Christians, life ethics, and politics
I came across this June 2004 Sojourners article by Jim Wallis thanks to Kevin G. Powell. Wallis shows both how neither major party in U. S. politics is truly a "Christian" party, and how a consistent Christian ethic necessarily intersects the realm of politics:
. . .the conventional liberal political wisdom that people who are conservative on abortion are conservative on everything else is just wrong. Christians who are economic populists, peacemaking internationalists, and committed feminists can also be "pro-life." The roots of this conviction are deeply biblical and, for many, consistent with a commitment to nonviolence as a gospel way of life.When it comes to Christians and politics, the lines, it seems, are not as easy to draw as some folks would like them to be. Here's Wallis again:
The tragedy is, in America today one can’t vote for a consistent ethic of life. Republicans stress some life issues, Democrats others, while both violate the seamless garment of life on several vital matters. But the consistent life ethic still serves as an invaluable plumb line by which to evaluate all political candidates and parties.Right now life ethics require that Christians speak out for the life of Terri Schiavo. Let's preach about her. Let's pray for her. We can't afford to be silent.
posted by Milton Stanley at 9:40 AM
4 Comments:
Great post! I can't stand to hear people make one party the party of the Christians, as if Jesus himself were a (fill in the blank). Jesus calls us to be a citizen of the Kingdom of God and in that kingdom there are no parties!
Thanks for your comments, Gilbert, and for your own blog, too. Peace.
Good post Milton and so true, both of the two major political parties miss the mark (even 3rd paties), neither one is a christian party but both parties in thier own right show and do the work of God's kingdom, how do we draw the line? The only way, to me, to settle this is to vote for those who are willing to stand up and put God first. We are christians first, not republicans or democrats. Would would Jesus do?
You're right that we're Christians first, not R's or D's. Thanks for visiting. Peace.
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