Larry, your sentiments make sense indeed! I am reading Michael Wear's "The Spirit of our Politics" and it is helping me deal with the issues you raise.
Thank you, Bishop Todd. I have become increasingly conflicted about the political process and system. While I have always voted in elections, I have increasingly less confidence in its efficacy. Most of my life I have identified with Sojourners. It was my view that there are two "lists" of moral issues and concerns: the peace and justice list and the sanctity of human life and relationships. The Democratic party was committed to the first list but not the second, and the Republican party was committed to the second list but not the first. So, I chose the peace and justice agenda. Now I see significant power plays, dishonesty, and corruption on both sides. Now it just seems like there is a need to discern the overall moral and leadership effectiveness of individual candidates. What to do if none of the candidates seems to be worth voting for. For us, the key is the Kingdom of God and the need to represent the values and priorities of that Peaceable Kingdom, participating in civic affairs while speaking truth to power. Does any of this make sense?
Larry, your sentiments make sense indeed! I am reading Michael Wear's "The Spirit of our Politics" and it is helping me deal with the issues you raise.
Thank you, Bishop Todd. I have become increasingly conflicted about the political process and system. While I have always voted in elections, I have increasingly less confidence in its efficacy. Most of my life I have identified with Sojourners. It was my view that there are two "lists" of moral issues and concerns: the peace and justice list and the sanctity of human life and relationships. The Democratic party was committed to the first list but not the second, and the Republican party was committed to the second list but not the first. So, I chose the peace and justice agenda. Now I see significant power plays, dishonesty, and corruption on both sides. Now it just seems like there is a need to discern the overall moral and leadership effectiveness of individual candidates. What to do if none of the candidates seems to be worth voting for. For us, the key is the Kingdom of God and the need to represent the values and priorities of that Peaceable Kingdom, participating in civic affairs while speaking truth to power. Does any of this make sense?