For whom did God vote?

A sermon preached at Evensong Sunday 29th August 2010.

1 Kings 21 & 1Tim 2

As we await the outcome of our recent election

there is opportunity for us to reflect

on how a Christian should vote.

There is no doubt that Christians are political.

One only has to cursorily read the Old Testament

to discover that God is the God of a nation

and that the affairs of the nation

are God's affairs.

He cares for them in difficulty and travail,

he admonishes them when they fail in their work.

As when, for example, the rich and powerful exploit

the poor and vulnerable (The Story of Naboth's Vineyard)

A tale familiar to us even today, of compulsory land acquisition by Government!

Of course, as we often say, history is written by the victors.

It may be true to say also that the Old Testament

was written by the victors, God's victors!

St Paul adjures the early Christians

I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings should be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity.

1 Tim 2:1-2

This is for the good of all society.

I make the observation that even though our Prime Minister

may declare herself to be an atheist

this does not absolve us of the responsibility

of holding our leader befo0re God.

Just because she does not believe does not mean

that we should stop believing!

So, lest we think that Christians are to look upon the body politick

with disdain

or to live in a realm other than this world;

we are reminded that this is not the case.

Indeed, at this service of Evensong

we heed as the centrepiece

the canticle Magnificat

which reminds us that

God, regards lowliness rather than power and influence

as the key characteristics of Godly life,

that God moves to strike the arrogant and those who think that they, not God,

rule all things

It is for the hungry that he cares

and he turns the rich away empty

as he exalts the lowly.

This is truly a radical policy!

Indeed, some commentators observe that this statement

is Jesus's political manifesto.

One that deeply threatened the established order.

When we wonder ...who God voted for?

It is likely that we should look not for those

who promised to make us rich and successful

but rather for the ones who sought to care for the poor and lowly

(we might differ about which side ....if any...was promising that)

A real question for us who call ourselves

Christian

is whether we critiques the bribes and policies

that were thrown at us

by such criteria as...will this advance the cause of the poor, will this care for the weak

It is more likely that you and I said...what's in it for me?

And we wonder why we are in a bit of a mess.!!

May God help our country

to be truly Godly.

caring for the poor and lowly

Rejecting the greed of rich, and the ambition o0f the powerful.

May God bless Australia, and make us truly Godly. Amen

Where are your loyalties?

In short the readings this week remind us that we have an identity in Christ, and Christ alone.
That this identity draws out of us a responsibility to be "ambassadors" for Christ.
And the consequences of this commitment will not be trivial, but in reality will demand the totality of our life!
This Sunday 28th February 2010 is the Second Sunday of Lent with readings as follows:

Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18
Psalm 27
Philippians 3:17-4:1
Luke 13:31-35

The Gospel holds a number of contrasting images for us
There is chief amongst these Herod the fox
and Jesus the mother hen caring for her chickens.
In the midst of this is an ever-puzzled group of Pharisees
who tell Jesus to get out of Jerusalem
because they can see that all is potentially going to go pear-shaped.
We who know the story know how the story plays itself out.

In the end, Jesus stands alone
the one who would protect is ravaged by the fox
and the religious figures stand by
not only powerless
but also sucked into the destruction
that is brought on the innocent victim.

If we understand nothing else in this narrative
it is that this is what the Christian life is about.

We seek to be Christians, people of faith,
in a world that is essentially hostile to Christian goals.
We might expect to have support from our fellow-religionists
but don't be surprised if this turns around and bites us
and becomes part of the problem.
Even worse, we ourselves may be part of the problem.
We may be the Pharisees.

The State
We live in a generally benevolent country.
It is not a Christian country.
The economic goals that we so often espouse
...goals in which the rich are applauded and get richer
in which we blame the weakest in our society for their own failing
or where selfishness and greed are rewarded.
This would not what we as Christians believe society should be like I suggest.
We are often short-sighted and self-interested as a nation
looking after ourselves and seeking only to increase our power, wealth and influence
...the present power debate highlights a number of aspects of this
We often hear articulated lack of care for the environment
or a view point that says: It's OK if someone else is the Bunny and not me.
It is the language of the fox.

Our fellow religionists
The narrative of the way Jesus is dealt with
also reminds us that it is often those from whom we should expect more
who are the worst proponents.
It is often the Religious who are narrow, and judgmental
who far from caring for the weak
are seeking to preserve their own power and influence.
We need to take note.
Because it is a warning of what you and I may be like.
There, as the saying goes,but for the grace of God go I.

Where to from here?
There is then a series of cautions about the way we follow Christ.
And indeed to remember that that is what we do.
We need to be sure what it is that Christ wants us to be and do
and that we have the realistic expectation
that the State is sometimes, even often, at odds with the gospel.
This does not demand radical confrontation
or civil disobedience
Though at times we will need to be sure about what is God's will
and what is the fox.

The key will come from being faithful to Jesus
and hearing his call on our life
and responding to that.

THIS WEEK

For our meditation and reflection we ask:

What are the key principles that are involved with me living my life as a follower of Jesus?
How do I put these into practice?
Are there places where this conflicts with other view?
How do I reconcile them?
What am I being called to do in being faithful to Jesus rather than the fox or the religion?

JESUS, you are for us the Way, the Truth and the Life

Grant me the eyes to see
and the heart to know
and the courage to live

What is truly your will for me?