politics Lutherans& ✩ ✩ The ‘two kingdoms’ and putting the needs of others first By Darrell H. Jodock S
ome say religion should have nothing to do with politics. Others claim that their political proposals are Christian and ought to be supported by any true Christian. As we ponder the upcoming election, what can we
learn from the Lutheran tradition about the role of faith in politics? My father was a farmer. He never sought office, but he was regularly on the township board, the local or county school board, the cooperative grain elevator board, the church council, and various other committees. Neighbors would frequently stop to talk—sometimes just to visit, sometimes to explore a community concern, and at other times to find a good listener.
Jodock, an ELCA pastor, holds the Drell and Adeline Bernhardson Chair in Lutheran Stud- ies at Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minn. Previously, he taught at Muhlenberg Col- lege, Allentown, Pa., and Luther Theological Seminary, St. Paul, Minn. He was the first chair of the Association of Teaching Theologians— ELCA/Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada.
For the troubled, he was slow to give advice but often ready with a story that invited them to see their problem differently. Whenever a controversy erupted in the church or community, he deliberately talked with people on both sides to learn something, to correct misinforma-
20 The Lutheran •
www.thelutheran.org
tion, and to signal that no disagree- ment was important enough to disrupt community relationships. He had a position, but it was open to change.
My father urged others to buy
locally because it was the only way to keep stores open in a small town. He advocated selling farms at a reduced price to young people just starting out because doing so would be good for the community. If some- one needed assistance, help was provided, usually without anyone else ever knowing. He was a person of faith who was more comfortable living that faith than making pro-
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52