics of the trust of the birds of the air and the lilies of the field. The politics of forgiveness. The politics of peacemaking. The politics of hungering and thirsting for the healing justice of God. The politics of sharing so ‘no one is in need’. The politics of being a colony of heaven. The politics of seeking first God’s Reign (or kingdom) in all things. For the early church, you could look at their life and see their politics, see who they were ‘voting for’ as their authority. Thier words and lives spoke a different politics to the violent ruler Cesar being Lord (maybe the closest thing we have today is Prime Minister) but the crucified and risen Jesus. Maybe the early Christians today wouldn’t say “Jesus is Lord”. Maybe they’d say, “The nonviolent Jesus of the Scriptures is Prime Minister. Come and join us in community where we can daily vote for him with our lives!”
- For the early Christians politics wasn’t a personal decision alone in a polling both. It was a communal practice with your sisters and brothers as you together lived as church. The community of God’s grace-filled alternative to the ways of greed, lust, oppression, violence, fear and exploitation.
five people you meet in heaven the dvd download
And while many want to say Amen to the above the question comes ‘how’ do we do that. Politics classically isn’t about just who’s in ‘government’ but how, (or the way) groups interact, organize and make decisions. (I think this is important to remember not just to keep democracy healthy but to keep church healthy! ) For the early Christians the only way you witnessed to Jesus being the Way is by living the Way (or ‘politics’) of Jesus. By seeking the Spirit’s empowerment to live a Christ-like life, AS A COMMUNITY. To live lives that speak of God’s great clean up of creation that God has started uniquely in Jesus.
This is where I think Gandhi can be the greatest assistance to Christians today. In showing us that being obedient to Jesus is not only faithful, it’s effective in bringing real and lasting transformation. For those that think our only options is retreating into holly huddles or alternatively those who seek to put in power a Christian version of the Ayatollah to kneecap everyone so that “every knee bows” (Calvin and others have tried it), Gandhi shows us, as Martin Luther King puts it, “Jesus gave us the means, Gandhi showed it was possible.”
Gandhi freed a nation from the biggest superpower of his day without a militia, without weapons, without running for parliament or holding a political position. How? By the sheer force of his character that had become obedient to Jesus teachings in the Sermon on the Mount. The politics of love are practical. Oddly enough I think Gandhi as a Hindu had a better understanding of the Christian paradigm for political engagement than most Christians seem to! The Christian paradigm is found at Calvary while trusting in resurrection power. For it’s impossible to take up our cross and take up the ways of coercion at the same time.
Oh… for those who are interested I agree with the person who sent me the text, God will “judge [me] for what [I’ve] done”. And after reaching out and trying to hear where they’re coming from and offering to meet with them, pray with them and study the bible with them I told them I agreed:
“I too think God will judge me. And in Matthews gospel, chapter 25 the criteria seems pretty clear. 🙂 ”
I have a post looking at this topic from “the other side,” as it were.
“For it’s impossible to take up our cross and take up the ways of coercion at the same time.”
I agree.
I also agree that as a follower of Christ, our means of ‘engagement’ politically or otherwise should be in everyday life, esp. with ‘the least of these’, affecting change in our immediate community, far from retreating to a stain glass bunker to woe the downfall of morality in our nations…..
But….and here’s the pinch….Excuse the simplicity of my reasoning, but doesn’t that therefore mean, that if it is impossible to support the systems of coercion (which Western governments are prime, violent examples) regardless of our political affiliations, that we are faced with a question much like the one raised by Philip Wogaman:
“If power is typically and necessarily and by definition organized in ways that are contrary to fundamental principles of Christian ethics, then how can Christians provide it with legitimization?”
Of course Christians involving themselves in politics seems to be a worthwhile and noble thing, attempting to bring positive change, but according to the above reasoning, does it inevitably lead to a level of ‘selling out’ of putting the cross down in order to don a suit and ‘fit in’ to the senate on the hill?
So if we can’t be supportive of a system the uses coercion and very often violence to achieve its’ ends, then we must operate at the margins, the boundaries of the state and very often, society in general. Which I have no problem with; heck that’s often where the people who stand to be blessed the most from Jesus’ gospel of compassion are to be found, but all too often it makes for a pretty depressing mandate with regard to changing, or attempting to change the ‘system’ that pushes people to the margins in the first place…
It is at this point that I leave my computer and seek out that slightly dented spot on my bedroom wall against which I repeatedly bang my head at least once a day until I grow weary….
Well put!
Thomas said it better than I could…nice work tiger.
incidentally, for those who are interested (and are in Melbourne) some Christian Activist Networkers are looking at putting up a “how NOT to vote” (or “vote with your life” booth at this Federal Election…so head over to http://www.freewebs.com/christianactivistnetwork and join the e-list and discussion. also, there’s a meeting at the Den (116 Little Bourke St Melbourne) at 8pm on Thursday 25th Oct.
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Render unto caesar what is Caesar’s
Render unto God what is God’s
Gav
so what do you think that means gav? I see it as a clear teaching by Jesus to not take part in the government.
rev
Amen Gav!!!
I would have just written that but most people don’t understand the context and think of it in post Lutheran “two kingdom” ethic, “spirituality is separate from politics” kinda way. But As Dorothy Day said “When you give to God what is God’s you’ll find there is not much left for Caesar”. 🙂
In a democrasy I at least have a small say in what Caesar does with OUR money.
I hope the ‘Make poverty History’ postcards
get a voice above the tax cut porkbarrelling of the major parties this week, “Above the sound of ideolgies clashing” B. Bragg
Gav
Rev, you are free to cast a donkey vote in our democratic system!and not participate. It is cheaper than not voting at all
GP
I understand Gav, I was asking why you posted that scripture reference. What exactly do you mean by that scripture?
And I believe that you cannot use the tools of empire to bring about the kingdom, including your vote.
Doing a donkey vote, or not voting, is a private thing that creates no awareness, nor any change. Prophetic witness requires a public, and often painful stance.
As to your point, I really don’t believe that is totally true, in a representative democracy you are voting to give another the right and the power to make decisions on your behalf. What would make your point true would be a participatory democracy, where you are actually voting for issues, laws and policies, rather than trusting some power monger to do it for you.
rev
The problem is that such a utopia doesn’t exist and never has…where do we go for our perfect christian culture? It would be much easier to do it without humans in it.
Gav
Rendering unto Caesar looks something like this ….
But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and ?pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. Jeremiah 29:7
When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness. By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but ?by the mouth of the wicked p?it is overthrown. Proveerbs 11:10
Gav
The kingdom of God, which is the central teaching of Jesus suggests that we live as if that utopia does exist, and call people to join us. I do not, and will not vote. Yet I fight hard for the welfare of those in my city. The government is not the only avenue for blessing, I would say it is a very corrupt, and unsuccessful one.
rev
It is no more corrupt (probably less) than Babylon was in the days of exile…
Gav
PS We ought define what the kingdom of God is and how it comes?
And we are to pray for our city, work for its welfare, but we are still not to forget that we are not Babylonians, and we are not to use their structures for kingdom purpose.
The kingdom of God is easy to define, it is when we live within God’s rulership right here, right now. And its fulfillment will be when every knee bows.
rev
….and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord of All, to the glory of God the Father….
Exactly, so the kingdom is here, and not yet. We are called to live as if that reality is already here. My loyalty is to king Jesus, I will seek the welfare of the place I am at, but I am not a citizen of any other kingdom. Voting in my opinion puts you firmly in the kingdom. You are, by your participation, giving your assent to huge amounts of power, being given to men, over your life, and your families life, as well as the lives of men women and children all over the world. You participation in the politics of the country, puts your endorsement on its legitimacy.
rev
Then Daniel praised the God of heaven and said:
“Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him. I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king.”
God’s Kingdom and human kingdoms can coexist…
Gav
Gav, Jesus said love your enemies, what nation does that? Jesus said take no thought for tomorrow, again how many nations do that? Jesus said to trust God, and leave off storing up treasures, to be meek, to be forgiving, to seek not for the praise of men, to be poor in spirit, to not return evil for evil, but good for evil, how many nations do that?
You must realize that Jesus brought a kingdom opposed to all human kingdoms. You cannot expect the kingdoms of this world to be part of the kingdom of God. Jesus said not to rule over people, yet that is exactly what the government does, how can you justify participating in that?
rev
Rev & Gav why don’t you two just Email each other? – maybe phone – you both got CPUs so skype could be the go, and then the game of table tennis will be done – tah.
don’t you want to listen in…..
Gav
Mark, if you don’t want to read what we write why don’t you just not click on the comments. Otherwise chime in on the discussion, or shut your yapper 🙂
rev
“And another person grabs a racket and plays in the match!” 🙂
Jarrod, I do agree with much of your post about faith and politics. There is much more to politics than what happens on election day. Following Jesus ensures that we live lives that are consistently bowing to God as we live within his kingdom even as we are casting our vote.
I am concerned about your statement about “enforcing what is ‘right’ on others”. What do you mean by this? Should there be no laws given by the State? I’m glad William Wilberforce didn’t have your attitude about the rule of law and the democratic process.
Rev, I can certainly understand your misgivings about government…or church…or any other assembly of people working toward a stated common goal. But, if you truly believe that we should not participate in government than I hope you’re consistent. Do you pay taxes? Do you drive on the road? Do you ride the bus and/or train? Do you have kids that go to public school? Do you receive Centrelink payments? Etc… If you participate in those things, surely there is a way to fulfill your responsibilities as an Australian citizen while glorifying the King of Kings at the same time.
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my yapper will not be shut!!! “Too much Christian social action is ineffective because Christian leaders call on the government to legislate what they can not persuade their church members to live”, (R J Sider) they try to legislate the Kingdom of God. Yet, Christians should exersise political influence to make socities fairer – let’s empower the poor, make economic structures more fair, quit the debt burden of poor nations, etc, etc
Lance, I am not an australian citizen. For the most part I live life as much as I am able to outside the public system. But I do use it, and it uses me. There is no way getting around that. But I do my best, one buy living on much much less so that I pay less taxes if any. I try to ride a bike or walk, but I do pay car registration so I kick in for the roads. I pay full price for my train tickets.
But what you don’t seem to understand, is that by voting, you are endorsing the system that gives power to others to kill, to oppress, to destroy. In a representational democracy you are not doing your part, you are voting for someone, giving them the power, and then hoping they do what you want. And the truth is much of the time they do not.
I would understand a participatory democracy, where the people still have the power, not the elected officials, but how can you give that kind of power to men. When we vote we endorse giving power to men to rule over others, Jesus specifically says that we are not to rule over others.
And I still have not found anyone that can explain how we can be citizens of a heavenly kingdom, and still be part of the earthly one.
rev
How can we be citizens of a heavenly kingdom and still be part of the earthly one? Because we follow the Word who became flesh and made His dwelling among us, who was raised on the third day and was given all authority in heaven and on earth.
Jesus taught through his life and ministry that because citizens of God’s heavenly kingdom are more awake than asleep, more caring than apathetic, more tender-hearted than calloused, citizens of God’s heavenly kingdom are best equipped to serve earthly kingdom. The King of heaven loves the earth, praise God for His wonderful mercy toward me, and so we must as well since we follow the King.
Governments are a God-instituted part of earth. How do I believe this? Because I trust Jesus who said to give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and give to God what is God’s. Because I trust Peter and Paul who said that governments are instituted by God to commend those who do right and punish those who do wrong.
Does any government perform their God-ordained task perfectly? Not even close. There are many who still don’t believe or trust the King of kings. But in a fallen world percentages matter. 5% justice and kindness is better than 0% justice and kindness. Just like Jesus does with us, we are to compelled out of love to work to change various God-ordained but corrupted human systems from the inside-out.
And, here in Australia, we are luckier than most because we have a representative government. Why do I still believe that? Because we have “elected officials” and they are, therefore, accountable for the decisions they make.
Doubt that? If the polls are correct, John Howard’s coalition may lose power largely because of their unstated policy to introduce new industrial relations laws. Here in Australia, our leaders are held accountable for their decisions on our behalf and there are many choices in the number of parties to support: Greens, Christian Democratic Party, Family First, Liberal, Labor, National, Independant, etc… (This isn’t the US, there are more than 2 viable parties. It isn’t the lesser of 2 evils.) Do you know how awesome it is to be able to change governments bloodlessly? Ask Burma, Fiji, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, etc… But this ability to elect our representatives is limited by our willingness to be educate and be educated about the issues and our willingness to participate in the process.
What is the will of the Incarnate Lord?
Correction: “…we are compelled out of love to work to change various God-ordained but corrupted earthly systems from the inside-out.”
Lance,
Look at that quote in context. Remember who Jesus was talking to. He was not saying what you think he was. Give unto caesar what is caesars was not endorsing tax paying, or government. Direct quote from Jesus, “you see the way the worlds leaders excercise authority “over other” it is not to be that way with you, but if someone would seek to be great he should be a servant of all”
Electing people to be a king over you is looked down upon by God, who said, “they have not rejected you, they have rejected me by asking for a king”
rev
“You are, by your participation, giving your assent to huge amounts of power, being given to men, over your life, and your families life, as well as the lives of men women and children all over the world. You participation in the politics of the country, puts your endorsement on its legitimacy.”
Rev, non-participation in the electoral process effectively delivers the same result.
Participation and directing you support to an individual who you feel will truly represent your views endorses ONLY that individual representative and not those that may actually be in government. You remain free to continue dissenting against whoever gains power in the knowledge that you did you best to prevent that.
I consider the above arrangement appallingly less than ideal but non participation does not reduce the risk to my family, my neighbours and those I share the planet with, where participation just might. I’d rather a system where individuals acted with a community understanding that as their actions must have an impact on others then they should occur in consideration of others.
But silence, silence construes assent.
Jarrod was quite correct with his statement on this.
In it’s context, he was answering a question from a strange alliance trying to get Jesus arrested by the Romans. He gave that quote and in amazement they walked away.
They thought they would trap him by either getting him in trouble with the locals by having him endorse the pagan occupiers or with the Romans by having him say that they shouldn’t pay taxes.
With Jesus’ answer, he was teaching that paying taxes even to a pagan government is not a betrayal of God or His Kingdom. We can love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength AND pay taxes at the same time. We can support the people who are given authority to ensure that we can live quiet lives in peace, even when they don’t, and be full citizens of God’s Kingdom at the same time. It’s not either/or and Jesus provides a way to do this. We just need to be faithful in living in the way He provided.
No, that is not what he was saying at all, nor what Jarrod was saying.
Jesus is asked the question about taxes by the Jewish traditionalists, who are basically calling all of Israel to follow the law perfectly so that God will send the Messiah. They intend to trap him. He then does what?
He asks for a coin, and asks who’s image is inscribed on the coin. Now every jew in Jerusalem would have known that the making of anything bearing an image was considered idolatry. Far from telling them to work alongside Caesar, Jesus was showing them that they were willingly participating in idolatry. Who’s image is on the coin? So if you are going to use the system, you will have to pay the price. If you are going to use the roads, and the money, you will have to pay the price. But in the end, Caesar demands your allegiance, and that can only be given to God.
Grendel,
I would agree a bit in America, though I would still not vote. But when voting is compulsory, not voting is a statement against the government, as you are willing to accept the punishment of non compliance. This is not about getting the right man, men, humans elected, or not, it is about stating that the kingdoms of the world are only interested in keeping themselves empowered and safe, and in order to do that they will kill, steal, oppress, lie and every other thing. Johno is doing a great job of that right now, trying to buy the right to stay in power, and saying you will not be a part of this process until it is a fair one.
Why do so many people praise democracy, but only practice a bastardization of it. Participatory democracy puts power in the hands of the people, where what they have in this country and my own is basically elect and elitist dictator.
rev
Rev,
Actually I agree with you – we don’t have democracy here and never have. We have a limited method of appearing to participate in a process to select people who make decisions.
Herodians were not Jewish traditionalists.
15Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 16They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are.
It was the pharisees that were trying to trick Jesus, they brought the Herodians with them in order to make it look like a dispute between the two. But ultimately Jesus was speaking to the ones that were trying to trick him. The context of that passage makes it very easy to understand.
rev
I’ll bite.
I don’t understand the logic of not voting in a democratic system, especially one that gives you a wide range of representative choices, including multiple parties that stand for nonviolence, compassion for the poor and refugees, accountable government, environmental sustainability and just about every other social/economic/environmental cause we might pursue in other contexts.
There is no reason why you cannot vote and continue to live the politics of Jesus in your daily life. This is not an either/or choice.
If you don’t vote, presumably you also should not advocate, lobby, petition or otherwise engage in the formal political process.
If you don’t do that, then don’t celebrate the abolition of slavery in the UK as part of your tradition. Don’t celebrate the democratic revolutions of Eastern Europe, South Africa, Philippines or South America as heralding the power of nonviolence. Don’t support efforts to ban landmines and cluster bombs and international small arms trade at the UN. Don’t ask for debt forgiveness for the world’s poorest countries, or an anti-poverty strategy at the highest level of national government. And don’t complain if your right to peaceful protest is taken away under the guide of anti-terror laws.
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