January 15, 2001
EDITORIAL:
Test 'political philosophy' of Jesus
___Now comes the really hard part.
___This week, George W. Bush will place his left hand on a Bible, raise his right hand and repeat an oath that will make him the 42nd president of the United States. That moment will culminate two years of diligent effort. But it will mark only the beginning of his presidential journey. The energy required to achieve the office won't amount to a blade of grass in the National Mall compared to the energy, vision and courage required to succeed in office.
___The new president will inherit an America split down the middle. We can't forget the Battle of Florida, which raged for weeks following the election. The presidency teetered back and forth on the slimmest of margins, ultimately decided by one vote in the Supreme Court. Thanks to the electoral college and not the popular vote, Bush won the closest presidential election and the most acrimonious presidential transition in more than a century. That's a small wonder, considering the candidates often positioned themselves at almost the same point on the political spectrum but also appeared to regard the presidency as a birthright accorded the scion of a political family.
___Strange as it devolved, the presidential election was no fluke. It merely reflected the close political division of our nation. The Senate is divided evenly, with 50 Democrats and 50 Republicans. The House of Representatives is charted almost as closely, with 221 Republicans, 211 Democrats, two independents and one vacancy. Even the Supreme Court apparently sits on a 5-4 axis.
___So, President Bush has his work cut out for him. He enters the presidency with no clear mandate. About the same number of Americans wanted his opponent as wanted him. And he cannot rely on Congress to carry his water, because neither party can exert its will. When you count your blessings at night, you may want to thank God you don't have George W. Bush's job.
___This week, a single incident from the presidential campaign stands out. Asked to name his favorite political philosopher, Bush chose Jesus Christ. His opponents nailed him: "Ol' George sure is dumb. Jesus wasn't a politician." "There he goes again, pandering for the religious right's vote." "What a hypocrite--shamelessly using the name of Christ for political gain." His supporters countered that the answer reflected the George W. Bush who entrusted his life to Jesus after wealth, fame, family prestige and alcohol failed him.
___Now, the truth of Bush's statement-- both concerning whether he really meant it and whether the "political philosophy" of Jesus will work in a democracy-- can be put to the test.
___If Bush really believes the "political philosophy" of Jesus, then he will seek to implement the Lord's teachings: "Seek first the kingdom of God ..." "The first shall be last and the last first." "If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." "Whatever you did for one of the least of these, you did for me."
___Those aren't the maxims of political science. But they could be the blueprint for presidential greatness in an America deeply divided by politics. As Bush himself has said, he must be the president of all Americans. That means he must be the president of Democrats as well as Republicans, but it also means he must be the president of the poor as well as the rich, and the Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, pagans and New Agers as well as the Christians. Even as president, Bush cannot cram his religious beliefs down the throats of all Americans. But if he embodies the "suffering servant" persona Jesus demonstrated, perhaps he can lead a badly divided America to find common ground and a bright future in goodness, equality, sacrifice, service and, yes, compassion.
___This kind of leadership requires the rarest courage--the will to stand up to friends and allies. Some of the people who helped the president gain the office want him to implement their extreme agendas. If, however, he is to be the president for all Americans, he necessarily will rise above partisanship in order to invigorate the presidency and empower the people.
___In so doing, he can inspire the best instincts of Congress, leading lawmakers past partisanship toward mutual purpose.
___Pray for our nation's leaders. This request sounds almost cliche, but they will need prayer support to withstand the pressures of office. Also, don't wait until you want a bill passed to write to them. Send President Bush, your representative and senators letters of support, encouraging them to help unify our nation.
___ Marv Knox
E-mail the editor at marvknox@baptiststandard.com
Get printer-friendly version of this story
Send this story to a friend
Contents/ Masthead / Why We're Here / Links / Archive / E-mail us/ SUBSCRIBE!