
Let me ramble a bit. I am trying to work this out.
Why do good people of good conscience, who pray for guidance and evaluate candidates and initiatives based upon principles, values, and priorities vote differently?
I am not always bothered by this. Nor am I always unbothered by it. Sometimes the choices seem so obvious to me.
Scripture seems to remind us that no matter how much insight God bestows on us, no one gets it all and no one gets it perfectly. We have to struggle individually and in community for truth.
Unity grows out of diversity of culture, perspective, experience, suffering, and language and even within a language: There are many versions of English in this country as an example.
It takes work and it takes civility to make the work. We cannot just call each other names or malign the intent of the other and expect progress. It is tempting to do so once we settle on what we consider the correct insight or priorities, but we must resist.
If we are going to have a participatory and representative democracy, we must do our decision making in collaboration with imperfect leaders.
That is a given.
Now, what about outrageous, unrepentant behaviors that show no sign of dissipating and every sign of expansion? What of those that defy correction, decry humanity, and malign any attempt to honor truth?
There comes a time when we must name the offenses and offenders lest we are sucked into participation with them.
Lest any critique of public behavior that I speak be taken out of context: I believe in redemption and reconciliation, freely given by grace to the least deserving.
I believe in the enduring possibility of repentance for the vilest of sinners - hope of new life, abundant forgiveness, bountiful mercy, fresh and new beginnings.
The vilest of attitudes can be transformed.
The ugliest pride can be melted.
The most boisterous boasting can be tempered with humility.
The most resistant heart can be melted.
The most hardened heart can be softened.
The same mouth that speaks mean, ugly, dishonest, hateful, and divisive words can be filled with words of compassion, encouragement, blessing, and affirmation.
The very motives that drive us can be transformed. There is nothing God cannot do in a heart truly humbled by Him and willing to confess its own need.
Newton realized this as grace taught his heart to fear and grace, his fears relieved.
If I speak against any other attitude, words, deeds, or behavioral patterns, it is in the light of this reality: Grace is greater than all our sins.
All criticism of the public behavior of public people is in the light of my great need, depravity, and sin and the grace of God that is transforming me as the mercy of God renders me clean only through Jesus.
Now that I have said that there is a place for calling out damaging and public belief systems while they are still a part of the shot-calling mechanisms in which we participate. We must name the sin in order to deal with it and find hope.
That is where we must struggle in this season.
We are fallen, broken, imperfect people. But our problem is not that we are human. It is that we dehumanize ourselves and others.
God and scripture hold humanity in high regard. Somehow, how politics must be compassionate and reflect an appreciation for the image of God in every person. Policies are about people because they affect peoples' lives and destinies. Health, welfare, war, fair wages, justice, racism, and freedom are high on the lists of priorities of people of good will. Decency, leadership, honesty, and truth combine with competence to insure respect for that human dignity that God bestows on people.
What is man to be so regarded? How often I have wondered this. It is good to know I am in good company with this sentiment. Yet, still, I wonder ...
" ... he is my steadfast love and my fortress,
my stronghold and my deliverer,
my shield and he in whom I take refuge,
who subdues peoples under me."
"O LORD, what is man that you regard him,
or the son of man that you think of him?
Man is like a breath;
his days are like a passing shadow."
- Psalm 144:2-4 (ESV)
We have more to live up to than to live down.
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