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2008-10-21 issue:

Be not (politically) conformed

Editorial

by Everett J. Thomas

Print Article

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God.—Romans 12:2a

As Mennonites become more involved in the partisanship around presidential elections, the unity of our fellowship is threatened by political party loyalties. But there is a better way for us to respond: find ways to mediate between the polarized positions we experience.

On Sept. 7, I participated in a symposium sponsored by the Franklin Mennonite Conference. Held in Chambersburg, Pa., the purpose was to help members of this conference—one of our more theologically conservative—think about the gravitational fields surrounding each political party. The symposium was originally to be a debate between John D. Roth and me. After the last presidential election—when he was scandalized by the polarization in Mennonite circles—Roth advocated that we all take a sabbatical from the 2008 presidential elections. Roth, professor of history at Goshen (Ind.) College, made his appeal in person to the Mennonite Church USA delegates at the 2005 assembly in Charlotte, N.C.

Because I have been a member of the Goshen, Ind., city council for 16 years, I was supposed to provide a counterpoint to Roth’s argument. The problem: We both agreed that many of our congregations and members are involved in political party campaigns in ways that are unseemly and inappropriate.

More important than any U.S. presidential election is the unity and integrity of the church. As Paul implies in Romans, it will not be possible for us to discern the will of God if we are conformed to this world. We will not be able to rise above the hostilities and vitriol so damaging during presidential election years if we are too closely aligned with one of the partisans or either political party.

So what should be our stance between now and Nov. 4? Shall we take that sabbatical from this presidential election, as Roth proposes?

No. Rather than removing ourselves from it, the church should find its rightful place as mediator between the combatants. Our leaders should comport themselves as peacemakers; our congregations should be cities of refuge from the ugliness of the political battlefields.

This is not about being passive. It is about taking strong initiatives to depolarize the partisanship. One way to do that is to wade into the muck with holy indifference. Become informed about what both sides are saying. If you regularly watch MSNBC, then start watching Fox News. If you trust only Fox News, then start reading The New York Times. All are available free online.

It is not necessary to be neutral; a personal preference for one candidate or another is appropriate. The point is to listen and understand where someone picks up a particularly extreme point of view. Then address the kernel of truth around which may be layers of unfair caricature.

As a peace church, we can confront the ugliness of the election process with our convictions about peacemaking and justice. To do that, however, we cannot parrot the carefully researched campaign lines crafted by both parties. To be peacemakers in this election season, our own language and associations must be as neutral as possible. I am trying to be such a mediator in this fall’s election. Because of this resolve, I resigned as a precinct committee chair and from my party’s caucus in early September.

There are many ways we are conformed to the world. Much of this conforming has evolved over generations and decades. But involvement in political partisanship has come into our church more rapidly. This cultural assimilation need not spark a reaction toward separatism. Rather, we can bring our historic convictions about peacemaking to yet another battlefield. We can discipline ourselves to research the half-truths offered by friends and family members—and listen compassionately. If we do these things, then we will not be conformed to the world and can know the will of God.

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