In light of the coming election here in the States (which has many people from both sides a bit discouraged with the final candidate alternatives) I thought some biblically-based political insights from a man who lived long ago -- Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) -- would be useful in helping us choose wisely, regardless of which side of the divide you stand on. Even those who have determined in protest -- not to vote at all, or vote for a write in -- could benefit from his thoughts on the issue. Although I must add that it's good to remember that Edwards wrote at a time when no constitution had yet been drafted, and the United States had not yet become the United States!
This "thought"
is taken from an article written by Gerald R. McDermott,
entitled: "What Jonathan Edwards Can Teach Us About Politics."
In his article he shares six of Edwards's views, though I have chosen to
limit this week's post to the first three and give you the last three next
week. And before all my friends overseas press the "delete"
button, I must add that the insights he shares are timeless and by no means
restricted to U.S. politics! Wherever you may live, I trust you will find
them helpful. Enjoy.
"Jonathan
Edwards (1703-1758) is widely regarded as the greatest theologian this
continent has ever produced. As a key figure in the religious life of colonial
America, Edwards was a multifaceted thinker whose total catalog of ideas is
still being discovered. ... And while scholars have long recognized that
Edwards possessed one of the most creative and powerful intellects on American
soil [just to give you a sense of intellectual prowess, it helps to know
Edwards entered Yale University at 13 years old, having already learned Latin,
Greek and Hebrew], most have thought [because of his famous sermon
"Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God"] he was happy to let the world
go to hell -- in both senses of that phrase.
But
recent research indicates that Jonathan Edwards carefully observed the social
and political currents swirling about him and developed an elaborate theory of
what it means to be a Christian citizen in a civil community... The following
is a six-point summary of Edwards's public theology:
1.)
Christians have a responsibility to
society beyond the walls of the church. The election of a president who
openly supports social policies repugnant to most evangelicals has prompted
some Christians to suggest the church abandon efforts to change society.... Yet
Edwards (well-known for his leadership in spiritual revivals) insisted that
Christians should care about the material and social well-being of those
outside the church. God has made us dependent upon our non-Christian neighbors
for help, he taught, and therefore to fail to acknowledge our interdependence
"is more suitable for wolves and other beasts of prey, than for human
beings." Edwards's convictions on this point stemmed from his belief
that we are made in the image of God, who is always reaching out in
relationship to others and cares for their bodies as well as their souls.
Christians should do the same... Edwards practiced what he preached. Throughout
a seven year stint on the Massachusetts frontier, for example, the New England
theologian fought for the rights of native Americans who came to his mission
church. He argued that Indian girls should be able to go to school, and wrote
repeated letters to the Massachusetts Assembly urging the colony to honor its
treaty obligations to the Housatonuk Indians...
2.)
Christians should not hesitate to join forces with non-Christians in the
public square to work toward common moral goals...Edwards argued that
Christians have much in common with non-Christians: The same basic sense of
good and evil, since God has engraved his moral law on every human conscience;
similar appreciation for beauty, both material and moral; the same fundamental
religious knowledge (that there is a God, and that He is good); and basic human
feelings (pity for the poor and love for family). Using Edward's
principles, an evangelical could work together with a Muslim to fight
pornography in their community. Both see pornography as a moral wrong,
threatening the integrity of marriage and family.... Similarly, his public
theology does not call for Christians to create new, separate political
communities, or to shun communities outside the church. Rather, it encourages
Christians to work together with like-minded citizens, Christian or not, to
transform existing communities according to God-given principles of conscience.
[Edwards, says McDermott, would have rejected "the historic Anabaptist
approach, who choose not to join with those outside the church as equal
partners in common work for the community, but remain separate from the rest of
society in an alternative community intended to stand only as a distant witness
to the rest of culture.]
3.)
Christians should support their governments but be ready to criticize them
publicly when the occasion demands. Edwards believed that government is,
"a great and important business," that, among other things, prevents,
"citizens from tearing one another apart." He preached that a
Christian should be "greatly concerned for the good of the public community
to which he belongs," and willing to, "lay out himself... for the
good of his country." .... But Edwards also warned that political leaders
are prone to abuse their power, and encouraged citizens to criticize "the
management of public affairs, and the duty of the legislature, and those that
are at the head of the administration." More than once he used his pulpit
to tell rulers how they ought to behave. One Sunday (with local politicians
present)...he boldly advised the congregation that bad politicians seek only
to, "enrich themselves, or to be great, and advance themselves on the
spoils of others." The good magistrate, however, is not willing to
"grind the faces of the poor, and screw their neighbors for filthy
lucre." Little wonder that these politicians conspired with others to fire
Edwards some months later."
--------------------------------------------------------
I
must confess I'm one of those people who are "discouraged" with the
options left to us this November. And I'm not alone if the lack of
placards in people's front yards, and the noticeable absence of bumper stickers
on cars are an indication of the lack of enthusiasm for either candidate. Yet
despite that prevalent air of discouragement many feel, Edward's thoughts are
helpful -- especially the thought that we live in a community, with Christian
and non-Christian neighbors, whose physical and spiritual welfare IS to
be my concern. And it is helpful to remind ourselves that "God has made us
dependent upon our non-Christian neighbors," and we should "acknowledge our
interdependence," and that we do have "much in common
with non-Christians," and should seek to "work together
with like-minded citizens, Christian or not."
After
all, our God (who is sovereign over all), has left us here to be
"salt" and "light." Light which dispels the darkness,
and salt which is NOT to remain separate, but be
mixed into the whole to give it a better flavor.
Just some food for
thought, Pastor Jeff
