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

Labour our Christian Heritage

The Labour party in NZ cannot claim as is often said of our British Cousins, that the British Labour Party owes more to “Methodism than Marx”.  However, faith is an important aspect of many people who share the vision of the New Zealand Labour Party here is a bit of our heritage.

Like many contemporary Labour MPs, candidates and party members a number of our early Labour politicians had Christian backgrounds. HE Holland one of the first leaders of the Labour Party (1919–1933), was a street preacher with the Salvation Army in Australia prior to his migration to New Zealand. Savage's successor, Peter Fraser (1940–49), frequently acknowledged the influence of his Scottish Presbyterian upbringing.  Walter Nash, was "an avowed Christian strongly committed to the Anglican Church."  Arnold Nordmeyer,  aka Nordy, and the best leader to never become PM. (IMHO)  the leader of the Labour Party in opposition from 1963 to 1965, was an ordained Presbyterian minister. David Lange, (Prime Minister 1984-1989) was a Methodist lay-preacher, while Norman Kirk (Prime Minister 1972-74) was raised in a Salvation Army family.

The Labour party is a broad church with many valuable contributions from people of all sorts of faith - not just Christians.  I hope through this blog to share the stories of Hindus, Jews, Moslems, Sikhs and others who share the values of justice and fairness for all which is at the heart of the Labour Movement. 

Tell us why your faith resonates with the Labour Party. Please add your stories through the comments section.  I will repost each new story so that people may give feedback and draw inspiration.

Micky Savage - applied Christianity

Our first Labour Prime Minister himself a Roman Catholic saw his political career as an outworking of his Christian Faith.  He said while introducing the Social Security Act in 1938

“It is just as well for us to turn around and have a look at ourselves sometimes. What is not good enough for me is not good enough for the fellow I am representing in this House, whether it is a house or an income. There is enough of the best for all of us, and I want to bring about security for everyone during illness, whether it be temporary incapacity due to accident, or anything else. I should think it was the inalienable right of every person to be secured against distress of any form. That is only common sense. I so not know whether I would call it ‘sound economics’ or not … I do not think it is any use talking about national wealth unless we can use it for national purposes … In a word or two, I would say that is applied Christianity.”

Hansard  

vote labour # forabetterNZ  #LabourFaith

Why I'm a Labour Party Activist

In July last year I wrote this sermon based on the beatitudes in the gospel of Matthew chapter 5.  
I think in this sermon you will see my heart beat for a faith that makes a difference in the world and you will see why I am in politics.  
Please comment on my post with your own faith and politics stories.
I'm particularly keen that those of you who are supporters of labour and also people of faith share your story.  For many people of faith the Labour party values resonate deeply with their own values.  For me the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus own life and ministry, his teaching about the kingdom of God all share a vision for  better, fairer more just world which is at the heart of progressive politics.   grace and peace Steve.  #Labourfaith

Power, Politics and Peace

Hunger and thirst are the most basic drivers of human activity.  We will do almost anything to satisfy our need to for food and water and when we are desperate for satisfaction we will go to desperate lengths to have our needs meet.

Of course in theory that is true – yet for most of us we’ve never experienced real hunger or thirst or had to go to desperate measures to have our basic need fulfilled.

So in our part of the world where we have access to good clean water at the turn of a tap and all manner of ready to eat food available 24 hours a day this metaphor breaks down.

We know that other people struggle to have their basic needs meet and while we may feel some empathy and give a little money not many of us strive with all our might to meet the needs of others.

Jesus said blessed are those that hunger and thirst for righteousness: they shall be satisfied.

Let’s sit with that phrase for a moment.

Here is a promise of satisfaction and fulfilment

I think that what Jesus is saying is this,

Real meaning and satisfaction in life comes from doing something that is worthwhile and contributes to the needs of others.  In discovering within yourself a dissatisfaction, a holy discontent for the status quo and a desire to see God’s kingdom established on earth as it in heaven is the starting point to making a contribution and that will bring great satisfaction.

I believe that as brothers and sisters of Jesus we have the same desires as him to see our world made just and peaceful.  However we feel hamstrung and powerless to act because the problems seem too big for any of us to make a difference.  So this morning I want to touch on Power, Politics and Peace.  As I believe that we can make a difference in our world and that we should strive to do so.

Christians have a natural suspicion of politics for a number of reasons.

1.      We have an eternal view of life which relativizes the kingdoms of this world

2.      We’ve seen many bad examples of Christians in politics

3.      We’ve retreated into the so-called spiritual arena and considered the political arena as unspiritual.

I contend that unless we actually believe that this world doesn’t matter at all that we have a moral obligation to get involved in politics.  For if our world is to become a more just place and a more peaceful place then we need a political atmosphere that has soul.  We need a politics of vision, justice, morality and courage. If the church doesn’t have its say and wield its influence for the common good, then other philosophies and agendas will prevail.

Politics is far more than voting at elections or belonging to a party, it involves the way we act and the way we talk on a day to day basis.  It is about the decisions we make for example; whether to invest in mighty river power, or use public transport, to help out at school, to meet and welcome refugees, to buy certain products and so on.  Almost all of our actions are political actions just as they are spiritual actions, moral actions and values revealing actions.

Do we shy away from talking about political issues whether it is economics or foreign policy, or immigration or child welfare?  We have a contribution to make to these discussions, let us do it.

Of course when we think politics we often think political leaders.  It is important that we enter into the conversation about that type of political leaders we want.  Where the world is often content with the 10 second sound bite, the charismatic and colourful, the good looking, the witty – there are deeper and more important dimensions that we should speak up about even if only to our friends and neighbours.

We want leaders with a strong sense of fairness, justice and who value liberty and equality.

We want leaders who have a strong and credible vision for a better world and a viable plan for getting us there.

A good leader will exhibit courage and will be unafraid to tackle the hard issues;

·         Poverty

·         Environment

·         Energy

·         Peace and security

We want leaders who have a good moral constitution who have consistent values and are driven by an internal energy and not by the polls or by desire to be popular and liked, who do what is right because it is right.

We want servant leaders who feel called to serve everyone regardless of income or status.

We want leaders who are humble who have imaginations and creativity, who are good with people, generous and hard-working.

Yes our expectation of leaders is very high that is because we follow Jesus the Servant King who is the model for all leadership and the measure by which we evaluate our political leaders.

Of course no leader is capable of emulating Jesus perfectly, all leaders are fallible and that is why politics is far too important to leave to the politicians. If we hunger and thirst for a just a peaceful world we need to play our part.

We need to play our part because:

·         Even the best intended politician will stray from the common good

·         Most politicians are ideologically driven and all ideology is flawed and needs to be challenged and critiqued and corrected from time to time.

·         Party politics involves a lot of compromise it is the art of the possible and very pragmatically driven.

·         Many politicians have vested interest as they enter into power and most develop vested interest once they are in power including their strong interest in getting re-elected

·         The political process is powerfully influenced by money and by corporate interests.  It cost a lot of money to run a campaign (not as bad in NZ as in US)

·         Many international corporations are bigger than the NZ government and are very persuasive.

·         Entities like the IMF and World Bank place constraints on governments’ fiscal policies and apply pressure to cut taxes and cut government spending.

Politics is a complex business yet it shapes our lives and influences the type of society we are and are becoming.  Politics can help make the world a more prosperous, peaceful and just world or it can make the world, harder, scarier and less just for many while privileging the few.  The shape of our society and the future of our planet is far too important to leave to the political elite we must all play our part.

Before touching on what it is we can do I want us to consider another of the beatitudes,  Blessed are the peacemakers they shall be called children of God.  

Politics and power has long been associated with war and peace.  The state whether it be a fully fledged democracy such as the US or GB, or a dictatorship such as Iraq under Sudam Hussein or a theocratic government such as Iran under Ayatollah Khomeini, states of all types have used violence to exert power.  Violence or the threat of violence on one’s own citizens or one ones neighbours is a detestable part of our history. 

It is also a part of our religious heritage.  The Old Testament is replete with acts of violence and war carried out in God’s name.  The Christian church has for most if its existence supported and encouraged war.   This is in spite of the fact that Jesus teaches the way of peace and proposes non-violent ways of dealing with conflict.   The early church before Constantine and the marriage of church and state was almost exclusively pacifist.  Once the church got in bed with the state she adopted the weapons of the state and adopted the stance of Holy War and Just War. 

The lesson:  We need to maintain a little bit of distance from the state in order to maintain our prophetic edge and if we are to be peace makers we need to consider very carefully what sort of compromises we are prepared to make.

I’ve been reading Antony Beevor’s History of World War 2.  It is an excellent book, which details the human story very well. It is incredible how much energy people will put into war and how little they will put into peace.  History is full of the stories of gallant soldiers who suffered in the extremes of battle to fight for king and country.  Soldiers in WW2 endured, the extremes of climate, terrible fear, disease, hunger, thirst, physical pain, mental exhaustion, post-traumatic stress disorder, torture, humiliation and debilitating injuries all in order to wage war and win at all costs.  I wonder what the world would be like if we could recruit an army of soldiers for peace, who sought non-violent solutions to conflict and who were prepared to suffer and die even as soldiers of war are prepared.  I wonder what would have happened in Iraq if a million peace soldiers showed up at the border and marched on Bagdad carrying gifts instead of guns.

Jesus says we are to pray for our enemies and bless those who persecute us.  He says we are to turn the other cheek, walk the extra mile and give the shirt off our back in order to pursue peace. 

War has often been justified by a need to protect one’s own country and citizens.  Yet war is the least likely path to security.  Jesus teaches us that our security is found in the security of our enemy. By blessing those who oppose us we turn an enemy into a friend or at least we defuse their hostile intentions.  And it costs a lot less.  One long range American stealth bomber costs about $2.3 Billion.

The psalmist reminds us that justice and peace belong together, that peace and righteousness kiss each other. The protestors chant, no justice no peace is a reflection of biblical truth and reminds us that the path to peace is by means of justice done.

Peace, Power and Politics:  do you hunger for a more peaceful world a more just world, then don’t leave these important issues to the politicians. We do have power to make a difference.

Be informed

I’ve hardly scratched the surface over the last 3 weeks on the big issues that affect all of us.  These issues need to be tackled at every possible level. 

The Local the national and global.  The political and the spiritual.  Take an interest, don’t settle for the 10 second sound bites or the polls read things with a grain of salt and be salt and light.

Affirm critique:

Speak up tell your friends and neighbours when you observe the good and the bad.  Don’t just moan about the bad, tell someone who cares.  Don’t get caught up in the negative but applaud the positive as well, Bouquets as well as brickbats

Contribute a Christian presence

The political arena is an important place for the gospel to be heard.  I’ve had lots of opportunities to share the faith that I have within me in numerous political contexts.  In Parliament for example there are many MPs who have a church, or Sunday school background.  For many it’s their faith that has brought them to parliament.  I’ve heard one for example talk of his call from God to enter politics. There are many others. Some have overt faith, some keep it close to their hearts and find it hard to talk about their faith because their experience has been that this leads to criticism from the church and the charge of hypocrisy from others.

Be the change you want to see.

As Christian people and Christian communities it so important that we model the change that we want to see.  It gives credibility to our message.

Let’s be peacemakers and live at peace with each other.  We have the prince of peace to aid us in this.

Let’s look at ways that we can be a more economically just and eco-friendly community, sharing our resources so each has enough to live well among us and so that we are passing on a sustainable heritage to our children.

 

Introducing Labourfaith

If you are a person of faith and believe that your faith is an integral part of your life as a citizen of New Zealand, then you will want to think carefully and prayerfully about the way you vote.

This blog is a resource for you to think through Labour Party Policy from a faith perspective.

As this page and the conversations around it grows you will hear from many members of  the Christian Community and from people of other faith movements who have decided that the policies of the NZ Labour Party line up with their own values and vision for a fair and just society.

In preparing this blog I acknowledge that within any faith tradition there are a variety of perspectives.  I do not set out to convince those who in good faith support right-leaning policy to change their ways.  However I do hope that those who feel an inner conviction that the ways of their faith whether that be in Jesus of Nazareth, the God of the Hebrew Bible, the Quran, or the teaching of any other religious group; will be able to find solidarity with others who share similar convictions.   

I myself am proud to be a Christian, a minister of NEV Baptist Church in Dunedin and an activist in the Labour Party.  For me faith and politics belong together and it is the life and example of Jesus that motivate me to “bring good news to the poor”

Steve O'Connor