"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
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