Miroslav Volf - Values When Voting

With the United States facing a presidential election this year, Miroslav Volf has been posting in Facebook some thoughts regarding issues that influence his decision as a voter. They are well worth reading and reflecting on as all too often votes are cast based on a single issue of benefit to voters (like student loan interest write offs) with little consideration given to a bigger picture.

He considers it important to know three things in regards to responsibly selecting a candidate for office.

1. Values the candidate stands for and there order of priority.
2. Ways and means by which these values will be implemented.
3. The capacity (ability and determination) of the candidate to contribute to the values being out worked.

Volf has 20 values which he intends to highlight and has already posted in regards to 7 of them. In regards to each value he 1) names the basic content of the value, 2) gives a brief rationale for holding it, 3) suggests some parameters of legitimate debate about it, and 4) identifies key questions for the candidate.

 

Volf is a world renowned theologian and writes from a Christian perspective. He acknowledges that whole books have been written on the values he is discussing and simply posts a couple of verses to flag the direction of his rationale rather than as a concise argument regarding each value.
Here are values 2, 5, and 7 as a teaser. You can find the others on his Facebook page and track the 13 he is yet to post on.

Value # 2: Concern for the Poor. The poor—above all those without adequate food or shelter—deserve our special concern.

Rationale: “When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and for the foreigner residing among you. I am the LORD your God” (Leviticus 23:22). “However, there need be no poor people among you, for in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless you.” (Deuteronomy 15:7).

Debate: There should be no debate whether fighting extreme poverty should be one of the top priorities of the government. That is a given. The debate should be about the following issues: How to generate a sense of solidarity with the poor among all citizens? In poverty alleviation, what is the proper role of governments and what of individuals, religious communities, and civic organizations? What macroeconomic conditions most favour lifting people out of poverty? What should the minimum wage be?

Questions: Is overcoming extreme poverty a priority for the candidate? What poverty reducing polices is the candidate prepared to fight for?no poor people among you, for in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless you” (Deuteronomy 15:7).

Debate: There should be no debate whether fighting extreme poverty should be one of the top priorities of the government. That is a given. The debate should be about the following issues: How to generate a sense of solidarity with the poor among all citizens? In poverty alleviation, what is the proper role of governments and what of individuals, religious communities, and civic organizations? What macroeconomic conditions most favor lifting people out of poverty? What should the minimum wage be?

Question: Is overcoming extreme poverty a priority for the candidate? What poverty reducing policies is the candidate prepared to fight for?

Value # 5: Death should never be as punishment for a crime.

Rationale: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Since out of love Christ died for absolutely every human being (“the world”), no one should rob a human being of a chance to be transformed by God’s love and no one should put to death a human being who has been transformed by God’s love.

Debate: There is no debate on this one.

Questions: Will the candidate push to abolish capital punishment, and if so, how hard?

Value # 7: Given the world’s resources, no human being should go hungry; as individuals and nation we should be committed to complete eradication of hunger.

Rationale: “[The Lord] executes justice for the oppressed […] gives food to the hungry” (Psalm 146:7); “Then he [the Son of Man] will say to those at his left hand, ‘You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink” (Matthew 25:41-42).

Debate: The debate should not be whether the eradication of world hunger out to be one of our top priorities, but what are the most effective ways to achieve that goal.

Questions: Is the candidate committed to the eradication of world hunger, and if so, what means will they use toward that goal? Is the candidate prepared to set aside a percentage of the Gross National Product for the eradication of hunger?l fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink” (Matthew 25:41-42).

Debate: The debate should not be whether the eradication of world hunger ought to be one of our top priorities, but what are most effective ways to achieve that goal.

Question to Ask: Is the candidate committed to the eradication of world hunger, and if so, what means will he use toward that goal? Is the candidate prepared to set aside a percentage of the Gross National Product for the eradication of hunger?

ave eternal life” (John 3:16). Since out of love Christ died for absolutely every human being (“the world”), no one should rob a human being of a chance to be transformed by God’s love and no one should put to death a human being who has been transformed by God’s love.

Debate: There is no debate on this one.

Question to Ask: Will the candidate push to abolish the capital punishment, and if so, how hard?

Most important are the values. As I identified each value, I thought it important to (1) name the basic content of the value, (2) give a brief rationale for holding it, (3) suggest some parameters of legitimate debate about it, and (4) identify key questions for the candidate.

Most important are the values. As I identified each value, I thought it important to (1) name the basic content of the value, (2) give a brief rationale for holding it, (3) suggest some parameters of legitimate debate about it, and (4) identify key questions for the candidate.

I write as a Christian theologian, from the perspective of my own understanding of the Christian faith. Whole books have been written on each of these values, explicating them and adjudicating complex debates about them. In giving rationale for a given value, I only take one or two verses from the Bible to back up my position, more to flag the direction in which giving a rationale would need to go than in fact strictly to offer a rationale. I have identified some 20 such values. In coming days I will post one a day.

 

The Great Disruption

Last year I read a book called The Great Disruption. It would be one of the most challenging, thought provoking and engaging books I've read. It was written by a guy called Paul Gilding and is worth a read. Here is a talk by Paul at TED. It doesn't do justice to scope and flow of the book, but may interest some.

The Good News of the Gospel

Here is a quick attempt at summarising my understanding of the gospel as simply as I can. My summary is full of Christian language and there is a depth of meaning underneath concepts like 'to live in Him (Jesus)' that could be unpacked further, as could terms like 'faith' and 'repentance.' A good exercise nontheless.

The world is broken but it wasn't always broken and it won't be broken forever; there is 'good news.'

God created the world good. The centre piece of creation was humankind created in the image of God. Humankind was created to love and worship God and to live in wholeness of relationship with each other, stewarding and developing the rest of creation. However humankind broke relationship with God by disobeying God and sinning. Humanity fell short of that which God intended it to be.

As a result we all have a sin problem that separates us from God, from ourselves, from each other and from the rest of creation. In and of ourselves we are powerless to deal with this sin problem. This sin problem is wrecking havoc on earth now and separates humanity from God partially now and promises to permanently in the future.

The good news is that God in his love sent Jesus Christ to rescue humanity from sin and to deal with humankind's sin problem. Jesus lived, died, rose from the dead and sent the Spirit in order that through faith and repentance all who respond to Jesus can be forgiven their sins and from sin in order to start a new life 'in Him.'

In Him we are restored to right relationship with God, with ourselves, with each other and with the world around us. We begin the process of learning to live as God always intended us to live and do this in the context of God's community, the church. The church is historical and global in nature but also an actual, tangible community that we commit and involve ourselves in locally.

As Christ followers live missionally and participate with the Spirit in God's redemptive work, faith, hope and love will begin to change lives and communities as the rule and reign of God (his kingdom) is established here on earth as it is in heaven. While God's kingdom will only be experienced in part now, and while Christ followers are not immune to the effects of the brokenness that exits in the world, Christ followers live in light of eternity, as sign posts to the truth that Jesus Christ will return and his kingdom will be established in full forever. Justice and judgement will flow throughout the world, creation will be restored and those whose faith and trust is in Jesus Christ will be judged righteous and will live in wholeness and restored relationship with God forever.

Climate Change

Some people are skeptical in regards to human induced climate change.

(John Finkelde just posted about being a 'climate change agnostic.' He's a legend pastor from Australia with a cool blog you can find here).

The reality is we have to trust the experts.

While it may be tempting to say 'unfortunately’ we have to trust the experts, the truth is that fortunately we get to trust the experts. Average Joe just doesn’t have to time or ability to be an expert on every major issue in life. We have to, with humility and discernment, learn to trust experts. We do this in regards to our health with doctors, our cars with mechanics, and our computers with I.T gurus, to name but a few areas of life. We have to do this in regards to climate change as well. As Governor Schwarzenegger said in reference to human induced climate change, ‘if 98% of doctors said my son was sick and 2% said he was fine, I’d listen to the 98% every time. It’s common sense.’ The reality is 98% of scientists agree that human induced climate change is a reality. I’m no expert but I am happy to trust the majority of experts.

Why perhaps is conservative Christianity so ‘anti/skeptical’ of human induced climate change?

1. Mistrust of science due to scientific promotion of theory of evolution. Literal fundamental readings of Genesis 1 fail to allow for the compatibility of creation and evolution. The reality is though evolution and creation are not mutually exclusive. Best book to read would be The Lost World of Genesis One by John Walton.

2. Poor theology in regards to creation care, the gospel message, and the desire of God to save the entire cosmos. We were created to dwell in harmonious relationship with creation; sin has massively damaged this relationship though. Salvation is not just for the individual though and is available for all that call on the name of the Lord; salvation will also rescue creation from the bondage of sin. As Christ followers we are to bring salvation to our neighbours and creation. Best book to read would be The Green Revolution by Ben Lowe or even Theology for the Community of God by Stanley Grenz.

3. Potential reality of required life style changes should human induced climate change be true. As Christ followers created in the image of God as1) icons of Him on earth, 2) as stewards to take care of creation, and as 3) beings created for community and right relationship with God, ourselves, each other, and creation. If human induced climate change is a reality, faithfulness to Jesus and the gospel would require us to change the way we live.

Climate change and environmental issues are a massive opportunity for the church to engage in culture. We do have a message concerning those issues. It’s the message of the gospel!

50 Ways to Help the Planet

50 Ways to Help the Planet

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How many cups have you used?

Read this today 'One Life, One Cup' about a Japanese man who has been using the same cup for his tea for the last 30 odd years. How many cups have you used in your life?

Japan has always been a country and culture that fascinated me. This man's attitude towards his cup is simple but has profound impact when multiplied across other areas of life and also by multitudes of people.

It's only a short read but well worth the read. Click here.

Eco-Trip

If you haven't been watching Eco-Trip on the Living Channel over the last few weeks you should be. It is an outstanding series which takes a closer look at the 'truer' cost of some of the things we take for granted in life. Bottled water, paper napkins, salmon, mobile phones etc. It is presented by David de Rothschild. I have found it fascinating, eye opening, challenging and inspiring.

The Whole Gospel

Came across this today on a blog I have never seen. A good article on The Whole Gospel, something that I am passionate about. Enjoy

Spring

Encouraging, fragrant, warm.

New, unknown, refreshing.

Hopes, stirs, anticipates.

Today, tomorrow, the next.

An Inconvenient Truth

I have just finished watching Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth. It is an extremely enlightening movie / documentary. I thought it was outstanding and very challenging. If you have not seen it then you need to go to your local DVD store, hire it out, and watch it. I took four pages of notes.

Quotes (more or less)...

Al Gore - 'There are good people who hold this (issue of Global Warming) at arms length because if they acknowledge it and recognise it, the moral importance to make changes is inescapable.'

Mark Twain - 'What gets us into trouble isn't what we don't know but what we know for sure that isn't so true.'

Click here for more info on the DVD, and again; you need to watch this!