Friends,

If you haven't noticed, we're in an election year.  And while every election matters, this one does feel momentous.  I have my own views, as I'm a citizen as well as a pastor.  And my faith does inform my politics.  But I want to be careful, by not overly identifying my charge to advocate gospel values as best I see them with particular political parties—even if it's open season for doing just that these days.  I do struggle with that, as well I should.  But I can comfortably say this: virtues matter, the line between one’s theology and one’s politics is not always straight, the church is not an interest group, what's good for the church is not always what's good for the country (and vice versa), and there are values higher than party, country, and group.  

I pondered all of this in an article I wrote in 2007.  It was a different moment, with different politicians getting attention, and different issues ruling the airwaves.  But the gospel is the gospel.  I found that old article this week and read it again, wondering if I'd write something different today.  Frankly, except for the dated reference to the American invasion of Iraq, I think I'd write the same stuff today.  I'll admit, though, that I'm not as certain today as I was then that the church is called to stay above the fray.  But I'm still listening to the people, scriptures, and questions I wrote about then.  So I'm attaching that article here, for whatever interest it might still generate.  A first version of this was published in a BLOG called "Quick to Listen," but the version I'm attaching here is from the Fall 2007 issue of Yale Divinity School magazine, Reflections.  I'm interested in your response.

Oh, this note:  The "anarchy" I talk about in this article has a deep and long history, even a theology, behind it.  It's actually a political philosophy.  The English tradition of political thinking opposes "anarchy" and "order."  That influences how the word is often used in America.  But there is, of course, a wise and long European tradition of "anarchist" thinking that's had a genuine Christian expression and depends on the meaning of the word (an-, without, arche-, overarching or singular power or meaning).  An-archy is a way of ordering our world so that multiple visions of the good life can co-exist, mutually engage, and grow in the same garden.  Violence is an enemy of that vision.  

I was the Pastor of a different congregation when I wrote this, which is indicated in the biographical sentence in the article.

Peace to you,  

Wes