BLOG 9/21/16. CHESTERTON’ S PRAYER ON THE POLITICAL PROCESS
It’s amusing to realize that saying the things that I say in these Blogs, and saying them to those who are my subscribers, … is like ‘preaching to the choir.’ So be it. But there is a poem / hymn by G. K. Chesterton that I really must relate here. Chesterton was a giant thinker, philosopher, lay theologian, and writer of mysteries a century ago … who was never superficial, and not easily ignored. He wrote a poem/hymn that is, perhaps, a bit too counter-cultural in its essence to be published in popular hymnbooks. So let me lay it before you:
O God of earth and altar,
bow down and hear our cry,
our earthly rulers falter,
our people drift and die;
the walls of gold entomb us,
the swords of scorn divide,
take not thy thunder from us,
but take away our pride.
From all that terror teaches,
from lies of tongue and pen,
from all the easy speeches
that comfort cruel men,
from sale and profanation
of honor, and the sword,
from sleep and from damnation,
deliver us, good Lord!
Tie in a living tether
the prince and priest and thrall,
bind all our lives together,
smite us and save us all;
in ire and exultation
aflame with faith, and free,
lift up a living nation,
a single sword to thee.
Every one of those of us who profess to be the followers / disciples of Jesus Christ, of whatever ethnic identification, are by the very virtue of our calling to Him called into a political witness—even if we seek escape or passivity we are making a political witness. We are called to be salt and light in the polis, the communal setting where we are to be the Body of Christ. This is seldom uncomplicated, but it involves making those choices, taking those actions, discerning those platforms and policies and personalities involved, … and we measure them by the teachings of Jesus, the Biblical prophets, and Christ’s apostles. This frequently brings us into conflict with the dominant social ane political order, especially in controversial times. I commend Chesterton’s hymn to you that it may be as helpful to you as it has been to me. Lord have mercy upon us as a nation.
[If these Blogs have been provocative to you, recommend them to your friends.]
