Friday, April 14, 2006

What Political Party Would Jesus Join?

I don't think that Jesus would actually choose one of our political parties; he'd start his own. But what values would characterize that party?
When the disciples asked Jesus what the greatest commandment was, he gave two: to love God with everything that we are, and to love others in the same way that we love ourselves.
The most important aspect of Jesus' party would be to show love. It would not be a party that suggests every man for himself. Instead, I believe it would seek to help each of its' members to grow and to attain their purpose/goals.
As a camp counselor, we did group games that required a team to get from one point to another, through various obstacles. One game used a tire hanging from a branch, to represent a ring of fire. The teams that said, "okay, take turns. Everyone jump through the ring of fire" ended up with a minimum of one person stuck on the other side. But the groups who figured out how to work as a team, showing concern for each member, were able to get everyone across. If you climb up a swinging ladder, all the way to the top, how do you reach down and help the person below you. But if you take a step, then help pull the person below you up a step (to whatever degree they need it), and take another step, then you both can get to the top. Jesus' political party works to help each member through life, pushing even before they themselves are safe, and pulling from ahead, or even going back through the fire to help, when someone gets stuck. Jesus' party would not stop, though, at helping its' own members. It would help everyone who is willing to accept assistance. The Samaritan that Jesus spoke of and praised helped someone he did not know, a fellow member of the human race, but that was it. Jesus' party does not stop at helping only people in the church, or only people in one's own country. Jesus' party helps everyone it sees who needs or could benefit from help.

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