Politics #6 - Love Over This

Look at the earth from outer space
Everyone must find a place
Give me time and give me space
Give me real don’t give me fake
Give me strength, reserve control
Give me heart and give me soul
Give me time, give us a kiss
Tell me your own politik

And open up your eyes,open up your eyes,open up your eyes, open up your eyes

Give me one ’cause one is best In confusion, confidence
Give me peace of mind and trust
Don’t forget the rest us
Give me strength, reserve control
Give me heart and give me soul
Wounds that heal and cracks that fix
Tell me your own politik

And open up your eyes,open up your eyes,open up your eyes, open up your eyes

Just open up your eyes.But give me love over, love over, love over this …

“Politik,” Coldplay, A Rush of Blood to the Head“

A nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves.”

Edward R. Murrow

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s Dr. Campbell has already said on theRubicon “politics happens.”

There are so many images and words that come to mind when we hear the word “politics.” Besides religion, there is no more polarizing or explosive topic for thought and conversation. Everyone, informed and uninformed (I like to think I fall in the middle, but admittedly a little closer to uninformed), has something to say and share about politics.

Politics has to do with people. Therefore, in countries, cities and towns, offices, classrooms, playgrounds, cafeterias, churches, and anywhere else people come together, “politics happens.”  Sometimes it’s good and sometimes it’s bad; when “politics happens”  in the church and among believers in communities of faith, most of the time it’s bad.

The political action and drama we see during election season in Canada and the United States has no place in the church and among believers, but we do it. We engage in character assassination, we tell lies and half-truths, we distribute misinformation and spin information to suit our stories and points of view, etc.

Being politically engaged and informed is important (I need to be more informed and engaged). Murrow’s above sentiment is true. The church needs to engage in the social and political issues of our day and be a clear voice for justice and the rights of all humankind. All citizens, regardless of faith, should not allow the wool to be pulled over their eyes.

When “politics happens” in the church and among believers let me suggest we look to our Triune God for a political theology of the Trinity for a political theology for the church.

God the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit do not engage in any of the negative political action and drama we have suggested or that comes to mind when we hear the word “politics.”  The three persons in the Godhead are “undivided in essence and co-equal in power and glory.” Love rules over politics in the community of our Triune God. Our Triune God works together to bring about salvation, holiness, the forgiveness of sins and is the power behind and the guiding force for the church, us, the body of Christ on earth. The community of the Trinity works together for the betterment of others. There is no competition among the Trinity. There is no animosity and belittling among the Trinity. There is no character assassination among the Trinity.

Love should rule over the politics in the community of believers. We should be undivided in essence and we are all equal in our need for the love, grace, and guidance found in our Triune God. Let me reiterate the great closing thought from Dr. Campbell: “it’s all level ground before the cross.” We should be working together for the betterment of others.

So, let love rule over when “politics happens.”

Writer: Mark Braye and his wife Nancy are officers in Essex, Ontario, Canada. They have two children, pictured above, Hannah and Micah. The four of them love to play and watch Sesame Street.

Politics #5 - Politics Happens

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wo people, of any age or background, enter a space, and politics happens!

Politics works out the power relationships among a group of people, and whenever we meet with another person we are engaged in politics.

Politics decides who gets what; how the money is allocated and who has the influence.

We have choices around how we do our politics, and whether we do it well or badly, but unless we live an entirely solitary life we are always involved in politics.

Those who are clear in their values work their politics so as to give shape and substance to their convictions.  We all ‘do’ politics, and we do politics well when we bring our most deeply prized convictions into effective action.

Jesus engaged in politics. He “set his face steadfastly” in the direction of the values of the Kingdom of God, refusing to live any other way. The church and the state were each threatened by the politics of Jesus, and they formed an alliance that eventually crucified Jesus in an attempt to silence him.

Jesus did politics well, aligning his action with his most prized values.  And it killed him!

The Gospels do not hide the politics between the disciples.  Throughout Mark’s Gospel the disciples consistently fail to understand the values and the ways of Jesus.  They struggle for power within the group and Jesus contrasts this struggle by setting a powerless child in the middle, to demonstrate the ways of God.

Jesus also rebukes his followers when they try to dismiss other people who have no power - women and foreigners, those who are different.  Consistently Jesus embraces and cares for those whom society tries to forget.  It takes a lot of time and a lot of grace for the disciples to learn the ways of God.

So, is TSA in politics?  Of course it is!!  By being part of society we are part of society’s politics.  Even if we remain silent on an issue our silence speaks.

The better question is: Does TSA do politics well?  And that depends on how clear we are about our core values, and how effective we are in bringing these values into effective action.

The Australia Southern Territory declares it mission values as Human Dignity, Justice, Hope, Compassion and Community.  These words and the actions that flow from them express the ways of God through TSA.  Enacting these values leads to transforming lives, caring for people, and reforming society.

When our politics are driven by these values we do politics well.

Remember, it’s all level ground before the cross.

Writer: Married to Laurel and with two adult daughters, Dr Craig Campbell was for 27 years a Salvation Army officer. During this time he completed Doctoral studies, with a research project Emerging Images of Mission in The Salvation Army.  Prior to officership Craig practised as a civil engineer, and over the last four years has managed a youth service that offers an individualised and educational response with disengaged youth.

Politics #4: A Scary Divide! (Joe Noland)

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n America there is a divisive, unhealthy divide, politically, within the Christian community. In fact, the church tends to align itself with a particular political party based upon its orthodoxy, liberal or conservative, TSA included. And that’s not only dangerous; it’s downright scary!

For example, there is a church in the Deep South with a sign on its front lawn: “No homo mayor.” Or one in the Northeast who lost its tax exemption for taking out an advertisement in major newspapers during an election claiming that the presidential candidate was a “sinner” and that people who voted for “sinners” were “sinners” too. The illustrations go on and on, really scary!

The quintessential example of a Christian leader for whom there is no political divide is the Reverend (Dr.) Billy Graham, one of my heroes. He has been the spiritual mentor for every U.S. President since Harry Truman, political leanings, whatever they are, so unimportant in the grand scheme of things.

In the news recently, President Barack Obama met with Billy for spiritual counseling and prayer. Google the response to this meeting and you will be astounded by the results. It was a hot topic for discussion on my Facebook page, one of my professing Christian brethren commenting, “Will the praying do any good, after all, he’s a Muslim?”  And another saying, “What’s he doing meeting with Graham, he (Obama) isn’t even an American citizen!” This said in the context of praying for our leaders, even if we don’t agree with them politically. In other words, “I don’t have to pray for him, because technically and constitutionally, he is not my leader.” And these are supposedly Christian Brethren weighing in, some of them Salvationists. Scary!

Think about it historically, when a church with a particular orthodoxy (persuasion) assumes control over a nation. It never works, thus the founders of this nation wisely insisted on the separation of church and state, constitutionally. Ah, but certain religious persuasions in this country would have it otherwise, some of my Salvationist brethren included. Beyond scary!

When we allow the government to step into the pulpits of America, or anywhere for that matter, the free exercise of religion is endangered, and the government plays the role of a religious monitor. As the Supreme Court stated in 1943, “If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in … religion.”

I wonder whom God has chosen to follow in the footsteps of Billy Graham; a role model to help us monitor the balance? Whoever it is, you can rest assured he/she will not be influenced politically. Peter learned this lesson, unmistakably, during his God encounter, Acts 10: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality (Vs 34 NKJ).

It’s a lesson that many of us in the Christian community have forgotten, and that’s what’s really scary! 

Writer: Commissioner Joe Noland’s ministry can be summed up in three words: chaos, creativity and controversy - three elements implicit in any successful innovative endeavor. Cecil B. DeMille, renowned producer of Biblical epics, once wrote, “Creativity is a drug I cannot live without.” Joe’s mantra reads, “Creativity is my drug of choice.”  Access Joe Noland’s complete bio, among other things, by clicking into his website.

Politics #3 : Polichristians (J. Gainey)

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he list of passionate differences among the people of this world seems to be limitless. We all have our soap boxes and points of frustration that we have a hard time not talking about. I’m as guilty as the next person, though I have begun to purposely avoid many conversations and subjects in these days of exaggerated tempers and disagreements.

Topics of public opinion have always been important to humanity. They are the discussions of our hearts, though not always rooted in our most compassionate thoughts toward the one(s) with whom we are speaking.

Wherever there is a television, radio or internet connection, heated monologues and dialogues of religious and political differences are being discussed, even by Christians. The political atmosphere is filling pulpits and facebook pages with followers of Jesus humiliating themselves and their family (the Church), over their political opinions.

Jesus’ monarchy was misunderstood by many, including Jews and non-Jews. Jews argued with Jews, non-Jews argued with non-Jews, and Jews and non-Jews had their arguments as well over the subject of Jesus’ kingdom and how he should run it. But Jesus made it a point to remind those who questioned his kingship that his kingdom was not a part of this world’s politics.

When Jesus’ kingship was questioned, he said to Pilate,
“My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place” (John　18:36　NIV).

In this statement, Jesus is not saying that the Kingdom of God cannot be found in the world. He told his disciples, “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick that are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you’” (Luke 10:8-9).
The point of Jesus’ claim that his kingdom is not of this world was to say that his kingship was not received by way of votes, assignment, or human birth.

The kingdom of Jesus was one that was not of a divided kingdom or a bickering nation, but a kingdom of unity and peace. It is not the loudest or the richest or the greatest number that made him a king, but by the hearts and minds of those who desired peace in their world, not more divisiveness. And yet, many of us who call ourselves Christians speak of and to our brothers and sisters with disgust and disdain.

I agree that many subjects that involve citizens within a nation are important to discuss and even vote on. But the way in which we discuss and the purpose for which we vote, must have the Kingdom of God always before us, if we call ourselves Chrsitians. We cannot claim to be Christians and hurt others with our heated words, no matter how important and personal the oponion or view.

“With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness” (James 3:9 NIV).

Jesus’ is the King of a kingdom that makes no sense to the world. He is a King who only divides those who refuse to come together and love one another in a world full of confusion and turmoil.

As followers of the Messiah, we are called Christians; people whose kingdom is built on a system that did not come from this world. When we get involved in the hate-mongering and verbal bashing that is so common to the politics of this world’s system, we should not call ourselves Christians and prove ourselves to be poor examples of godly images.

I think we should separate ourselves from the confused believers who dive head-first into the painful and stress-filled bloviating of useless political banter by calling them “Polichristians.”

Now that sounds like a kingdom that is of this world.

In His dust,
Johnny

Writer: Capt. Jonathan Gainey was born in Jacksonville, FL in June, 1969. He has been married to Staci, the daughter of retired Salvation Army officers, for twenty years and they have four children ages 18, 16, 12, and 4. Jonathan was commissioned as an officer in June of 2002, and is currently serving in his third appointment in New Bern, NC, USA. He is working on a Masters of Divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and is the creator and manager of the Flocks Diner website, where his passion for learning and teaching is expressed and shared through writing and a weekly podcast.

Politics #2 : Speaking to Politics (Chick Yuill)

Chick Yuill was invited to preach at the service organised by the churches in Manchester and the Conservative Christian Fellowship as part of the Conservative Party Conference. This is his sermon on that occasion, slightly ammended for publication.

Conservative Party Conference - “Welcome to Manchester Service”  Tuesday 6^th October, 2009 Text:  Isaiah 58:6-12

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here are many in 21^st century Britain who would question the rightness of a Christian worship service being linked in any way with a party conference.  I am clearly not one of them  -  and that for reasons that I can articulate briefly and simply.

The Christian faith is not merely a private matter  -  something between a man or a woman and their God.  There is far too much in the teaching of Jesus about love for others and justice for the oppressed for that to be true. On the other hand, I do not believe that the church should have a privileged place in society. We live in post-modern, post-Christendom, multi-cultural Britain and I, for one, do not seek to turn the clock back.

Our calling is neither to personal piety for ourselves nor to a crusading pursuit of power for the church. Our calling is to express our faith in the public arena, not by forcing it on others but by living it out in every area of life.

It is most definitely not the role of the church to politically endorse any party. But equally certainly, it is our task to prophetically engage with those who serve us and lead us in politics. I want to offer you four reasons why that is both our right and our responsibility.

1. The church calls us to a point of reference

In every human enterprise  -  perhaps especially in those that set out with high ideals  -  there lies the danger of expediency:  principles can be abandoned and people can be trampled in pursuit of even the highest of goals.

I would not suggest for one moment that Christians and other people of faith are the only ones with a moral compass, but it seems to me that the beliefs to which we are committed provide an ultimate point of reference for all human endeavours including the political arena.  If, as we believe:

- The world is the creation of a good God

- All human beings are made in his image

- God, whom Christians describe as trinity, is in his own being community and has created us for community

- God loves the world so much that he gave his own Son to die for it

If all that is true, there is a clear point of reference for how we live, how we treat each other, how we conduct business, and how we do politics. It means that in politics, as in every human endeavour, we must act in such a way that everything we do demonstrates our commitment to:

- Respect human dignity

- Encourage personal responsibility

- Work for a healthy society

2. The church has a proven track record

There is no other group of people spread throughout our nation like the church. In every town, city and village throughout Britain, the Christian church is present and active.  We’re by no means perfect in our efforts to be the body of Christ on earth  -  but we are there!

And in so many places  -  often the most needy areas in our society  -  these Christian churches are not just gatherings of the faithful. Ask who is running youth clubs, after-school clubs, breakfast clubs, homework clubs,lunch clubs for the elderly and a thousand and one other projects. And again and again, you’ll get the same answer:  It’s the church!

Ask who are the people volunteering as school governors, local councillors, community activists. And again and again, you’ll get the same answer:  it’s members of the church and followers of Jesus who are seeking to make their communities better and safer places.

We have a right to be heard simply because we’re there. And  -  more importantly  - we have a responsibility to speak for those who often cannot speak for themselves. We don’t ask to be the only voice in our nation. But we are an important voice which cannot and must not be stifled.

3. The church wants to partner in renewal

All of us here this evening  -  whether we are part of the church in Manchester or members of the Conservative Party  -  are in the business of renewal.  We want to change things for the better.

Politicians who imagine that this can be done merely by improving the environment in which people live without recognising and addressing their deepest spiritual needs are mistaken.

That way lies the disillusionment of empty materialism, but so are Christians who imagine that the job of the church is simply to prepare people for the life to come.

That way lies the escapism of the religious ghetto and the dereliction of our responsibility to work for the Kingdom of God here on earth.

We refuse to accept that there is a division between the sacred and the secular. We refuse to accept that faith is only about the individual.

Our Christian faith is holistic.  We believe that God is concerned about the whole of life. The scripture that was read earlier calls us to a renewal of our towns and cities.

¹⁰ and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.

¹¹ The LORD will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.

¹² Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

(Isaiah 58:10-12)

And we will partner with all men and women of good will and with politicians of every hue who are committed to working for the restoration and renewal of our towns and cities.

4. The church holds the promise of resurrection

But this is perhaps the most important thing that we bring to our society. The most important thing I will say this evening:

At the heart of the Christian faith is the conviction that God’s new creation has broken into this world, into our time and space, in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. And that conviction fuels and fires our hope that what God has done in the resurrection of Jesus he will one day do not only for us but for his entire creation.

So we are not, as some imagine, primarily concerned with going to heaven. Rather, we are committed to working to bring heaven to earth.

We all know  -  priests and politicians and all people of goodwill  -   that every victory for good in this life is partial. We know that this is a fallen world and that there are always injustices to be put right, wounds to be healed, and evils to be eliminated. We know that there are set-backs and failures.

But we believe that every victory, however small, is worth the winning. Because one day God will take it up, make it part of his great resurrection project, incorporate it in his great plan of renewal.

The story of the resurrection is a story that everyone who is working for good needs to hear. It is a truth that everyone working to make a better society needs to grasp. It is a hope that needs to take hold of every one of us if we are not to give up in despair.

Let me end with a personal story…

About 18 months ago a very dear friend of ours, Nicola, died after a magnificent battle with cancer. Her death might have been seen as just a tragedy, but on the night she died her husband, Phil, sent a text message to all his friends.  There has never been a more glorious text message. It said simply this:

Nicola died peacefully at 6.00pm this evening to continue her resurrection adventure.

That says it all perfectly and beautifully.  Life that is lived for God and for good  -  with all its setbacks and tragedies  -  is part of God’s resurrection adventure. Every good thing that is done, albeit imperfectly, is part of God’s resurrection adventure.

Every act that alleviates human suffering and pain, however seemingly small, is part of God’s resurrection adventure.

So let’s work together to build for the Kingdom of God:

- in the hope of the renewal of all things

- in the promise of the resurrection, and

- in the pursuit of God’s great adventure.

Besides which all our political convictions and even our theological constructions are but faint shadows of the great reality for which we strive and which, please God, will one day dawn over our world.

(c) Chick Yuill 2009 - (Used with kind permission)

http://www.anvilding.com/speakingtopolitics.htm

Writer: Chick  has spent over thirty-five years in full-time ministry.  Most of this time has been devoted to leading and pastoring local congregations, both in the UK and the USA.  He is a passionate communicator and has frequently appeared on national radio and TV, speaking on issues of faith and morality. He is also a regular speaker at major Christian conferences such as Spring Harvest and contributes frequently to Radio Two’s Good Morning Sunday show. Chick is the author of a number of books including, ‘We Need Saints’, ‘And God Created Sex…’ ‘Leadership on the Axis of Change’, ‘This Means War’ and ‘Others’, a new look at the story of Jonah.  His latest book, ‘A Terrible Beauty:  the fierce splendour of gospel and grace’ was published jointly by Spring Harvest Publications and Authentic in April 2008. In October 2006 Chick relinquished his position as the denominational leader for The Salvation Army in Greater Manchester and now devotes himself fully to reflecting, speaking and writing on issues relating to what it means to be authentic followers of Jesus in the 21st Century.   As part of this ministry in the wider church, he gave two days each week to fulfil the duties of chairman for HOPE in Greater Manchester during 2008, an initiative that sought to encourage churches to work together to share the good news of the Christian gospel in word and deed in a way that will not only bring individuals to faith but will also impact and transform surrounding communities. That particular ministry has now come to an end and from September ‘09, Chick will work half-time for the London Institute of Contemporary Christianity (LICC) in the North West of England.  His role, which is linked to LICC’s Imagine Project, will involve working with churches to promote and facilitate the concept of Whole-life-discipleship. Chick has been married to his wife Margaret for over 40 years and for all of that time they have shared their ministry.  Their commitment to God and each other is summed up in their joint mission statement: To model Christian marriage and Christian ministry in a manner that glorifies God and serves as an example to others.

Politics #1 : Political parties - An Erroneous Assumption

Geoff Ryan walks the fine political line

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s a member of the local riding association (Canadian electoral district) for the Conservatives, I was involved in strategy and policy discussions for our candidate during a provincial election in our province a couple years ago. She is a white, well-heeled lawyer in her mid-fifties who lives in the upscale, old-money end of our electoral district. Her husband is in banking. She is a good woman who genuinely cares about social change and about certain key issues in our area. There are parts of the riding where who she is and what she appears to represent would play well, but not in my particular neighbourhood.

The New Democratic Party candidate was a Latina woman who worked with the Toronto Community Housing Corporation and was personally connected with many of the people and places in my neighbourhood. Though younger and more attractive than the Progressive Conservative candidate, she was not warm or personable, and struggled as a public speaker. In my community, she was quite popular. However, in other areas of the riding, people wouldn’t even open the door when she came knocking.

One Tuesday evening, I made my way to the Conservative campaign launch. It was held at a nice restaurant on Yonge Street. Several well-known political figures were in attendance. There was an open bar. Expensive (and inedible) finger food was served and shoals of bright young things, recently graduated from political science university courses via Upper Canada College, were working the crowd and tapping on their Blackberrys. I made sure my attendance had been noted, then left. This was not really my scene nor my crowd.

The following Saturday, I was in my backyard putting up a shed with help from a guy who recently started attending our church after coming through drug rehab. Around noon, I remembered that the NDP candidate was holding her campaign launch that afternoon in a rented space just around the corner from my house. Though dressed in paint-splattered jeans and a torn T-shirt, with a disreputable baseball hat crammed onto my head, I decided to wander over. As I rolled up to the office, I was met by the campaign manager, a woman with a crew cut who was chain-smoking out front. Looking into the office I saw a small group of immigrant women, sitting in a circle, chatting and eating home-baked goodies. The “staffers” in the office were young, bearded men with backpacks and wan smiles, and thin girls wearing badges in support of alternative bands and various left-wing causes. I schmoozed for a bit, and then went back to my shed.

The problem that niggled at me for the rest of the weekend, the duration of the campaign and, frankly, ever since, is that the NDP crowd was pretty much what my church looks like on any given Sunday. These were my people and this was the milieu in which I have lived most of my life. And the Conservative party (pun intended) wasn’t.

Certain things are important to me-small government, fiscal responsibility, entrepreneurship, individual initiative and self-reliance, plus a deep conviction of the limitations and shortcomings of the welfare state. Having lived in a post-Socialist state for almost a decade (Russia), I am quite clear-eyed about the retro-socialism that the NDP is trying to sell. Yet, there are things that come with the label “Tory” that I struggle with and don’t particularly want to own. But this is where I have landed. It’s the same with the “evangelical” label that I, at times, reluctantly wear.

Fernando Henrique Cardoso, two-term President of Brazil, sociologist, professor, politician and, according to some, one of the world’s top public intellectuals, wrote a piece entitled “Political Parties” in Foreign Policy magazine in 2005:

We take it for granted that political parties are vital to modern political life. They have shaped representative democracies since the late 19th century. Yet, their prospects are not bright in today’s large democracies. In fact, these powerful political machines may soon disappear. The ground is already shifting underneath their feet. Political parties have based their platforms on ideological and class divides that are becoming less important, especially in more advanced societies. Although class consciousness still matters, ethnic, religious, and sexual identities now trump class, and these affiliations cut across traditional political party lines. Today, the labels left and right have less and less meaning. Citizens have developed multiple interests, diverse senses of belonging, and overlapping identities…. Political dislocation exists alongside a growing fatigue with traditional forms of political representation. People no longer trust the political establishment. They want a greater say in public matters and usually prefer to voice their interests directly or through interest groups and nongovernmental organizations…. And thanks to modern communication, citizens’ groups can bypass political parties in shaping public policy. Political parties no longer have a lock on legitimacy.

When I first read this, I thought: That’s me. I shopped the idea around to some friends and acquaintances and felt like I was moving from room to room in a large house flicking on all the lights.

Though disillusionment with established political structures might be very real, political disengagement is not the answer. This is not the place to make the case for Christians to be involved in politics, but a short quote by Glenn Tinder, writing some years ago in The Atlantic Monthly, says it well enough:

We are so used to thinking of spirituality as withdrawal from the world and human affairs that it is hard to think of it as political. Spirituality is personal and private, we assume, while politics is public. But such a dichotomy drastically diminishes spirituality construing it as a relationship to God without implications for one’s relationship to the surrounding world. The God of Christian faith … created the world and is deeply engaged in the affairs of the world. The notion that we can be related to God and not to the world-that we can practice a spirituality that is not political-is in conflict with the Christian understanding of God.

If Cardoso is right, then it might actually make little difference with whom Christians choose to align themselves politically (here in the West). Parties rise to power and fall from power in cyclical patterns, and when they are in power, their influences on the policies and laws that impact “our people” are neither consistently good, nor consistently bad, regardless of political stripe. It is a misguided course of action, based on an erroneous assumption, to associate one party in particular with particular concerns or with any consistent approach to things that matter most to us.

For instance, one might associate the concerns and needs of the poor with Labour (UK), Democrats (US) and Liberals (Canada). Or, to mention another example, one might associate the religious right, along with its concerns and positions, with Conservatives (UK), Republicans (US) and Conservatives (Canada).

I have socially conservative Pentecostal friends who tell their congregants to vote Conservative, hoping they will overturn the same-sex marriage bill-an erroneous assumption. The rhetoric and policies of the NDP include care for the poor and working class, but they aim to do this by an endless expansion of government programs, strengthening the welfare state, yet thereby perpetuating generational dependence and dysfunction-another erroneous assumption. The Conservatives, reputedly cold-hearted when it comes to the down and out, actually believe deeply in the tenets of community development over service provision (whether they know it or not) and so might, in the long run, be a better bet for the poor-yet another erroneous assumption. It gets complicated.

I have a friend in Germany, Frank Heinrich, who, like myself, is a Salvation Army officer. He pastored a 614 church in Chemnitz, a city in former Eastern Germany. His church is situated in a vast and bleak micro-city of Soviet-era apartment buildings, home to thousands and thousands of people. Frank decided to run for political office in hopes of improving life in his parish. The Salvation Army (in an unusual move) granted him a leave of absence to run. This past September, he won in a landslide and is now in the Federal Parliament representing Chemnitz. Frank is a flamboyantly left-wing kind of guy with a huge heart for the poor and marginalized. But he ran his campaign as part of the Christian Democratic Union Party and was elected as a member of that party-one seen as representing the conservative right wing of the German political landscape, analogous to the Republicans in the U.S. or the Conservatives here in Canada.

His reasoning? They were going to win anyway, and he really wanted to achieve something in Chemnitz. So he threw his lot in with them, planning to work from “the inside” to effect change. A triumph of pragmatism over principle, some might say. The words of Fernando Henrique Cardoso, if true, suggest that today’s political parties are quite malleable. My German friend, then, may find himself with some significant room to do some things he might not have had room to do before.

So what’s a reluctant Tory like me to do? Short of starting my own party, I figure that picking a party to get involved with is kind of like picking a church. As a Christian, you have to be in community, and so you pick a church of some sort to belong to. The same thing goes politically. You pick a party. There’s no such thing as the perfect church, or perfect political party. Settle on one that you can live with and go from there.

Just don’t make assumptions.

Copyright © 1974-2010 Cardus. All Rights Reserved.

Writer: Major Geoff Ryan is co-founder of theRubicon and was publisher for three years. He is co-ordinator of the 614 Network and organizes the bi-annual Urban Forum. His interests include writing, politics, coffee and his children. Geoff and his wife Sandra minister in Regent Park, a social housing project in downtown Toronto, Canada.

This article originally appeared in Comment magazine, the opinion journal of CARDUS: www.cardus.ca/comment http://www.cardus.ca/comment/article/1524/