Violence and the limits of responsible political participation are not new issues among Christians
A core principle behind this class is that its members actually are on a spiritual journey, and are engaged in some set of spiritual practices, many if not all of which would be recognized as traditional Christian ones. The class was originally envisioned as a regular occasion for sharing the experience of these journeys with one another, raising the questions they raise in a group setting, obtaining advice and counsel from one another, or support and encouragement, or challenge, as the case might be. Some of us feel we have strayed away from that commitment, and would like to focus more in the coming year on our reflections on the state of our practice.
Today we identified a set of additional themes that might focus our reflections between now and Lent. With the news of the shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and something like 19 others in Tucson fresh in the headlines, along with conversations around violent imagery in public debate, the availability of firearms in our community, and a sense that our political activity is a part of our spiritual life, or anyway not at all unrelated to it, we thought questions of violence, peace, and public participation might need to be on our agenda.
- What constitutes responsible Christian practice when it comes to participation in our communities (local, regional, national, global)?
- What does it mean to be “a peacemaker” — concretely, practically, in the communities we participate in?
- Are we doing what we need to be doing, and can be doing, in this direction? Is there more we could do? Or, is it not so much a matter of “more” as of “different”? And, according to whom?
Along these lines, R. mentioned that there’s a quote on his refrigerator, by Gandhi, to the effect that “any attempt to control another person is violence.” [A few parents took exception to this. All due respect to Gandhi.]
L. is going to ask the newly elected Sheriff of Harrison Co. to come speak to our class about gun control and issues related to that in our county next Sunday.
Dennis Smith is going to be visiting on January 23, so we will be having conversation with him on that Sunday.
G. is working with his colleague, who is a contact with a mission in Haiti, to arrange a Sunday in February for a visit, presentation and conversation.
Pastor Scott also sent out word about The Thoughtful Christian’s Lenten Study on Biblical Models of Discipleship, and some of us thought this would be interesting to read and study through. Heather suggested to the Thoughtful Christian class that meets across the hall that we might want to study the course together for Lent, and there seemed to be some interest on their part in that suggestion, so that’s a possibility; if we leave it as a Lenten study, we would be looking at starting that on Sunday, March 13 (well, that would be the 1st Sunday in Lent).
Looking forward to a thoughtful and devoted year, in communion and conversation with one another. Comments on our plans would be welcome!
Tags: Christian life, Christian practice, Lent, peacemakers, political participation, spiritual journeys, Thoughtful Christian, violence
