Tonight, as the tears and the cheers from Wisconsin's vote on Tuesday to keep Scott Walker as governor fade into history, a small group of us will be gathering in a sanctuary near Madison thinking about the words of Micah, that Hebrew prophet who challenged the marketplace and the rulers of his time.
This gathering will be more prayerful than prophetic as we seek to heal the spirits of those present and those throughout Wisconsin who have had their lives, their well-being and their relationships torn asunder by the political machinations of the last year. But we will not overlook the three-part message that Micah left us:
Do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with your God.
All three of those elements have been in short supply in Wisconsin since Walker, in his ill-chosen words, "dropped the bomb" in February of 2011 to do away with collective bargaining for most public employees.
At the same time, the ruling powers in Madison cut back on homestead tax exemptions that helped the elderly, trimmed back the Earned Income Tax Credit that helped the poor and added a few new tax break for businesses.
And for good measure, they tried -- but so far have been stymied -- in making it harder for citizens to vote. (Not that very many citizens were deterred on Tuesday. The turnout in the recall election was among the highest in state history.)
So the issues of justice facing the state of Wisconsin are significant. How this state treats its poorest citizens is clearly a moral issue. Likewise, bringing all citizens to the decision making table, whether as voters or as employees, is a moral issue. That's the "do justice" message from Micah. It's a message for Walker even as he celebrates his ability to hang on to his office.
In the aftermath of the acrimony of the past year, though, the calls to "love kindness" and "walk humbly" are also vital to reknitting the fabric of Wisconsin.
One noted Wisconsin author, Parker Palmer, has written eloquently of "healing the heart of democracy" not by papering over the very real differences that exist among citizens but by a willingness to listen to one another and to live with the tensions while seeking ways to move forward. A bit of kindness and a bit of humility are vital ingredients for that recipe.
A growing list of faith leaders organized by the Wisconsin Council of Churches are signing on to a statement inviting the state into a "Season of Civility" as we move out of our contentious recall into another contentious round of elections this fall.
"As a result of the extreme political polarization in Wisconsin, many in our congregations and communities feel marginalized or demonized by their neighbors on account of their economic status, occupation or political beliefs," the statement says. "Politics in a democracy is not a zero-sum game or a winner-take-all contest. Rather, it is a joint effort to reach a workable consensus on how to advance the common good."
All that work lies ahead. Tonight, we will simply gather in a sanctuary, light a few candles, hear a few words from Jesus and end with one of those great South African hymns called "Bambelela" -- "In times of trouble, never give up. When you're all alone, never give up."
The struggle for justice and for kindness did not end when the polls closed Tuesday night. It goes on ... and on.
What is unjust about requiring a legal ID to prove who you are before you vote???
What is unjust about removing the right to collectively bargin for state workers? Do you realize that even today, Wisconsin public union members have more 'rights' than federal employees. Instead of focusing on Scott Walker, maybe you should be going after President Obama. To have the Wisconsin rules for federal government employees would be an improvement over what they have now. All other legal protections for state employees are still there.
What is unjust about balancing a state budget which was going to be in deficit $3,600,000,000 even if some of the 'cuts' affect 'the poor'?
As for tax policy, if you are really concerned about JUSTICE, then will you support a flat tax that applies to every person from dollar one of income??? That is the opposite of what progressives like you consider to be fair. Yet, in the Bible, the tax system was the tithe. It treated everyone the same. No matter how much or who little one produced - everyone paid the same percentage. If we applied that to our modern society - the very poor would see their taxes go up significantly. God says that is just and fair. Do you???
While I know you will not read this post, our Lord will.
Micah, you should tell the readers, is an Old Testament minor prophet who was a doom and gloom and hope and change community organizer.
His message has been changed to parallel those progressives that advocate social justice.
As a pastor, your duty is to educate the people of your flock of Jesus' message not advocate for federal government "redistribution of wealth."
What you and others, Jim Wallis specifically, are proponents of a form of government that has, with regularity, failed economically and persecuted your faith doggedly.
Your crusade makes one wonder what your motivations are. What, exactly, are they?
If Micah is not a significant enough of a prophet for your taste, you might want to check out Isaiah. Isaiah 58, who uses a lot more words to say some of what Micah said.
And if you want to ponder the message of Jesus, you might to consider the parts about traveling lightly, sharing with the poor and loving enemies. I'm quite happy to be put in the company of Jim Wallis.
I'm a bit puzzled about how democracy has persecuted my faith doggedly. It seems to me one of the great blessings of democracy is the room it gives people of all faiths to worship as they choose and then seek common ground in the public square for how to create a more perfect union.
Lots of hope. Phil
The point I was making about social justice and the redistribution of wealth,,,
When both of those endeavors are made the responsibility of (or ceded to) a federal government, we have allowed the beginnings of a government that will co-opt the very religious freedoms that our democracy promotes.
The proof is, as they say, not far from the end of our noses.
When the federal government of the United States feels it has the authority to mandate the Catholic Church to violate its collective conscious by supplying life-ending treatments... we are at that point.
I was brought to tears the other day by a song that advocated bringing a child into this world who had little chance of survival. That child, through the miracles of love and faith grew to be an adult and a blessed follower.
"I was a poor child and did not know. I was an unhappy youth who had only smiles. I am an adult with God and I finally know the truth."
Republicans pose as champions of the unborn, but it's a strange posture, if you consider: they're always cutting back funds for prenatal care,education, meals for students. How could they be so interested in the unborn when they cannot muster up any enthusiasm for the living? Answer: in hope of getting votes from people like yourself.
Tens of thousands of children die of starvation worldwide every day. As much as you have yourself worked up over those who have yet to arrive among us, I hope you will extend your fervor and practical support to those who are here now.