Should God Get a Vote?

March 2006 Vision Advocate Sharing faith Lenten appointed on the road Studies 2006 Page 3 Page 6 Pages 9 - 12 Should God get a vote? With family values, abortion and intelligent design fi rmly on the political agenda the Australian community is reassessing the role of religion in Australia’s political life. By Mardi Lumsden and Bruce Mullan hile conventional wisdom was never to Wmix faith and politics, both the Prime Minister and Federal Treasurer have participated in media saturated attendances at the Hillsong Church in Sydney, and the Family First party with its strong Assemblies of God connection has campaigned successfully in both state and federal elections. Following the lead of George Bush and Tony Blair many of People who say Australia’s high profi le politicians religion and politics don’t mix now overtly lay claim to Christian understand neither one. faith and values. Mahatma Gandhi While the Australian Constitution prohibits government from imposing religious observance and states that religious test will not Uniting Church President Rev Dean Drayton speaking for the church. Photo by Stephen Webb courtesy of Insights be required as a qualifi cation for offi ce, Tony Abbott, Peter Costello, Kevin Rudd and even Prime “I think it’s time that those personnel … But we [the Labor Controversial retired Uniting Minister John Howard wear their people who have a view of faith party] will not for one moment Church minister Dorothy McRae- Read more faith credentials on their sleeve. from the other side of politics stand idly by while either the McMahon said there is an ultimate Mahatma Gandhi claimed that actually spoke out and dealt with Liberals, the Nationals or Family irony in the attempts of mainstream about religion anyone who says “religion and this challenge, and I’ve therefore First assert that God has somehow churches to enter political debate. and politics politics don’t mix understands got a responsibility and others of become some wholly owned “Howard in eff ect tells them neither one”, and self-proclaimed faith within our political tradition subsidiary of political conservatism to ‘stop meddling’ while at the Christian Socialist and Shadow have got a responsibility to start in this country,” Mr Rudd told Meet same time taking advantage of Foreign Minister, Kevin Rudd speaking out, and that’s what we’re the Press after the last election. what he sees as their capacity to P. 7 believes religion is back on the trying to do.” Professor Warhurst said deliver cheap welfare,” she said Why should Australian political agenda. Lecturer in Religion and Politics churches continue to be active in her commendation of Marion “Th ere’s a general reluctance, in Australia at the Australian participants in political debate. Maddox’s book God Under Howard: Christians be reservation, almost aversion in National University Professor John “Th ere has been continuing Th e rise of the religious right in involved in politics? this country for people mixing Warhurst said religion has regularly church debate over issues such Australian politics. religion and politics, particularly appeared in many political contexts as IVF, abortion, homosexuality Queensland Synod’s Social demonstrable religion,” Mr Rudd over the last fi ve years. and euthanasia. Th ere has been Responsibility Advocate Andrew P. 8 told ABC’s Compass program last Prof Warhurst points to the attention drawn to church Johnson said seeking justice is at Finding peace in year. election of Family First party responsibility for child abuse and the heart of our Christian calling. politics “I come from a long history member Steve Fielding at the 2004 the stolen generation.” “If we live that calling out we of people who have spoken about federal elections as a sign of the Th e Uniting Church is renowned will inevitably fi nd ourselves caught the relevance of their faith to their political infl uence of evangelical for its passion for justice and social up in politics,” he said. PP. 13 - 14 political beliefs. Christians but Kevin Rudd is responsibility, and leaders from “Both Jesus’ birth and his death What the UCA says “I think what we’ve seen in leading a left-wing fi ght back. both Synod and Assembly are occurred in the midst of political recent times is an increasing trend, “I think it is important for those regularly responding to a range of events, so the question for us as both in the Liberal Party and who would support the Family political issues such as treatment followers of Christ is not ‘should P. 20 other minor parties, to try and First party to know what their of refugees, children in detention, we get involved’, but ‘rather how do Journey asks... commandeer God for their own organisational basis is, where their anti-terror laws, industrial relations we respond’ when we fi nd ourselves political purposes. funding comes from and their law, gambling and poverty. involved in politics.” From the Editor community, humility, servanthood. ourney is pleased to be able to that I search for more loving and What the world so often sees include in this March issue gracious responses. (and the media make sure of it) Ja series of fi ve small group As the Easter season approaches is disunity, exclusiveness, abuse of sessions that the Queensland Synod I hear the voice of Jesus say about trust and judgementalism. has produced for Lent 2006. his tormentors, “Father forgive Th e fi rst Christians were noticed Th ese studies are produced each them, they don’t know what they Fools for the sake of Christ because of their devotion to God, year but this time they have been are doing.” their strong sense of community, included in Journey. Journey commends the study he recent controversy, and I doubt that it fools many people their generosity and hospitality, Th e theme for the sessions is of Grace to all our readers. If you accompanying violence, because we all know what the real and their care for the poor. ‘Agents of Grace’, a wonderful don’t have a small group why not Tsparked by the publication motivation is. Th ese qualities of faith and topic given the current tensions get one together for fi ve weeks? in many newspapers around the On the other hand, the extensive life did not protect them from both within and beyond our church If you can’t, you can always read world of cartoons depicting the and prolonged violence that has persecution, but they were noticed community. through the material yourself and prophet Muhammad, raises some occurred represents a major over- for the right reasons. Th e small group I am part of has refl ect in quietness with God. pertinent questions for refl ection reaction that almost certainly Mark Twain once said, “Clothes recently worked though the What’s Th e prayer from week four of by Christians. refl ects more sinister behind the make the man. Naked people have so Amazing about Grace DVD and the Lenten Studies says this: It is my personal view (and scenes attitudes and infl uences. little infl uence in the world.” study series by Philip Yancey. I accept that there are diff ering What has happened represents a In reality, whether clothed or I was reminded again how God of love and grace, opinions) that the media in general particularly bad outcome at a time naked we can still be noticed for central the concept of grace is for forgive us when our fears, could act with a much greater when our common focus needs the wrong reasons. Paul suggests the Christian faith and am more intolerance, or indiff erence degree of responsibility in such to be on building relationships, that we need to put on another aware than ever of the need to create barriers between matters. understanding and tolerance across kind of clothing altogether. exercise grace. ourselves and others. I do not support government international, cultural and religious “As God’s chosen ones, holy I am also more confronted than Help us to embrace a new and censorship of the press, which boundaries. and beloved, clothe yourselves with ever when I encounter “un-grace” radical understanding of your does happen in some parts of the One dimension of the problem is compassion, kindness, humility, from those who would claim to be grace and purpose. world, and which is invariably that in those Muslim societies where meekness, and patience…Above Christian people. Transform our hearts and accompanied by various forms of religious devotion and national life all clothe yourselves with love, As the third session points out, minds today, oppression and injustice. are strongly identifi ed, there is which binds everything together the prayer that Jesus taught us says that we too might become I do advocate a healthy self- little understanding of the formal in perfect harmony.” (Colossians 3: we are to forgive those who sin willing participants in the regulation which incorporates separation of church and state that 12, 14) against us just as God has forgiven coming of your Kingdom common sense and a good measure is typical of secular western nations Th ere’s a wonderful old fable us. into the life of our world and of sensitivity in relation to issues like Denmark, where just about about a very vain Emperor who Shaking the dust off my feet time. that could cause unnecessary anything and anyone is fair game loved new clothes. sounded a much easier option but, Lord, your way is the way of off ence. for the cartoonist. However, there was an occasion like-it-or-not, I am called to live in love. Th e self-righteous defensiveness We consistently see the church when he was duped by a couple of fellowship in the Uniting Church Inspire and encourage us to of the media in response to the and its clergy caricatured on TV, in tricksters into believing that he was in Australia with others with whom love one another.

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