fall 2008 - Northwestern College

For many Christians voting in the 2004 election, the primary
moral issues were abortion and gay marriage. While these remain
important issues, there is a growing recognition among Christians
and other “values voters” that there are
additional important moral issues that
impact one’s politics.
Increasingly, Christians are voicing
concern about issues like poverty, social
justice, global climate change, an ailing
criminal justice system, health care, and
quality education for all children.
A Christian’s position on each of
these issues is deeply informed by one’s
values. A myth—which is thankfully
dying—is that religious people want
to bring their values into political
discussions, while secularists are neutral.
Not true!
All human beings have value
commitments informed by their
worldview beliefs, whether they are
religious or secular. Politicians do not
check their values at the door when
they enter the halls of Congress. So
there is no compelling reason for
keeping our expression of “religious
values” in the private realm. Political
discussion should be an even
playing field, where all values can be
expressed and considered.
The expanded list of moral
issues—and the recognition that all
citizens have value commitments
that inform their beliefs on
these issues—is good news. But
discussing these moral issues
could be a nightmare if everyone,
including Christians, decides to do
politics as usual.
Christians
need a better
way of voicing
their political
opinions
BY HAROLD HEIE
War of Words
The current political system is broken. As I see it, the root problem
is a “fixed-position” model for discussion—as seen in legislative debates
and media coverage of those debates.
In its starkest form, politicians on both sides of the aisle hold
stubbornly to their party’s fixed position on an issue without any
inclination to take even a small step toward the opposing position. The
result is nasty verbal confrontation and the political gridlock so rampant
today. Politicians model an unwillingness to listen to the contrary views
of others. They refuse to be open to the possibility of learning from those
with whom they disagree, with the goal of seeking common ground.
Christians are easily prone to fixed-position discussions. In fact,
Christians often amplify verbal confrontation in political discussion. We
argue “I have the truth—so there.” We too easily play the Bible trump
20 FAll 2008