Hope instead of instability 3, October 26, 2005 AD
Why change the way Australia does politics? (1)
When I was a teenager in the 1960s I rarely heard the term "Christian politics". To most people it was an ambiguous term that did not warrant much comment. As the years have passed the term has become, more and more, a part of everyday conversation, but that does not mean there is a generally accepted meaning of the term. Ambiguities multiply when, for example, a group of praying Christians decide to form a political party. Bringing "Christian" together with "politics" to describe one's political view is a complex business.
Christians elected to public office will know this as will those engaged in policy-analysis. Any appeal to Christian values as justification for some policy seems to bring a whole new dimension, full of conflicting meanings, into view. Often there will be intense reactions, particularly from those who insist that religion be kept out of politics. And the problems are not confined to Christian politicians professionals. Christian citizens, who pay their rates and taxes and vote in Local, State or Federal elections also have political responsibilities will, in all likelihood, be confused by the term "Christian politics" as well.
When the term is used to advocate "Christian politics" it often comes with an acknowledgement that a fundamental change is needed to the way politics is "done". "Christian politics" often indicates a desire to "see" politics in a new light, a desire to "do" politics according to an alternative set of principles. In the process the personal and the private finds a new relationship with what is social and public.
But there is more. The advocacy of "Christian politics" provokes contention. Advocates of "Christian politics" are also citizens and, as such, a part of Australia's current way of "doing" politics. They are not only suggesting a personal change of attitude; the term itself implies that Australia should "do" politics differently. Thus a first step involves changing the way fellow Australian Christian "do" politics. "Christian politics" makes a profound challenge to Christians who have hitherto believe that personal and private religion should not get involved with the "worldly" realm of politics.
A good number of "secular" Australians view "Christian politics" as a fringe phenomenon, and they will oppose what they see is an undermining of our democratic political system. Politics, they say, must be religiously neutral. The affairs of state should have nothing to do with religious beliefs; "Christian politics" is opposed to a fundamental tenet of Australia's political life - the separation of church (where religion predominates) and the State (where common secular values are the basis of social cohesion). For such citizens, "Christian politics" is about turning the clock back by changing Australia's secular foundations.
Engage in an experiment. If when next you are talking to neighbours why not discuss "Christian politics" and note the reactions? Take note of the interest and also the confusion. If your neighbours are professing Christians who believe they should "do all to the glory of God", it will be interesting to discover whether and why they find the term a strange one. Will some shy away from discussion because it sounds the beginnings of an argument?
One of the first things to clarify in this discussion is the various ways in which "Christian politics" is understood. This will help us analyse the variety of reactions we find. In this series I am writing from Australia. These days an internet discussion can address a world-wide readership. I write here as a Christian who, by and large, has learned my political responsibilities from within Australia. The aim is to encourage Christian reflection within an Australian, S W Pacific political context. Politics is learned and any person reflecting upon politics will have to think about politics is learned from within one's own part of the political world.
For us in Australia, "Christian politics" is an ambiguous term and this must have something to do with the way we have learned to live politically. What is it then in Australia's political makeup that makes "Christian politics" strange and incongruous to so many citizens? Why should "Christian politics" need justification? And why is this political expectation so pervasive?
This expectation needs to be examined in the light of what we believe. The bible, received by Christians as God's Revelation about our life, teaches that political responsibility is one dimension of the life He has given to all people, to men and woman, His image-bearers. If we operate with the basic Christian profession, that Christ is Lord and Redeemer of all things, then we should be asking why it is that "Christian politics" is so problematic for us. Where does the political expectation that "Christian politics" is a threat to our political system come from? Clearly, God's revelation of His love, judgment and mercy indicates that followers of Jesus need an alternative set of political expectations about the political responsibilities that are part of our life on this planet? Our political life is part of us as we anticipate the Coming of God's Kingdom in its fullness, as we work with deeds of justice "preparing the way".
As so return to title of this series: Why change the way Australia does politics? If it’s a matter of how Christian citizens "see" politics, wouldn't it make more sense to discuss how to change the way Australia and Australians "see" politics? Don't we need to discuss how Christians can change the way Australia "sees" politics?
In brief, the answer can be put simply: yes indeed we need to work so that Australia can begin to "see" politics differently. For this to happen some Australians will have to begin to "do" politics differently. If Australia's politics is not what it ought to be - and many citizens from all political persuasions agree on that - then we need to discover what our response should be. Is our first step a dogmatic one, making a declaration that Australia should change its political ways? We already know that Australia has to change its political ways. We already know that Australia is in deep political trouble. And many of our neighbours, Christian and non-Christian know this as well. What is required is to understand why Australia is in deep trouble. We need to understand how change can be brought in the way Australia goes about its political responsibilities among the nations of the earth.
Any first step toward "Christian politics" must involve our own repentance since we are caught up in a way of "doing" politics that assumes politics it is not God's business. We need God's guidance to appropriately diagnose the problem and to understand better why our political system stands under judgment. We need to understand our political system's strengths and weaknesses, the way our nation promotes justice and also our failure to oppose injustice. We need a better understanding of how God's norms of justice, love and mercy apply comprehensively to political life. This indeed means working to change the way we "see" Australia's politics and our part in it. We need to "see" where we are going wrong. We need discernment about the way we are implicated in what we want to change. To become convinced of the need for "Christian Politics" requires us to walk on the right path.
Politics is about doing justice. Thus to change the way politics is "done" in Australia, we need to find ways to assist government and citizens take up their responsibilities in administering public justice. A sustained Christian political service must understand how Australia "does" politics and why God's norm of justice requires us to change our politics. This series merely begins a discussion; the ultimate aim must be to promote justice for all, as the basis of a flourishing and enriching "politics". This is but one of the ways in which we can give thanks to God for the life He has given us on this planet.
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October 2005 © Hope Instead of Instability, is a series written by Bruce C Wearne (PhD), 29 Lawrence Rd., Point Lonsdale Vic 3225 AUSTRALIA, 61-3-5258-3913. Each edition may be photocopied or retransmitted in its entirety but not otherwise published, reprinted or transmitted without permission. The aim of the series is to promote a renewal in principled pluralist thinking about Australian and South West Pacific politics from a Christian standpoint. Email responses are welcome and can be sent to bcwearne@ozemail.com.au http://members.ozemail.com.au/~bcwearne/index.html |