Politics of Love

THE “POLITICS” OF LOVE

The word “politics” is derived from an ancient Greek word “politiká” which means “affairs of the city.” It refers to the decision-making and governance process for a metropolitan area. It defined the way people were supposed to behave in order to live together, and formed the foundation for the decisions leaders were expected to make for the welfare and benefit of the people-ALL the people.
In the 21st century, “politics” has come to mean the way those in power control and manipulate in order to bring maximum benefit for themselves and their cronies, without regard for the common good or the consequences their actions have on other people, especially on those they consider undeserving or worthless.
The intention of Jesus is crystal clear. He unequivocally requires from his followers a “politics of love” that directs and informs everything they do to be done with care, concern and compassion for every human being. That includes those considered to be enemies or opponents or unworthy, and with special regard for those who are particularly vulnerable. The “politics of love” are countercultural and altruistic and often require sacrifice on the part of those who follow them. Followers of the Way of Jesus endeavor to practice the “politics of love,” which often earns us the scorn and ridicule of most practitioners of traditional, contemporary politics. We are labeled as “idealistic” “naive” “foolish” “unrealistic” and “socialist.” Nevertheless, as we struggle to walk the Way of Jesus we are motivated by the conviction that all people, of every conceivable skin hue, are God’s beloved children; that all people deserve to benefit from the fruits of creation and deserve to have a safe place to live, enough to eat and to be treated with dignity and respect; that all people deserve to benefit from the wisdom and advances humanity has made with regard to treating and preventing illness and disease.
I count myself as one of those who have attained some degree of privilege in the civil politics of contemporary North America, by virtue of being white. Being female has somewhat blunted that privilege, but not enough to give me the right to claim that I have suffered in any significant way because of discrimination. But I continue to struggle toward living within the politics of love, even as I enter into my 8th decade of living. It is my deepest hope that I will be open to opportunities that God places in my path to both practice the politics of love and help create small spaces where people who have been wounded by “politics as usual” can find acceptance, healing and hope.
Eileen