North Canterbury, NZ
From the Vicar
Shirley writes ...
I suspect along with many of you, have watched and
listened to the news telling us of “tough economic times,”
“my party has the answer” and “we know what is best
for you.” All said in various ways by a great number of
people both at home and across the globe. I get to the point where if I
hear a certain NZ politician speaking his rhetoric I switch off the
radio or go and do something else! I suspect that I reflect the
feeling of a lot of people who long for a really good debate on
important issues with real language that says something rather than
stroking my already formed prejudices and raising fear that my worst
nightmares may come to pass. I want to hear how my grandchildren are going to be learn their three R’s in a safe, healthy environment. I want to know that whatever programme is designed it won’t be chucked because it was someone else’s good idea. I want to hear the plans to enable us to live in such a way that we contribute to the welfare and nurture of our neighbours who are not so fortunate. I want to know…
I have often heard it said that the church should not be in politics. If you agree with that statement well sorry folks the church has been political before Noah hammered his first nail. Jesus was a very savvy politician. He did not hide behind constant barrages of rhetoric – he met it head on – answering the platitudes and repeated slogans in ways that left the listeners liberated and amazed or gave the politicians confirmation that they had a dangerous fanatic on their hands.
I have to wonder how our politics and values and the way we make decisions in Aotearoa/NZ stand up to “God’s Economy” of justice, fair trade, community being valued and participated in, individuals given a voice that is listened to, thought about and debated for the greater good. I have no doubt that those people who are elected to Parliament this month go there full of hope and promise with the best intentions in the world. They really want to change things for the better. Somehow though “the system” is bigger than them and rolls on over the top of hopes and dreams.
Jesus challenged many, many people in his day and has continued to do so down the generations. It is true some dreadful events and actions have taken place in his name; that is the very reason we need to walk the walk and talk the talk - reaching out to those who are the most vulnerable in our society and in the world. As living witnesses to the Risen Christ we are called to use our hands, feet and voices for the common good in God’s economy.
