The Republican Party is not God's own party, as the Religious Right and some Republican leaders seem to be suggesting. And, of course, neither is the Democratic Party. We must say it again and again until it is heard and understood: God is not partisan; God is not a Republican or a Democrat. When either party tries to politicize God, or co-opt religious communities for its political agenda, it makes a terrible mistake. God's politics challenge all our politics. Our faith must not be narrowed to the agenda of one political party.
Thursday, May 12, 2005
God's own party?
The newest piece from Jim Wallis. When he says the following, is he correct?
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3 comments:
I'm glad to hear him say this, but I have to wonder about how it will play out in practice. I met Jim Wallis when he was teaching some seminar at HDS. He couldn't comprehend how someone with conservative, small-government tendencies could possibly be similarly concerned about economic issues and the difficulties of the consumerist, materialist and conglomerist elements to our free-market economy. Whenever the conversation shifted from identifying the problem to what action to take, the actions were limited to stereotypical Democrat party style initiatives. That would have been fine but it didn't reach those positions (as far as I could tell) for any other reason than that they were the ones supported by the Democrat party. When I tried to explain to Wallis that his efforts would gain much broader appeal if they didn't immediately jump to that type of recommendation but were open to other alternatives, it was a bit like talking to a brick wall. He (but especially those attending the seminar) couldn't conceive of the possibility (at least at that time) that those they would label as conservatives could share their concerns.
JACK
Jack,
Thanks for telling this personal experience in meeting with and talking with Jim Wallis. I have never met him, but have read him for years.
When talking about someone being "concerned about economic issues and the difficulties of the consumerist, materialist and conglomerist elements to our free-market economy", Wendell Berry very much comes to mind.
Good article. Both political parties are absolute jokes, the only difference between them is that one party pays lip service to Christian ideals while the other is more open and honest about its agenda.
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