10.31.2008
10.30.2008
faith priorities
My Personal ‘Faith Priorities’ for this Election
by Jim Wallis 10-23-2008
In 2004, several conservative Catholic bishops and a few megachurch pastors like Rick Warren issued their list of “non-negotiables,” which were intended to be a voter guide for their followers. All of them were relatively the same list of issues: abortion, gay marriage, stem cell research, etc. None of them even included the word “poverty,” only one example of the missing issues which are found quite clearly in the Bible. All of them were also relatively the same as official Republican Party Web sites of “non-negotiables.” The political connections and commitments of the religious non-negotiable writers were quite clear.
I want to suggest a different approach this year and share my personal list of “faith priorities” that will guide me in making the imperfect choices that always confront us in any election year — and suggest that each of you come up with your own list of “faith” or “moral” priorities for this election year and take them into the voting booth with you.
After the last election, I wrote a book titled God’s Politics. I was criticized by some for presuming to speak for God, but that wasn’t the point. I was trying to explore what issues might be closest to the heart of God and how they may be quite different from what many strident religious voices were then saying. I was also saying that “God’s Politics” will often turn our partisan politics upside down, transcend our ideological categories of Left and Right, and challenge the core values and priorities of our political culture. I was also trying to say that there is certainly no easy jump from God’s politics to either the Republicans or Democrats. God is neither. In any election, we face imperfect choices, but our choices should reflect the things we believe God cares about if we are people of faith, and our own moral sensibilities if we are not people of faith. Therefore, people of faith, and all of us, should be “values voters” but vote all our values, not just a few that can be easily manipulated for the benefit of one party or another.
In 2008, the kingdom of God is not on the ballot in any of the 50 states as far as I can see. So we can’t vote for that this year. But there are important choices in this year’s election — very important choices — which will dramatically impact what many in the religious community and outside of it call “the common good,” and the outcome could be very important, perhaps even more so than in many recent electoral contests.
I am in no position to tell anyone what is “non-negotiable,” and neither is any bishop or megachurch pastor, but let me tell you the “faith priorities” and values I will be voting on this year:
1. With more than 2,000 verses in the Bible about how we treat the poor and oppressed, I will examine the record, plans, policies, and promises made by the candidates on what they will do to overcome the scandal of extreme global poverty and the shame of such unnecessary domestic poverty in the richest nation in the world. Such a central theme of the Bible simply cannot be ignored at election time, as too many Christians have done for years. And any solution to the economic crisis that simply bails out the rich, and even the middle class, but ignores those at the bottom should simply be unacceptable to people of faith.
2. From the biblical prophets to Jesus, there is, at least, a biblical presumption against war and the hope of beating our swords into instruments of peace. So I will choose the candidates who will be least likely to lead us into more disastrous wars and find better ways to resolve the inevitable conflicts in the world and make us all safer. I will choose the candidates who seem to best understand that our security depends upon other people’s security (everyone having “their own vine and fig tree, so no one can make them afraid,” as the prophets say) more than upon how high we can build walls or a stockpile of weapons. Christians should never expect a pacifist president, but we can insist on one who views military force only as a very last resort, when all other diplomatic and economic measures have failed, and never as a preferred or habitual response to conflict.
3. “Choosing life” is a constant biblical theme, so I will choose candidates who have the most consistent ethic of life, addressing all the threats to human life and dignity that we face — not just one. Thirty-thousand children dying globally each day of preventable hunger and disease is a life issue. The genocide in Darfur is a life issue. Health care is a life issue. War is a life issue. The death penalty is a life issue. And on abortion, I will choose candidates who have the best chance to pursue the practical and proven policies which could dramatically reduce the number of abortions in America and therefore save precious unborn lives, rather than those who simply repeat the polarized legal debates and “pro-choice” and “pro-life” mantras from either side.
4. God’s fragile creation is clearly under assault, and I will choose the candidates who will likely be most faithful in our care of the environment. In particular, I will choose the candidates who will most clearly take on the growing threat of climate change, and who have the strongest commitment to the conversion of our economy and way of life to a cleaner, safer, and more renewable energy future. And that choice could accomplish other key moral priorities like the redemption of a dangerous foreign policy built on Middle East oil dependence, and the great prospects of job creation and economic renewal from a new “green” economy built on more spiritual values of conservation, stewardship, sustainability, respect, responsibility, co-dependence, modesty, and even humility.
5. Every human being is made in the image of God, so I will choose the candidates who are most likely to protect human rights and human dignity. Sexual and economic slavery is on the rise around the world, and an end to human trafficking must become a top priority. As many religious leaders have now said, torture is completely morally unacceptable, under any circumstances, and I will choose the candidates who are most committed to reversing American policy on the treatment of prisoners. And I will choose the candidates who understand that the immigration system is totally broken and needs comprehensive reform, but must be changed in ways that are compassionate, fair, just, and consistent with the biblical command to “welcome the stranger.”
6. Healthy families are the foundation of our community life, and nothing is more important than how we are raising up the next generation. As the father of two young boys, I am deeply concerned about the values our leaders model in the midst of the cultural degeneracy assaulting our children. Which candidates will best exemplify and articulate strong family values, using the White House and other offices as bully pulpits to speak of sexual restraint and integrity, marital fidelity, strong parenting, and putting family values over economic values? And I will choose the candidates who promise to really deal with the enormous economic and cultural pressures that have made parenting such a “countercultural activity” in America today, rather than those who merely scapegoat gay people for the serious problems of heterosexual family breakdown.
That is my list of personal “faith priorities” for the election year of 2008, but they are not “non-negotiables” for anyone else. It’s time for each of us to make up our own list in these next 12 days. Make your list and send this on to your friends and family members, inviting them to do the same thing.
by Jim Wallis 10-23-2008
In 2004, several conservative Catholic bishops and a few megachurch pastors like Rick Warren issued their list of “non-negotiables,” which were intended to be a voter guide for their followers. All of them were relatively the same list of issues: abortion, gay marriage, stem cell research, etc. None of them even included the word “poverty,” only one example of the missing issues which are found quite clearly in the Bible. All of them were also relatively the same as official Republican Party Web sites of “non-negotiables.” The political connections and commitments of the religious non-negotiable writers were quite clear.
I want to suggest a different approach this year and share my personal list of “faith priorities” that will guide me in making the imperfect choices that always confront us in any election year — and suggest that each of you come up with your own list of “faith” or “moral” priorities for this election year and take them into the voting booth with you.
After the last election, I wrote a book titled God’s Politics. I was criticized by some for presuming to speak for God, but that wasn’t the point. I was trying to explore what issues might be closest to the heart of God and how they may be quite different from what many strident religious voices were then saying. I was also saying that “God’s Politics” will often turn our partisan politics upside down, transcend our ideological categories of Left and Right, and challenge the core values and priorities of our political culture. I was also trying to say that there is certainly no easy jump from God’s politics to either the Republicans or Democrats. God is neither. In any election, we face imperfect choices, but our choices should reflect the things we believe God cares about if we are people of faith, and our own moral sensibilities if we are not people of faith. Therefore, people of faith, and all of us, should be “values voters” but vote all our values, not just a few that can be easily manipulated for the benefit of one party or another.
In 2008, the kingdom of God is not on the ballot in any of the 50 states as far as I can see. So we can’t vote for that this year. But there are important choices in this year’s election — very important choices — which will dramatically impact what many in the religious community and outside of it call “the common good,” and the outcome could be very important, perhaps even more so than in many recent electoral contests.
I am in no position to tell anyone what is “non-negotiable,” and neither is any bishop or megachurch pastor, but let me tell you the “faith priorities” and values I will be voting on this year:
1. With more than 2,000 verses in the Bible about how we treat the poor and oppressed, I will examine the record, plans, policies, and promises made by the candidates on what they will do to overcome the scandal of extreme global poverty and the shame of such unnecessary domestic poverty in the richest nation in the world. Such a central theme of the Bible simply cannot be ignored at election time, as too many Christians have done for years. And any solution to the economic crisis that simply bails out the rich, and even the middle class, but ignores those at the bottom should simply be unacceptable to people of faith.
2. From the biblical prophets to Jesus, there is, at least, a biblical presumption against war and the hope of beating our swords into instruments of peace. So I will choose the candidates who will be least likely to lead us into more disastrous wars and find better ways to resolve the inevitable conflicts in the world and make us all safer. I will choose the candidates who seem to best understand that our security depends upon other people’s security (everyone having “their own vine and fig tree, so no one can make them afraid,” as the prophets say) more than upon how high we can build walls or a stockpile of weapons. Christians should never expect a pacifist president, but we can insist on one who views military force only as a very last resort, when all other diplomatic and economic measures have failed, and never as a preferred or habitual response to conflict.
3. “Choosing life” is a constant biblical theme, so I will choose candidates who have the most consistent ethic of life, addressing all the threats to human life and dignity that we face — not just one. Thirty-thousand children dying globally each day of preventable hunger and disease is a life issue. The genocide in Darfur is a life issue. Health care is a life issue. War is a life issue. The death penalty is a life issue. And on abortion, I will choose candidates who have the best chance to pursue the practical and proven policies which could dramatically reduce the number of abortions in America and therefore save precious unborn lives, rather than those who simply repeat the polarized legal debates and “pro-choice” and “pro-life” mantras from either side.
4. God’s fragile creation is clearly under assault, and I will choose the candidates who will likely be most faithful in our care of the environment. In particular, I will choose the candidates who will most clearly take on the growing threat of climate change, and who have the strongest commitment to the conversion of our economy and way of life to a cleaner, safer, and more renewable energy future. And that choice could accomplish other key moral priorities like the redemption of a dangerous foreign policy built on Middle East oil dependence, and the great prospects of job creation and economic renewal from a new “green” economy built on more spiritual values of conservation, stewardship, sustainability, respect, responsibility, co-dependence, modesty, and even humility.
5. Every human being is made in the image of God, so I will choose the candidates who are most likely to protect human rights and human dignity. Sexual and economic slavery is on the rise around the world, and an end to human trafficking must become a top priority. As many religious leaders have now said, torture is completely morally unacceptable, under any circumstances, and I will choose the candidates who are most committed to reversing American policy on the treatment of prisoners. And I will choose the candidates who understand that the immigration system is totally broken and needs comprehensive reform, but must be changed in ways that are compassionate, fair, just, and consistent with the biblical command to “welcome the stranger.”
6. Healthy families are the foundation of our community life, and nothing is more important than how we are raising up the next generation. As the father of two young boys, I am deeply concerned about the values our leaders model in the midst of the cultural degeneracy assaulting our children. Which candidates will best exemplify and articulate strong family values, using the White House and other offices as bully pulpits to speak of sexual restraint and integrity, marital fidelity, strong parenting, and putting family values over economic values? And I will choose the candidates who promise to really deal with the enormous economic and cultural pressures that have made parenting such a “countercultural activity” in America today, rather than those who merely scapegoat gay people for the serious problems of heterosexual family breakdown.
That is my list of personal “faith priorities” for the election year of 2008, but they are not “non-negotiables” for anyone else. It’s time for each of us to make up our own list in these next 12 days. Make your list and send this on to your friends and family members, inviting them to do the same thing.
10.29.2008
called out
I was putting Ocean to bed tonight. After books, songs and prayers the following conversation ensued:
Me: Goodnight! I'll see you in the morning.
O: [looking confused] Where are you going?
Me: To clean up the playroom. I'll see you tomorrow.
O: Where are you going, Mommy?
Me: Where do you think I'm going?
O: [pauses, then grins]... Target?
That little stinker is on to me.
Me: Goodnight! I'll see you in the morning.
O: [looking confused] Where are you going?
Me: To clean up the playroom. I'll see you tomorrow.
O: Where are you going, Mommy?
Me: Where do you think I'm going?
O: [pauses, then grins]... Target?
That little stinker is on to me.
10.26.2008
fun with food
This is Ocean's pumpkin. It is currently sleeping in the recliner in his bedroom. We're going to have a hard time explaining things when it comes time to eat it. He thinks the idea of eating animals and pumpkins is silly. "They're my friends!" he says.
Iris vs. Spaghetti.
Spaghetti won.
Iris vs. Spaghetti.
Spaghetti won.
10.24.2008
aaaaaaahhh.
7 hours of sleep...
a real (non-nursing) bra...
a cup of coffee...
I feel like a new woman.
a real (non-nursing) bra...
a cup of coffee...
I feel like a new woman.
10.21.2008
i feel better.
Thanks for letting me vent.
I've removed my original post because I really, really don't want to be divisive and I don't have the time or energy to defend my position. That is why I don't engage in political discussions beyond "I can't wait until this $#@%!#& election is over." ;)
Alysa, Jason and Candice, thank you for your kind words and prayers. XOXO
I've removed my original post because I really, really don't want to be divisive and I don't have the time or energy to defend my position. That is why I don't engage in political discussions beyond "I can't wait until this $#@%!#& election is over." ;)
Alysa, Jason and Candice, thank you for your kind words and prayers. XOXO
10.08.2008
10.07.2008
i blinked and they grew...
Ocean got a haircut today. This may not seem like a big deal but oh, what a big deal it was.
The first attempt at a non-mommy haircut a few months ago was a big fat failure ending in the longest, loudest, most volatile temper tantrum this side of the equator. I wasn't there to witness it but my typically cool, calm and collected husband was shaken for days. It was so traumatic for my little guy that we still can't drive past that particular barber shop without him screaming, "Don't want a haircut!" and dissolving into tears. It's taken this long to give it another go. And today we had success. He's so proud of his "football player haircut". (I have no idea what that means exactly, but it got him in the chair, didn't it?)
As for Iris, my little firecracker... I can't believe she's almost 11 months old! The bald head and toothless grin really throw people off, myself included. I forget that she's old enough to be talking, and talk she does. Yesterday she had a little gas and after a particularly noisy toot I said, "Toot!" She thought that was hilarious and repeated, "Too! Too! Too! Hehehehehe!" Later on when she was eating dinner she let out another little poot then yelled, "Too! Hehehehehehe!" I laughed, she laughed... it was so fun.
And I can't wait to tell this story to the guys who try to date her.
The first attempt at a non-mommy haircut a few months ago was a big fat failure ending in the longest, loudest, most volatile temper tantrum this side of the equator. I wasn't there to witness it but my typically cool, calm and collected husband was shaken for days. It was so traumatic for my little guy that we still can't drive past that particular barber shop without him screaming, "Don't want a haircut!" and dissolving into tears. It's taken this long to give it another go. And today we had success. He's so proud of his "football player haircut". (I have no idea what that means exactly, but it got him in the chair, didn't it?)
As for Iris, my little firecracker... I can't believe she's almost 11 months old! The bald head and toothless grin really throw people off, myself included. I forget that she's old enough to be talking, and talk she does. Yesterday she had a little gas and after a particularly noisy toot I said, "Toot!" She thought that was hilarious and repeated, "Too! Too! Too! Hehehehehe!" Later on when she was eating dinner she let out another little poot then yelled, "Too! Hehehehehehe!" I laughed, she laughed... it was so fun.
And I can't wait to tell this story to the guys who try to date her.
10.01.2008
fat lips, and what does being mortified smell like, exactly?
Iris had her first bleed today. And it was a mouth bleed. The kind that has you keeping one eye on the car keys, thinking, "Should I take her in to get this thing checked out?" I'm a pretty laid-back mom when it comes to boo-boos but there's something about that first cut that makes the earth stop moving. I had to keep reminding myself that mouth bleeds always look a lot worse than they are. Best baby medical advice for maintaining maternal sanity that I've ever received.
It took about two minutes for all of us to calm down and realize she was fine, despite the puffy lip she was sporting. Then she went straight back to the scene of the crime... attempting to walk unassisted while simultaneously terrorizing her older brother. Don't let the big blue eyes and charming smile fool you. That girl is trouble... trouble with a swollen upper lip.
***
Ocean has entered the phase I have been dreading the most. It's the one where he says whatever is on his mind. I encourage Free Speech and open dialogue in this house but I have not been looking forward to situations such as the one that cropped up this afternoon...
We were in Lowe's searching for house numbers. Ocean was riding in the big basket of the shopping cart, Iris in the seat up front. In one of the aisles we passed an older woman and her adult daughter who both smelled like cigarette smoke. Just as we went around them Ocean pinched his nose and bellowed, "Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeew! What's that SMELL?!?!"
I can't really fault the kid. To be fair, I wanted to say the exact same thing. But I still couldn't help being embarrassed as I changed the subject: "It's the smell of us going faster! Zooooooooooooooooom!" And we booked it out of there.
It took about two minutes for all of us to calm down and realize she was fine, despite the puffy lip she was sporting. Then she went straight back to the scene of the crime... attempting to walk unassisted while simultaneously terrorizing her older brother. Don't let the big blue eyes and charming smile fool you. That girl is trouble... trouble with a swollen upper lip.
***
Ocean has entered the phase I have been dreading the most. It's the one where he says whatever is on his mind. I encourage Free Speech and open dialogue in this house but I have not been looking forward to situations such as the one that cropped up this afternoon...
We were in Lowe's searching for house numbers. Ocean was riding in the big basket of the shopping cart, Iris in the seat up front. In one of the aisles we passed an older woman and her adult daughter who both smelled like cigarette smoke. Just as we went around them Ocean pinched his nose and bellowed, "Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeew! What's that SMELL?!?!"
I can't really fault the kid. To be fair, I wanted to say the exact same thing. But I still couldn't help being embarrassed as I changed the subject: "It's the smell of us going faster! Zooooooooooooooooom!" And we booked it out of there.
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