Building Bridges

Pictured above is the ongoing restoration project of the Brent Spence Bridge connecting Kentucky and Ohio. The project is part of the $2 billion infrastructure law passed last year by Congress to upgrade bridges across the country. The project site was recently visited by Democratic President Biden and Republican Senate Minority Leader McConnell. They were accompanied by Ohio’s Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown, former Ohio Republican Senator Rob Portman, Democratic Kentucky Governor Andy Beshar and Republican Ohio Governor Mike De Wine. Participants were selected to underscore the bipartisan support for infrastructure improvements. Both political parties worked together to pass this desperately needed legislation to make repairs like this one that have languished for many years because of lack of funding. So, in this instance we can see an actual bridge being built as the result of a political bridge being temporarily constructed between political parties to make it possible. In our current political climate, this is a rare opportunity to see bridges being built physically and metaphorically.  

In the Kentucky meeting, Mr. Biden was effusive in his praise of Mr. McConnell, calling him “my friend and colleague of many years — and, I might add, longest-serving Leader in the United States Senate.” President Biden went on to say the infrastructure bill “wouldn’t have gotten done” without McConnell, and the president publicly thanked him. This was a clear display of our president’s respect for a politician from the opposing party for both his lifelong service and his ability to still work in a bipartisan way for the benefit of our nation. This is a story that was not carried broadly by any of the news networks and not at all by some. There is a tendency in the reporting of Congressional activities to ignore those times when political parties work together. However, there is no shortage of news being reported that cover conflicts between and within each political party. Case in point is the recent continuous coverage of the contentious election of the new Speaker of the House of Representatives in our nation’s capital.

What was anticipated to be a straightforward procedural vote installing Kevin Mccarthy as the new Speaker of the House turned out to be anything but that. To the casual viewer the political process on display was one of confusion with the exception of two certainties. One certainty was that the majority of Republican representatives were for Mr. McCarthy except for a small faction, varying from a few votes to almost two dozen votes at various times. The other certainty was that all the Democratic representatives were against Mr. McCarthy. No political bridges between parties were being built in this case.

All the vitriol, speech making, political spin, prognostications and emotions surrounding the several days of voting for the new speaker were relatively meaningless to the casual observer. One was left with the impression that the divisions between political parties were hopelessly encased, and a solution was not attainable. But almost miraculously positions suddenly changed and Mr. McCarthy prevailed as the new elected Speaker. We were assured by Mr. McCarthy that it was a fruitful, learning process and that the newly elected representatives learned how to govern through the experience.

Looking at these two recent political events one is left with an uncertainty about our Congress’s ability to effectively govern our nation. That is because the first event marked a celebration of the ability of two political parties to work together in their governance for the good of the country. The second event demonstrated that an important component of our branch of government has learned to legislate as separate political parties without any pursuit of consensus or working together. The two recent experiences are in direct contradiction to one another. The first event illustrated the effectiveness of governance when bridges are built between our two political parties. The second event promises that a better way of governing was learned with the two parties disconnected and without a common bridge of effectiveness. As a people of faith, we have an easy way to discriminate which way is more effective. All we have to do is look at God’s creation.

If one looks closely anywhere in God’s creation, there will be seen a world of unlimited complexity but never confusion. Look at the detail of the above pictured Zebra which includes stripes of varied sizes, lengths, colors and patterns. The details on just one animal are limitless but with a sense of order, peaceful in its presentation, no sense of confusion. This is repeated in animal after animal for all Zebras in creation. All created differently, but in order, without confusion.

Integrated into creation is a sense of order for the wellbeing of the created. There is no confusion of responsibilities, leadership or governance for the greater good. Any conflicts that arise are quickly settled with a general acceptance by the community. That is the architecture designed for community so all can live peaceably in the security of that common knowledge and understanding.

“For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” (1 Corinthians 14:33) This verse is stated in context of the exercising of the spiritual gifts in the church. In the first church there was some confusion as to how to go about managing the business of faith and community. The Apostle Paul intervened with the admonition that God was not the author of confusion, but of peace. This should give us great pause as a people of faith when we look at the confusion that is occurring in our Capitol and the governance of our country. If we are confused about a political position or a direction of our country, that should give us great concern.

Confusion simply means “to make indistinct, to blur, to jumble or throw off”. We experience that concept in many different life experiences. If you are a World Cup fan you will have seen many techniques used by gifted players to confuse their opponents. Appearing to make a shot in one direction, then suddenly redirecting it with a twist of their body, they easily confuse the goalie to make a critical score. If you are an NFL fan you see the quarterback look one way and throw the opposite way at the last minute to a wide-open receiver. He confuses the defenders. Confusion is easy to discern because it is intentional for the most part. Of course, there are those experiences of new learning when we are trying to grasp a new concept or principal. There is often a lag in learning new things that cause confusion, but these are quickly remedied over time and effort.

However, confusion over a political process of governing is something quite different. There is an intentionality in politics to keep constituents confused. It provides opportunities for governing without building consensus, a luxury that is held by the political party in the majority. Building consensus politically is like building a bridge physically. It takes time. It takes precision of effort and an economy of resources. Without those constraints, a political party has the wherewithal to do pretty much what it wants to do, and its constituency are too confused to ask questions. This happens often, regardless of which political party is in control.

So as a people of faith, what should our reaction be to the confusing chaos that persists in the politics of our government? I think what Christ would say to us today is that we should be the “bridge builders.” Our elected officials are a reflection of who we are. If we are “bridge builders” then our elected officials will be the same. How do we build bridges with regard to our politics? We begin by building political bridges in our relationships using Christ’s words as a framework …. “Ask, seek, knock.” (Matthew 7:7) We must ask questions when we do not understand, we must seek the answers we do not know, and we must persist with patience and politeness. Often political discussions break down to emotional arguments because it is easy to misunderstand when we are confused and frustrated. We must be better than that.

To be an effective bridge builder we must ask the tough questions. The toughest question to ask is when we do not understand or are confused by what is going on in Congress. When we admit we do not understand we feel vulnerable. Often it is easier to fake our understanding and not put ourselves at risk of being embarrassed or harassed in some manner. But that is when as a people of faith we look to Christ as an example when facing tough circumstances. “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2:8)

None of us are expected to die over a political argument. But as a people of faith, we are expected to humble ourselves, especially for a cause like our democracy. Go ahead. Let’s ask the tough questions beginning with our friends and families. Let’s seek the answers to our questions that we can agree upon. Let’s persist with patience and politeness towards one another without losing our tempers and making it personal. If we can do that with each other, then we can expect it from our elected officials. What is more we can demand it with our vote. That is what Christ said to do. Let’s give it a shot!