A Politics of Love

Earlier this week, my friend and videographer Ken Rinehart sent me a link to a recent episode of Colorado Matters, a daily interview program on Colorado Public Radio (CPR) hosted by Ryan Warner. This episode, entitled Holy Chaos! A House Divided! Religious Leaders Take on the Political Divide, is an interview with Pastor Mark Feldmeir, Senior Pastor of Saint Andrew United Methodist Church in Highlands Ranch, Reverend Amanda Henderson former Executive Director of Interfaith Alliance of Colorado who is joining The Iliff School of Theology, and Pastor Tracey Perry who does ministry and social justice work across the state.

Each of the ministers spoke authentically and courageously about the need for faith communities to engage in discourse about social justice issues, especially at this time in our country. They asserted quite boldly that it is the role of the church and people of faith to address these issues and stand for love and compassion in the arena of public policy. I highly recommend that you listen to this interview.

Trish Morris, our Associate Minister, spoke openly about this in her lesson on Sunday, October 25, entitled Finding the Balance. If you have not had the opportunity to listen to or watch this service, I encourage you do to so. You may watch or listen on the Unity Spiritual Center Denver YouTube channel.

After listening to the CPR episode, I ordered Rev. Feldmeir’s book, A House Divided – Engaging the Issues through the Politics of Compassion. The book is based on a series of sermons that Rev. Feldmeir gave at his church. Yes, a United Methodist minister in largely conservative Douglas County, Colorado dared to speak to his congregation of over one thousand about social justice issues on a Sunday morning! I have only begun perusing it, but from what I have read thus far, I believe that many of us could gain a new perspective from reading the book and engaging in the exercises he offers.

In the introduction to the book, Rev. Feldmeir references a 2015 online essay by Max Harris and Philip McKibbin entitled The Politics of Love in which the authors explore a values-based politics that encourages love, rather than fear and division, as a foundation for public policy. He quotes them,

“If love involves a concern for people, then a politics of love will move this world to a better place for everyone…In such a politics, love would be woven through all our policy. Embracing a politics of love would change how we justify policy, as well as how we talk about it.”

I wish I had been aware of this essay and Rev. Feldmeir’s book prior to presenting my lesson, Living Love, this past Sunday. While my message was very much aligned with everything presented here, I would have enjoyed having these as references.

In Unity, we say that Jesus is our way shower, our example of one who realized his oneness with God and lived it. However, Unity as a movement and many Unity churches and spiritual centers have traditionally avoided discussing or getting directly involved in issues of social justice. In my way of thinking, there is a serious disconnect here.

If we truly look to Jesus as our example, it seems to me that we would not only be involved in these issues, but that we would be on the front lines taking the lead in speaking about, speaking to, and speaking up about the issues that affect our daily lives and the lives of our brothers and sisters, not only in America, but around the world.

As Rev. Feldmeir points out, Jesus was deeply committed to compassion and to the common good. He excluded no one, openly embracing the disenfranchised, discounted and disinherited. He included all people in the family of God.

Jesus also exampled and called his disciples directly and each of us indirectly through his teaching, which we in Unity profess to believe in and follow, to empty ourselves of our own attachments to privilege, power, position and prestige in all its many forms and to love and serve God through loving and serving others.

In addition, Jesus’s life is an example of one who saw God in everyone and everything. This, my friends, is one of Unity’s primary principles. If we truly believe this and strive to practice it, I do not see how we can choose not to actively address and participate in issues that directly affect the lives of so many.

Are we ready to stop saying that Jesus is our way shower and do what it takes to follow him?

As I have said, I know it is not my position to tell anyone how to vote. I would not be so presumptuous. However, I believe it is within my purview as a fellow human being to encourage us all to consider the idea of a politics of love and compassion as we cast our votes that will determine our governmental leaders and affect public policy.

It is popular opinion that the next few weeks will be challenging in the political arena as votes are tabulated and winners determined and we deal with the reactions and responses from the elected officials and the public. I encourage us all to stay grounded in love and compassion for ourselves and for each other. To refrain from critical or judgmental words. To avoid being an “echo chamber” for fear. To keep our minds stayed on Love. To speak Love. To speak up for Love. To stand up for Love.

Love is the only power that can transform and heal the world. This is the time! We are the ones!