Practicing Faith or Practicing Politics?
Throughout American history, people practice their faith to align with the teachings of Jesus, and then speaking out about it provokes the reaction that one is getting political. This push and pull between faith and politics has brought me to do some reflection and research.
Politics is derived from first the Greek term, polic (city-state) and then, polites (citizen) and politikos (pertaining to citizens). It involved the interactions, social way of being of the people who reside in that city. By the 16th century, it evolved into the word that describes actions or practices of those in government.
Biblical history is rich with stories of religious leaders advising political leaders. The prophets were not people with a magic ball predicting the future. They were people who spoke to the leaders, in an effort to hold them accountable because the peril of the very people they rule over is at hand. In 2 Samuel, the prophet, Nathan shares a parable with King David about a rich man stealing a sheep from a poor farmer. Backstory, King David committed adultery with Bathsheba and then had her husband killed. After King David shared how he thought it was wrong for the rich ruler to steal from the poor, Nathan then held him to the fire of conviction, directly telling him, “You are that rich ruler.” In Christian scriptures, Jesus held leaders accountable as well. He flipped tables in the Temple. There was systemic exploitation happening as people were “taxed” to exchange their Roman currency into Tyrian shekel in order to pay the temple tax.
So at what point did the split begin, separating faith-based accountability from politics? The timeline unfolds as follows. Constantine (313 CE) legalized Christianity and seized the opportunity to name Christianity as the state religion. Constantine used that as a means of control. During the Enlightenment Era (17th-18th Century) after many brutal religious wars, the desire to separate church and state began to emerge. This creates the dual perspective of personal faith and morality, and its counterpart, law, coming from a secular perspective. In the 19th & 20th centuries, the complexity of that prophetic voice being heard was up against massive machines of governance. Today, spiritual leaders face two challenges. Pluralism, where many faiths are practiced and many perspectives within different subsects of those faiths. This brings the opportunity to seek common ground without forcing people to change from the faith they practice. And perhaps the biggest challenge, partisanship.
Moving to our most modern era, beginning with the Civil Rights Movement, the prophetic voice of faith leaders began to emerge. Moving to today, where even within the pluralism of many faiths, religious leaders have come together to speak up and require accountability. In our diverse tapestry of religion, leaders from monks walking peacefully and faithfully from Texas to Washington DC to a multifaith gathering of leaders peacefully protesting, and to me, penning this perspective, we are requesting the common threads that run through our faiths be a guiding point for all governing leaders. It is not even fully partisan from our perspective either. For me, regardless of your party, people should not be oppressed, killed, beaten, systemically oppressed, or anything that inhibits the liberty, freedom and pursuit of happiness that our Constitution holds.
Enter the question at hand, am I practicing faith or practicing politics? I am practicing my faith with the convictions that my teacher and way-shower set forth and that my Unity teachings uphold. I will speak, regardless of party actions and affiliation, to require leaders to treat others with dignity and respect. I require accountability when moral standards that cross many faith practices are not being practiced. I will encourage my congregants to defend the sanctity of all people. I will empower people to know their rights, what actions will keep them safe within the rules that govern our country from the Constitution. I will demand no more killing, no more systemic manipulation that lends to oppression. It is a tenet of my faith to affirm that we are all inherently good, as we are an expression of God. It is exercising our 5th Principle in Unity to take action and practice our beliefs when I stand boldly in my convictions and faith.
February is Black History Month. Knowing this history, our history no matter your skin color, empowers us to rise in consciousness. With D.E.I. (diversity, equity, and inclusion) being demonized, I celebrate our diversity. Diversity is one of the core values at Unity Church of Austin. The monstrous things we have seen recently are nothing new. Our siblings have been through hell and have journeyed to be innovators rising above oppression. No matter how many black history exhibits are removed, we know our history. History that should be learned from and not repeated when it comes to oppression. History that should be learned and celebrated when it comes to the many ways black people have made the world a better place, from inventions, to advances in science, to the arts. In February, we will celebrate Black History month by highlighting black leaders in New Thought and learn from their spiritual wisdom and consciousness.
Practice your faith. Love your neighbor. Require accountability. And most importantly, Shine on, y’all.
With respect to this quote, “I Shall Not Be Moved”,
-Rev. Leslie
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