Faith and Politics

A couple of miles off the coast of Mexico near the port city of Puerto Vallarta is the convergence of the Pacific Ocean with the Bay of California, resulting in a body of water called the Bahia de Banderas. In this confluence of currents one can find a variety of life experiences occurring simultaneously in the air, in the water and nestled in the rock formations each requiring close examination to be really seen. Otherwise (as shown above) from a distance it appears beautiful in its simplicity of land and water with the sunlight giving clarity to that what is exposed and cover to that which hides in the shadows. There are some areas of turbulence both in the wind and the waves but all looks in order and under control. However, if one were to don a pair of goggles and dive into the waters all sorts of dangers would be revealed. Predators swimming silently beneath the surface come into view. Currents that appear under control from the surface tug the swimmer in contrary directions and when in proximity to those beautiful rocks now present a danger of being slammed into them. One must also be careful where to step because surfaces are covered with barbs and sharp coral that can slice open a cut in an instant. The beautiful setting sun viewed from the water can be helpful to see any lurking danger but blinding if viewed from the wrong angle or perspective making the swimmer even more vulnerable.

It is in that picture I see a metaphor for Faith and Politics. I see the landscape above similar to the political landscape of our nation. I see the sun and its light as a symbol of our faith. As one approaches the political landscape of our nation at a distance all appears orderly in its proper place. It is only at close examination do we see the dangerous undercurrents, the silent predators and the cutting edges that hurt our souls deeply. Our faith can be that light that clarifies the activities in the shadows of this landscape. However even our faith when viewed from the wrong perspective can hide the truth instead of revealing it. Our faith is subject to a political environment that is accompanied with gale force winds of polarization and strong undercurrents that pull on our faith’s integrity. Even those highly evolved in their faith struggle with the misinformation, the substitution of opinions for facts, and the cutting rhetoric from both sides of the aisle that divides us even further. I know politics is a world of spin and half-truths where truth varies with one’s perspective.  One professional politician recently coined the now famous phrase “alternate facts”.  Facts are not variable; they do not change, and they do not have alternatives.  They are or are not facts.  But we as the people of faith, the ones referred to as the “elect” in scripture, must be better than that, we must demand more than that kind of nonsense.  There is nothing wrong with the “elect” electing the “elect”.  That is, electing people that will tell the truth regardless, even if it is something we do not want to hear.  Our leaders should not be constrained to tell us only what we feel is appropriate.  They are elected to a position of higher authority with different exposure and perspective on national and world events.  None of us who are parents would allow our teenager to make decisions that affect the welfare of our entire family.  They simply do not have the exposure and view that we parents have.  It is similar with our elected officials.  We elect them to give us the truth based on their view from the highest governing position of our nation.  Do not tell us what we want to hear to assure reelection, tell us the truth of our nation’s business.  If the communities of faith do not require this of our elected officials, then who will?