Christian
radical reflections 48,
October 22, 2004 AD
The first step
toward a Christian political contribution is indeed "getting one's own
world-view right." That step must be part of an ongoing day-by-day
repentance as we seek a truly Christian political option so that we can keep
working on the positive expression of our citizenship wherever we are - locally
and at State and Federal levels as well. My analysis here has indicated how I
understand the positive potentials for public justice that lie within the reach
of the major parties at this point of time. We need to combat the
cynicism and avoidance syndrome that simply says: "Oh that's politics;
you'll never change that!" It can be changed. The Apostle Paul was Saul the
terrorist before he met Jesus on the way to Damascus. We must not act
politically as if the Almighty is somehow constrained by our preferred lines of
attack, even if we understand that He calls us to go forward and develop a way
of life that can support clear policies which are transparent in their
commitment to justice. He it is who calls us to get busy with the political
task of public justice.
This series is
also penned to clarify in my own mind where I think the major players should go.
It is highly likely that the "major players" will be too busy doing
what they think needs to be done, to worry about this analysis. I am used to
that, although I must admit that I get deeply annoyed by some carping Christian
"advice" which seems to me to endorse an unchristian cynicism about
politics. There are those who suggest that Christians use a "Christian set
of values" to evaluate the least worst political options on the electoral
supermarket shelf. To my mind that is not actually Christian politics. At best
it helps people compare and contrast the policies which confront them. At worst
it simply feeds into the view that politics is pragmatism, and so in that
instance elections become a time where Christians gain a measure of personal
reassurance that they have ticked the box in a Christian way, and that they are
not actually responsible for the outcome of the election when all those
atheists or hypocrites get into power.
I have already
tried to answer "Why
are we so worried?" But now we know, if we needed to be reminded, that
the election has simply deepened our worries. That is what I have tried to
explain in the foregoing set of articles: the Liberal Party's loss of a
authentic party character illustrated by its in principle denial of the
principle of "conscience" for how politics has to be played out; the
Labor Party's continued commitment to itself as the alternative popular mass
party for all Australians by ignoring its historic place in the political
landscape to reform political involvement; the National Party's inability to
activate its professed Christian conscience by a policy of continued and
repeated accommodation to the demands of Governments dominated by the Liberal
Party machine that no longer dares to be a genuine political party from tip to
toe.
Many Christian
voters were deeply depressed that the Liberal-Coalition could have been
returned with an increased majority. After all, why should the spoils of
victory go to those who orchestrated such a scare campaign, to those who
cleverly orchestrate public opinion in the way that John Howard has done and
for which he is now widely congratulated?
Education is
needed - Christian political education. We have only scratched the surface
here. We haven't discussed State or local politics. We haven't really developed
much by way of political insight into Australia's part in this sector of the
globe.
Ora et labora
(pray and work).
|
October 2004 © Christian Radical
Reflections, is 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. This personal project
aims to encourage positive Christian citizenship, the development
of policies and political attitudes that better express our love for God and
our neighbour. Your comments are welcome. Email can be sent to bcwearne@ozemail.com.au
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~bcwearne/index.html |