Hope instead of instability 4, November 2, 2005 AD
Why change the way Australia does politics? (2)
What is Christian politics? Christian politics is a political service rendered by followers of Jesus Christ, the King and Ruler of all nations. It is part of an ongoing, generation by generation task, of learning how to love our neighbours as ourselves. It should be viewed, not as a necessary evil, but as a valid part of our service to our neighbours, just like everything else we do in this life. It is one of the ways Christians show obedience to Jesus Christ, the Ruler of the Kings of the Earth. Acts of political service are part of our God-given responsibility, one of the ways in which we are called to honour God's ways as we live with others. In this sense Christians need to learn to freely confess that citizenship, with its duties, is a calling that needs to be followed in the way of obedience. Citizenship is one of the offices from which we cannot escape and within which we are called to work out our salvation in fear and trembling.
Clearly there are politicians, public officials and fellow citizens who try to "do" politics in a Christian way. And they deserve our respect and support. The dominant political trends in Australian public life assume something else, other basic loyalties. Very often these Christians have to work against considerable odds, in their work, in their parties, in their daily lives as citizens and members of their communities. We need to better understand their struggles as we find ways to develop spiritual discernment among Christian people about the direction our political obedience (or disobedience) is taking us. Such discernment will be indispensable if our "Christian politics" is to render authentic loving Christian political service to all our neighbours. That is what this series is all about. Do we want to see a change in the way Australia does politics? Of course! We need to gain wisdom about changing Australian politics. The way to do this is to work together to form a Christian political service that reflects a distinctive Christian understanding of our political responsibilities in this time, in this place, in this part of the world.
Let's briefly describe the state of Christian involvement in Australian political life today. Some continue to ride with the reactionary nationalism that the Liberal Coalition has tried to generate after the events of September 11, 2001 and the rise in terrorist activity around the world. Such Christians might also want a "free" economy, and endorse the proposed Industrial Relations reforms even though these reforms indicate a change in Liberal-Coalition thinking by which the Government, contrary to classic liberal ideals, now interferes quite significantly in the job market and in the work-place. Many Christians will also feel at home with the current PM's authoritarianism and his desire to be President Bush's regional "sheriff". In the past 50 years Australia has been subjected to wave upon wave of Americanisation and so it is to be expected that many Australians, whatever their religion or denominational affiliation, will tend to see sense in the Coalition's efforts to steer a course within the guidelines provided by Bush's "war on terrorism". They may also go "right" in their politics because they want less government, less restrictions on free speech and a stronger military emphasis to protect our coastline. There are others who go "left" although many Christian people can no longer see any coherence in the Labor Party., which appears to them to advocate a moderate left version of the Government's "liberal" policies.
Many young people turn increasingly to conservation, and seeking greater economic equality in global terms, while getting involved in providing services to care for the poor and oppressed, the homeless and the outcast. They have a strong yearning to find an identity that is authentic and distinct from American war mongering and consumerism. These younger Christians tend to identify more with the South Pacific and regional concerns and were deeply offended and embarrassed by the "Tampa" affair. To them the current Prime Minister seems to live in an unreal world of his own devising. Others remain uncomfortable with the current political options and still others try to take a resolute stand in the middle to advocate moderation.
There are Christians who have organised themselves into lobby groups, generally focusing upon moral issues. Some have formed Christian parties, others have tried to form a party to protect the family. In all of this it would be very wrong to conclude that Christians as a whole have distinctive and unified approach to Australian politics. They do not. We do not act politically as a cohesive community. We do not constitute a significant sector of the population with a common view of citizenship and the responsibilities and tasks of government. We have varying understandings of the public legal order. We do not operate with a heightened awareness of ourselves as Christian citizens. This means that if Christian politics is ever going to change the way Australia does politics this is a situation that is going to have to change.
For Christian renewal in our citizenship we will need a fresh understanding of God's patience and mercy to ourselves and to all the peoples of the earth. Jesus our Saviour is Jesus the Lord, the one to whom all authority has been given on heaven and upon earth. When we understand that then we will find the necessary inspiration to keep working, also as Christian citizens, and maintain a quiet and patient push for justice for all people.
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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 |