This article was spot on. I worked for decades from within the confines of the institutional church. I would hear people say that the church, the pulpit, was no place for politics. That the primary document (ie. bible) was not to be interpreted politically even though very early on in the first book you are face to face with kings going to war with each other. The primary character in the gospels is killed at the hands of state power assisted by others who believed he violated their tribal laws and shouldn't participate in their mutual life together. Your quote,'What we call “politics” is simply how we organize our life together,' is precisely the point. Politics is simply the policies, rules, laws that will either assist us in living lives together or living our lives apart, excluding those we might have the power to exclude. Every policy, law draws those lines, those boundaries that help all of us either thrive or die. Everything is politics. We can be honest about that or we can choose to be dishonest about it. Deciding what is right or wrong as groups of people is politics and sets us up to thrive or die together. The primary character in those gospels spoke of bringing to humanity abundant life. I suspect that only happens when we understand our common politics enhance our mutual humanity
I missed this comment until now, Michael! Thank you for these thoughts. I wholeheartedly agree, as a Christian.
“Deciding what is right or wrong as groups of people is politics and sets us up to thrive or die together.” Yes. And this is what Christian life is ultimately about: thriving together. Seeing ourselves as different parts of one interconnected body, one that lives or dies… as one.
If we are living in that spiritual reality, political realities of segregation and wealth inequity would seem incomprehensible. They certainly do to me.
One thing it made me think about is how often we assume we can “opt out” of systems — politics, institutions, even technology — when in reality persistent systems don’t really allow clean separation.
You don’t have to actively participate to still be shaping or being shaped by what’s happening around you. The coupling is already there.
Feels like a useful reminder that the question isn’t whether we’re inside these dynamics, but how consciously we engage with them.
I absolutely missed this comment, @Reuben Munro, in the wild and chaotic start to this year. I agree with you 100% and am so glad to see that this framing resonated for you.
What you said is really the crux of it, for me: “You don’t have to actively participate to still be shaping or being shaped by what’s happening around you.” Exactly!
We are inside these dynamics, always. We are not independent creatures. Every part of us is inter-dependent with everything else around us. So yes, either we consciously engage with and shape the world around us… or we will do it unconsciously.
This article was spot on. I worked for decades from within the confines of the institutional church. I would hear people say that the church, the pulpit, was no place for politics. That the primary document (ie. bible) was not to be interpreted politically even though very early on in the first book you are face to face with kings going to war with each other. The primary character in the gospels is killed at the hands of state power assisted by others who believed he violated their tribal laws and shouldn't participate in their mutual life together. Your quote,'What we call “politics” is simply how we organize our life together,' is precisely the point. Politics is simply the policies, rules, laws that will either assist us in living lives together or living our lives apart, excluding those we might have the power to exclude. Every policy, law draws those lines, those boundaries that help all of us either thrive or die. Everything is politics. We can be honest about that or we can choose to be dishonest about it. Deciding what is right or wrong as groups of people is politics and sets us up to thrive or die together. The primary character in those gospels spoke of bringing to humanity abundant life. I suspect that only happens when we understand our common politics enhance our mutual humanity
I missed this comment until now, Michael! Thank you for these thoughts. I wholeheartedly agree, as a Christian.
“Deciding what is right or wrong as groups of people is politics and sets us up to thrive or die together.” Yes. And this is what Christian life is ultimately about: thriving together. Seeing ourselves as different parts of one interconnected body, one that lives or dies… as one.
If we are living in that spiritual reality, political realities of segregation and wealth inequity would seem incomprehensible. They certainly do to me.
Really enjoyed this framing.
One thing it made me think about is how often we assume we can “opt out” of systems — politics, institutions, even technology — when in reality persistent systems don’t really allow clean separation.
You don’t have to actively participate to still be shaping or being shaped by what’s happening around you. The coupling is already there.
Feels like a useful reminder that the question isn’t whether we’re inside these dynamics, but how consciously we engage with them.
I absolutely missed this comment, @Reuben Munro, in the wild and chaotic start to this year. I agree with you 100% and am so glad to see that this framing resonated for you.
What you said is really the crux of it, for me: “You don’t have to actively participate to still be shaping or being shaped by what’s happening around you.” Exactly!
We are inside these dynamics, always. We are not independent creatures. Every part of us is inter-dependent with everything else around us. So yes, either we consciously engage with and shape the world around us… or we will do it unconsciously.
Really appreciate your engagement on this!