The biggest challenge facing the new government in New Zealand is going to be steering a path through the current global financial turmoil. The situation has similarities to the sport of canyoning, or trying to steer an unwieldy raft through a steep set of rapids. There is no chance of going against the flow. Rather the aim is to come out at the end without collapsing in the process.
The temptation will be to take a path of withdrawal from all external commitments, and to look only to our own interests, with the aim of being able to return to ‘business as normal’ once the crisis has past. Environmental issues such as controls on carbon emissions, that are going to cost financially, will be pushed back down the scale of importance. Similarly overseas development assistance (ODA) will be cut back or restructured to only those programs that have a visible economic kickback for New Zealand. The political focus for the industrialised countries will be on protecting their own consumers and taxpayers.
Such a path has the potential for the poor of the world to end up paying the heaviest price for a mess that they have had the least part in creating. A recent article in the Financial Times says:
“A response to the crisis that does not take into account the needs of the world’s poor – or, worse, that results in reduced levels of engagement – would be grossly unfair. We all share responsibility for the persistence of poverty, hunger, disease and illiteracy on a vast scale. The sense of injustice they engender is a threat to economic and political security. The sense of responsibility that has galvanised western politicians into action to restore confidence in the financial system should, in a globalised world, also result in actions to accelerate achievement of the millennium development goals.”
There is a vision for an alternative that is beginning to be suggested by thoughtful leaders around the world. This is to see the bursting of the bubble of the “greed based economy” as an opportunity for a global restructuring in a number of significant areas. There is a need for new thinking and new ways of working. Ways that will work better for the planet and for the human race.
Newsweek has a cover feature of “The Green Rescue”, with an article about the creation of a new energy economy – a revolution in the ways that energy is supplied and used, a revolution that will work for a reduction in carbon output while at the same time creating new jobs and new economic growth.
A similar “Poverty Rescue” is needed – a revolution in economic structures that will bring significant justice for the poor, while also providing economic stability for the rest of us. The Financial Times article concludes
“Big problems are the opportunity for big thinking. We know that globalisation can be a force for good. But if its benefits are to be shared, and the world not to be polarised between those who are in and those who are ever more marginalised, we need a new mindset and new global arrangements. We face a moment of risk and opportunity. We urge political leaders to summon the courage and vision to seize it.”
This is the challenge faced by the new government in New Zealand. Will we be a part of circling the wagons to protect the old structures, or will we have the courage and the vision to be a part of this new vision?
Ways to Impact Politics
The elections have happened, and we have a new government in Aotearoa/NZ. However that does not mean that our political responsibility has finished for another three years! We have the ability and the responsibility to help shape the political decisions that build up or harm our society. It is crucial that we understand the many ways we shape politics beyond voting for candidates once every three years.
Here are nine ways, taken from an article by Ron Sider of the Sojourners Community:
Just being the church. The first way Christians should influence politics is by being a living model of Jesus’ dawning kingdom. Tom Skinner used to say that the church should be a little picture now of what heaven will be like. When the church simply lives out a visible model of transformed social, racial, and economic relations, it profoundly influences society.
Prayer. Karl Barth once said that prayer is the church’s most important contribution to political life. The Bible calls us to pray for our political leaders.
Shaping culture. To a great extent, broad cultural assumptions determine what is politically possible. Abraham Lincoln allegedly told the clergy of his day that “the church sets the boundaries within which politics has to function.” Christians help shape the cultural norms in society first by their common life, then by their ideas, writings, and artistic productions.
Educating church members to think biblically and wisely about politics.Unless church leaders help their people develop a biblically informed way to think about political life, church members will simply borrow their political values from secular sources. It is crucial that pastors and denominational leaders develop careful programs and excellent materials to help all their members embrace a faithful methodology for politics and a biblically balanced agenda. This would involve sermons, Sunday school classes, and study groups, laying out the biblical foundations for economic and racial justice and teaching respect for the dignity and sanctity of human life—in short all the components of a biblically balanced agenda. That does not mean that the pastor or denominational leader should regularly promote a specific political proposal or candidate for office. Instead church leaders should help their members develop a faithful approach to politics. They should provide settings within the congregation where church members with diverse political views learn how to dialogue with civility, honesty, and humility. They should encourage all their members to be active politically and nurture a few to devote themselves full time to politics.
Official church pronouncements. Church leaders dare not make political pronouncements in the name of their church when they speak only for themselves. But the situation is quite different when the congregation or the denomination goes through a careful process to develop an official congregational or denominational position on a political issue. This should not be done hastily, nor should it be done constantly, but from time to time it is important and right to do so. When that process produces a duly authorized statement, then church leaders rightly speak to political leaders in the name of their church. (As an example, the US Catholic bishops did this effectively in the 1980s with their pastoral letters on peace and economic justice.) If done well, this kind of official church pronouncement can have a substantial political impact.
Educating the public on specific political issues.In political education, people seek to inform a group of citizens (whether church members or others) about particular issues, the reasons for taking a specific stand, the current state of the political debate on the issues, and how best to impact the outcome. Christians may do this through denominational social action departments, parachurch organizations focused on political education, or secular public policy networks.
Lobbying elected officials.Here it is crucial that denominational social action agencies do this kind of work only when denominational structures have had a clear process and given concrete authorization for church agencies to speak in the name of the denomination. However, parachurch Christian organizations (and of course secular lobbying agencies) are better able to lobby politicians without politicizing the church.
Promoting the election of specific candidates. Normally church leaders should help educate their members on how to think and act publicly and then urge each individual member to prayerfully make his or her own decisions about specific candidates.
Running for political office.This is far more than just standing for parliament. There are an enormous range of local and regional councils, committees and boards where Christians can bring an influence that stands for justice and righteousness. Congregations should encourage members with the interests and gifts to be candidates for political office. Caring church leaders and other members of the congregation should help Christian political candidates (and elected officials) to develop platforms that reflect a biblically balanced agenda, to think and speak honestly, and to retain integrity in public life. We need far more effective structures for a loving, tough-minded process of both personal support and genuine accountability for Christians who embrace the difficult calling of public office. Without publicly endorsing a respected church member running for political office, a congregation can privately provide prayer, counsel, and a structure of accountability.
The parliamentary election season is over for another three years, but ask God to show you ways you can help shape the politics of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Election Issues Toolkit
The Pointseven Campaign have prepared an election issues toolkit. This includes information about election issues related to development aid; guidance on how to contact your MP or election candidate; sample questions that you can ask them in relation to development aid issues; and a sample letter that could be sent to candidates. If you didn't use the toolkit before the election, it can still be used now to write to the members of Parliament, both new and old, and ask them to support these issues of dvelopment aid.
“But if anyone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need and refuses to help—how can God’s love be in that person? Dear children, let us stop just saying we love each other; let us really show it by our actions.”...
