Two years ago today (the morning after Election Day) a regular reader of these humble offerings asked why I had failed to comment on the election results. As many of you are aware, I am not among those who believe that religion and politics don't' mix. There is no way that a person of faith can fail to integrate their religious beliefs into their voting decisions. The only question is "how."
As it happens, this Election Day fell amid the cycle of readings from the book of Micah. Micah is known for several verses. We might have opportunity to comment on others later. The one contained in today's writing is the hope that God would judge between the people, making it unnecessary for them to enforce their own aspirations.
Perhaps you are familiar with:
And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks.
Whenever God's people contemplate political questions, the underlying question must always be, "What would God have us do?" We are to ask what is best, for ourselves, but more importantly what is best for all those whom God loves. In a democracy we have the opportunity to strive for the common good, not merely the good which benefits me.
Our swords and our spears are sometimes turned against other nations; in this election cycle they were turned against any who voiced a differing opinion. We labeled as enemies those who sought differing paths to achieve our goals. As God's people, we know what it means to interpret our neighbor's actions in the kindest way. This type of civility is needed in our current political life.
Let's set about beating those swords into something productive.
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