A Christian Way of Governing?

Last updated on: December 4, 2015 at 1:10 pm by D. G. Hart

A Christian Way of Governing? 2015-12-04T13:10:39-04:00 D. G. Hart

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Not if it means another Jimmy Carter, puhleeze!

But John-Clark Levin wants more of the self-righteousness that drove voters like me nuts:

As a presidential candidate, Carter tapped into common Christian themes that unite Americans across race, class and geography. He spoke often of love and charity, brotherhood and compassion, framing his campaign through moral imperatives as much as political ones. Although he entered the race as a little-known outsider, this message resonated with an electorate disheartened by recession, Watergate and Vietnam. His promise to “never tell a lie to the American people” — quixotic by today’s standards — reassured the scandal-weary voters of 1976.

After his unlikely victory, Carter’s faith was clearly reflected in his presidency. He said “fairness, not force” should guide international affairs, and gave up the Panama Canal. He likened his push for a national energy policy to “the moral equivalent of war.” Of his fervor to secure a permanent peace for Israel, he later wrote: “I considered this homeland for the Jews to be compatible with the teachings of the Bible, hence ordained by God. These moral and religious beliefs made my commitment to the security of Israel unshakable.”

Trouble was, Carter didn’t unify nor did he inspire (which has always been the point of injecting religion into politics), as Levin concedes:

Americans did not always respond favorably. On July 15, 1979, Carter delivered what came to be known as the “Malaise Speech.” America’s economic woes, he said, stemmed from “a moral and a spiritual crisis.”

Even so, Levin is hopeful that Democrats can still learn from Carter:

Michael Dukakis, Al Gore and John Kerry were all privately religious, but they did not justify their positions through religious morality or references. By contrast, the two Democrats since Carter to secure the White House were adept at using their religious worldview to connect with voters. Bill Clinton often deployed Scripture to reinforce his arguments about poverty, while Barack Obama famously saved his candidacy with a speech tracing America’s present racial discord to the “original sin of slavery.”

If Democrats hope to change minds and hearts in Middle America in 2016, they would do well to recognize the power of sincere religious conviction like Carter’s. If approached with faith in mind, religious moderates might be more open to Democratic positions on issues such as environmentalism, universal healthcare and prison reform. Carter’s remarkable legacy teaches this: Republicans ought not take the support of churchgoing Americans for granted.

The key word there is “sincere” and judging sincerity is above the pay grade of all humans. Only God sees the heart. Which may be a reason for following the teaching of Jesus who said don’t engage in acts of public devotion:

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
“Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. [8] Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. (Matthew 6:1-8 ESV)

Looks like Christians are called to a quiet piety that doesn’t draw attention to itself.

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