Conservativism

In this age of instant communication, we have become exceedingly poor communicators. Outrage and condemnation are the default modes for public discourse. Only rarely do we find a fair, reasonable voice on today's issues.

We have to work on listening. With that in mind, I want to consider the term, conservative. As my pastor during my graduate school days said, right is right. And I agreed. I ascribed to conservative theology and conservative politics.

But if conservative means holding on tenaciously to the status quo, then I have to think again. There are clearly problems with the way things are. Women have been mistreated. Justice has been denied to large categories of citizens. Too many indulge their greed and take advantage of the poor or uninformed.

The term "conservative" sounds to a lot of people like, "defender of the status quo." So a conservative is one who wants nothing to change. The system is just fine. If the poor and disadvantaged would just get with the program, they would find their own slice of prosperity. The real world treats everyone the same, so deal with it. Stop whining.

I don't want to defend the status quo. I'm beginning to see the problems with our culture and society. I see injustice. I see my own privilege. I see how the good-old-boy culture has tainted politics, sports, and entertainment. I see the dark underside of capitalism.

Meanwhile, I do believe in small government, personal responsibility, traditional morality, compassion, and freedom.

It's hard to hear voices of reason now, because everyone is yelling. No one is listening. There is plenty of reason not to trust anyone, because everyone seems to be promoting some corrupt agenda. Maybe shedding the labels is a good place to begin. I'm not a defender of the status quo.

Religion and Politics

'Tis the season for...
Yes, those awkward conversations with relatives you rarely see--these conversations are just around the corner. Everyone says that you have to avoid talking about religion and politics. That's probably good advice. Interestingly, these two realms meet in places beyond the dining room table.

For millennia cultures have found that politics and religion just gravitate toward each other. Too often this combination creates tangled webs, especially when power is held as the highest value. Both religion and politics wield power in this world, and the merger of these two sources of power looks like a good way to get things done.

It reminds me of the Ring of Power in Tolkien's famous trilogy. In the story, the wizard Gandalf knows the seducing effects of this ring. He knows that he could be tempted to use the ring for good, but that the ring would work corruption in his soul, eventually leaving him incapable of sound judgment. As the old saying goes, "Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely."

And so we find good intentioned people being seduced by the siren song of power. If you just get people in office who vote the right way, the world will be a better place. It doesn't matter if these people lack personal character. All that matters is the policies they pursue.

Politicians gain power, and then we are SHOCKED when they abuse it. Wow, that's never happened before.

We can't bear to let the other team get in power, so let's elect our own vile, corrupt leaders. Then we get to defend and explain away all the crimes and abuses.

I'm amazed at the mental and moral gymnastics I see as people try to defend the defenseless.

But there is a kingdom with a perfect Leader. His kingdom is not of this world, but eyes of faith can see glimpses of his powerful reign. He says to put others first, love enemies, and trust the Father. His ideas got him crucified. Then he defeated death itself.

We are soon to celebrate his birthday.

Politics: The Most Persuasive Liar

The airwaves reek of campaign commercials. Candidates love to say that their opponents are lying. They try to find any vote or sound bite that will make the opponent sound untruthful or extreme.

This is Tim Keller, not a politician. I did not have

a picture of a politician speaking.

Generally there is a kernel of truth in the charges, but far too often, the "facts" are devoid of context. Candidates try to counter the accusations with equally outrageous accusations.

We all know that mudslinging in a campaign goes with the territory. They only sling mud because it works. Enough people in the public buy the lies that elections are won and power is delegated based on untruths.

Think about it: the candidate who wins is typically the candidate who is the most persuasive liar.

We keep falling for the lies and government becomes more and more corrupt.

Can't we choose leaders on the basis of honor, truth, and good will?

They say that a nation has the government that it deserves. That's a scary thought.

The Superpower of Rationalization

Today Oregon governor John Kitzhaber announced his resignation, as pressure mounted for him to step back.  Even his political allies believed it was time for him to go.  Controversy arose concerning his fiancée Cylvia Hayes, who received $200,000 in consulting fees as advisor to the governor..

I don't know many details, but I do see a recurring theme.  Someone rises to power and makes poor decisions.  Power, prominence and fame change people.  Somehow, most people do not believe it will happen to them.  Good people rise to leadership, then gradually or suddenly get stupid.

Hundreds of men and women serve in the U.S. Congress, a highly corrupt institution.  Many, if not most, of them came into office planning to change the culture of corruption and bring a new day of statesmanship and honor.  But Washington culture seems to change people.  In my district we have a new congressman, who seems to be a man of honor.  I pray that he can withstand the pressure to compromise on principle.  Somehow we have leaders who lead our country deeper in catastrophic debt, while passing laws that apply to everyone in the country but themselves.  How dare they?  And we reelect them. 

Somehow power corrupts.  It changes the way we see the world.  It changes the way people interact with us.  It affects our judgment, so that right and wrong become blurred.  We begin thinking of the greater good as an excuse for small, dishonorable choices.  We cultivate the superpower of rationalization, so that our bad choices look wise and good.

Last night Marie Holmes of Shallotte, NC became a millionaire.  I am happy for this PowerBall winner, but I am also sad for her.  All her friendships are now altered.  She suddenly has the power that comes with $188 million.  Long forgotten friends and relations will likely find ways to contact her, just to say hello.  Marie will not be able to trust any relationship as sincere, with so few exceptions.  She will also see the world differently.  The normal problems of finances will vanish, replaced with new, much more challenging problems.  She may not become corrupt, but it will be a challenge.

When we have power, our judgment and morals suffer.  It is the pattern of all human history.  Those in power need much stricter accountability than normal people.  With only rare exceptions, unaccountable persons in power abuse that power. 

The Founders of the United States understood this law of nature.  They provided a system that provides accountability, checks and balances, enumerated powers.  Yet those who take public office and swear to protect the Constitution somehow have led our country into a colossal cesspool of systemic corruption where integrity seems quaint.  The myriad layers of bureaucracy have numbed government workers into profound indifference, led by politicians more committed to gaining and retaining power than doing the right thing.

If all the corrupt politicians and bureaucrats resigned this week, there may not be much government left.  If people of honor then took their place, the honorable would face the intense pressure that comes with power.  The pressure to abuse power.

We need people with integrity inspired by humility and trust in God.  We need objective accountability, not more power-hungry politicians playing the game of gotcha.

Ultimately human government will never be perfect.  Only the leadership of Jesus is perfect.  In the meantime, we can pray for our leaders, look for more honorable leaders, and objectively hold all leaders accountable to truth and justice.

The Good Thing about Ebola

The growing threat of ebola sends chills down our spines, and hopefully not fever chills.  It is the latest crisis to capture our national attention.  It is becoming an international cause for alarm.  But with this enemy, we have an opportunity to rally together.

• Everyone wants to eradicate ebola.  We can work together.
• Ebola is not a political issue.  It affects people without respect to nationality, sexual orientation, race or political affiliation.  Unfortunately some try to drag politics into the debate, but the disease is truly a common enemy.
• Fighting the disease gives opportunity to serve selflessly.  The body of Christ can truly show the love of Christ.
• Ebola reminds us of human limitations of understanding and medical intervention.  There will always be mystery in this universe.  We need to keep learning, but we will never know everything.
• Ebola may drive us to our knees in prayer.  Jesus is the healer.  We need him.
• Government cannot solve all our problems.  Government is necessary, but is led by imperfect people with imperfect policies and solutions. 

The good thing about ebola is that it reminds us of our limitations and provides us an opportunity to work together.

I reserve the right later to say that there is no good thing about ebola.

Government You Can Trust

The spectacle of Washington politics has been crazier than usual for a couple of weeks now.  The government is "shut down," causing headaches for some people in the real estate industry, and keeping some federal employees at home.  The debt ceiling is looming on the horizon, as politicians debate how much more we can borrow.

The debt will never be repaid, so all the efforts are aimed at continuing the illusion that this government is responsible.  See my blog post about the size of the national debt.  The U.S. government has been irresponsible for generations, building a financial house of cards which will eventually come crashing down.  Every politician works to put off the day of reckoning, so that the crash will not happen on his or her watch.

Our leaders have not followed the U.S. Constitution, and that has caused a lot of problems.  The Founders understood that power corrupts, and so they crafted a system by which government is split into three branches.  Those branches would watch over one another, to make sure that power would not be abused.  The system only works if the leaders obey the rules of the system.  Gradually they have ignored the rules and led our nation away from limited government.  The voters have allowed it to happen.

In Jesus' day, ordinary people knew that they could not trust the government.  The Romans were despised, as they militarily occupied the land of Israel.  The Jewish political leaders were also the religious leaders.  They had their own agenda of retaining whatever power the Romans would allow. 

As far as I know, there has never been a government free of corruption.  The U.S. government is following the historic pattern.

But Jesus will one day rule on earth.  "And the government shall be upon his shoulders.  And his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6).  That is government we can trust. 

In the meantime we pray, "Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done."