There's more to it than sex

This from a Labour Party Activist I meet at Congress, thanks for your contribution Stephen. 

I have thought long and hard about the relationship between my Christian faith and Labour . All the people at the church l go to are pro National because they feel Labour is to liberal with matters of sex . I feel that my working class roots override this , mainly because l believe you elect a government primarily to oversee Employment and Finance , which l believe Labour does a far far better job of . Matters of sex l believe are also personal issues much more so than public issues and as such none of anybody else's business . Those at my church feel otherwise , they are entitled to their opinion . It does not stop me from being a strong and active Christian and Christian church goer .           
 Yours , Stephen 

Act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with your God

"Any person's faith is a complex tapestry, but I've always found Micah 6:8 a good touchstone to describe mine:

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

To act justly - recognising that each person is created in the image of God and is worthy of fair treatment, adequate resources to survive and flourish, kindness, and a place in the community.

To love mercy - understanding that we all stumble and fall, that we should be careful about judging others, and that the way back is through the fellowship and care of community.

To walk humbly - the discernment to know that no individual has all of the answers, that there is wisdom in listening, and that we should serve others before ourselves.

These values are ones that I strive to live out, although not always successfully. In politics it is Labour's vision and focus on social justice and community that, to me, have always aligned most closely with these values. At the core of it is an understanding that we aren't just atomised, self-maximising individuals. We have a purpose beyond just serving our own interests, and we are at our best when we work together in community. 

Labour's tradition of fighting injustice and building just structures that allow people to live in peace and justice has often been described in Christian Socialist literature as 'building a new Jerusalem', and that concept of creating something better, brighter, and more just helps to drive me onwards in good times and bad."

Michael Wood Labour Party Candidate  for Epsom  #LabourFaith #forabetterNZ