As much as I don’t want to admit it, I have politics on the brain. It’s hard to keep myself away from the constant coverage of the big party conventions. Yet politics is not my favorite pastime. I’ve been turning public radio off because the unending political talk is exhausting. I find politics boring, frustrating and inauthentic, so I’m not the best person to engage in political banter.
I find politics to be talking for the sake of talking. People who spend any time in conversation with me (or hear me preach) know I am succinct. I don’t use more words than necessary. I physically run away from small talk.
Roger Ebert recently wrote about a concept Gene Siskel introduced him to called Lip Flap — or talking without saying anything of use. He describes its purpose as allowing “people to sneak up on the moment when they would sooner or later have to actually engage their minds.” When I read this, I thought, “Yes!” Someone finally gave words to the frustration I’ve felt for so long.
Politics is all Lip Flap. It’s people talking to fill space, often with no point and no direction. It’s also people talking without authenticity. The debates are useless in my mind, because (on my worst days) I feel like I’m sitting and listening to discover which person is the more charming liar. Oh yes, I know I sound like a cynic. But this system makes me crazy.
I’m also a preacher. I’m someone who spends my days and weeks crafting oratory from my very heart and being. I stand and share my deepest values and beliefs with a group of people on a regular basis. Although I’m relaxing more, I still ponder each word in my sermons as I put them on paper. Every sentence counts. It’s easy for me to feel superior and put down politicians.
It’s painful to know our current political system is fractured and incredibly polarized. It makes me feel hopeless, insignificant and sad. It’s even harder for me to admit I participate in the polarization by becoming cynical and hard-headed. But as a citizen, I know I need to listen. As a person of faith, my ears need to be open to find clues to what others around me are thinking and feeling. My animal reaction to politics is to bury my head and wait until November is over — to only listen to people with whom I agree and keep the radio on the Top 40 station. But I can’t.
Jesus engaged in political talk. He listened to the Pharisees and the Sadducees, even though he didn’t agree with them.
Our political system is also a reflection of our larger society. We’re all becoming more fractured and polarized — even (not so shockingly) the church. Peter Steinke, a nationally respected scholar in church conflict for many years, has noticed this change within the church. Over the years, he’s watched congregation members become more interested in being right than finding compromise. People hold on more tightly to their ideas and opinions at the expense of the community. This trend is everywhere.
The Christian Century reports that clergy in Tampa, Fla. and Charlotte, N.C., the sites of the Republican and Democratic conventions, issued a statement called “The Common Witness.” The statement “acknowledges the wide political division in the country, encourages those involved in the political process to argue respectfully and not use religion to garner votes, and invites prayers for peace.”
How easy it is to forget that when we have no words to say due to anger, fear, frustration and sadness, the Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. I sigh for the hungry poor, the unemployed, the prisoner and the vulnerable. I sigh for the oppressed, the forgotten, the children and the failing systems. I sigh for a country more intent on being right than on finding a compromise. I sigh for my own attitude.
I pray our prayers make a difference. And on my better days, I pray with thanksgiving for those who serve in the political arena. I pray for patience and hope.
Find a link to Jennifer Hackbarth’s blog Narrating Grace at Lutheran Blogs.
You might also want to read:
Politics, patriotism and the church
Why I’m a moderate
Is Jesus a liberal Democrat? Really?
Romans 12: "I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world (age), but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God -- what is good and acceptable and perfect." (italics mine)
You write: "Over the years, he’s watched congregation members become more interested in being right than finding compromise. People hold on more tightly to their ideas and opinions at the expense of the community. This trend is everywhere.... I sigh for a country more intent on being right than on finding a compromise. I sigh for my own attitude."
What's wrong with being right? Jesus came to tell us what is right. St Paul tried to tell us what is right. We have 2000 years of Christian doctrine and tradition to tell us what is right, not to mention the Sacred Scriptures. How hard is that? It is hard only if you choose to conform to this world, to this age.
I agree with almost everything you say. I grieve for our country and churches also. But a while back during the last administration I came to realize that for almost a century there has been a lot of compromising, but it is always in one direction. One party just leads us into that same direction a little faster than the other. I think this is starting to hold true even within the parties themselves. This week the Democrat convention tried to reinstall God back into their platform. The speaker, L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, denied the delegates their legal voice count vote. The convention clearly did not make the 2/3 they needed to reinstall God back to their platform, but astonishingly Villaraigosa just boldly says “vote passed!” This is taking place in our churches as well where we have leaders compromising with the minority to override the will of the majority. They speak for the whole church about issues that everybody does not agree on. I fear chaos approaching.
Davey, you bring up a very interesting and important point: You compare our country, which is a democracy, with the church. My question: Is the church a democracy? Did Christ, when he established the church, intend for it to be a democracy? I don't see chaos as approaching; I think it already may be here.
Karen,
The problem is that we are all sinners, and so by definition 'not right'. Claiming that we are only heaps the condemnation higher upon us, because we aren't right. It is only God who is right (consider Jesus reply to 'Good teacher...' with "No one is good but God alone")
Oh Peter, for heaven's sake, when I say "right" I mean possessing the Truth. Christ came to teach us the Truth. It is very obvious that there are sharp divisions in this area -- chaos.
Karen V,
You are exactly right (not "right" like Peter thinks), but correct. Our political structure is heading beyond it's moorings of the constitution; and our church structure is heading beyond it's moorings of the 10 suggestions….WHOOPS, I MEAN the 10 commandments. Chaos will ensue in either institution's failure to remedy this problem.
Karen,
None of us possess the Truth, unless you can pull Christ out of a bag. We need the Spirit and it possesses us, not the other way around.
Peter -- Looks like we're back to Square One: definitions and interpretation. Who is Christ? Isn't He Truth? Do you possess the Truth of Christ? ...and then we have Pilate's famous question. Ultimately, without authority in the church, things will fall apart... obviously....
Without authority in the church, the church might fall apart, but Christ's message will survive because Christ is larger than any one church. Christ is the Truth, but it's backwards from how you have it: we don't possess the Truth, but are possessed by it.
Exactly -- "Without authority in the church, the church might fall apart...." Have you forgotten the "key" verse about the Keys? The gates of Hades will not prevail against the Church. If the Church does not survive, as you suggest, then Matthew 16:18 is false, but now we are getting into another subject....
God does not "possess" us. That is heresy. The devil possesses people, but not God. I don't know where you got that idea. I cannot imagine that Luther taught that.