Guest Editorial: Pathway to peace for a polarized political process

I am an apolitical person when it comes to preaching or writing columns. My call is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. That said, I pray you will look for the gospel in these words.

This column is a tribute to Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. It also is a tribute to his relationship with Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Perhaps the title of this column should be, “Can anything bring us together?” or “Candidates running for office, you have it all wrong.” The key is not who is the most conservative, but who can respect differences even when they do not agree on anything. The relationship between Justice Scalia and Justice Ginsburg might provide a pathway to peace for our polarized political process.

Can you imagine any two people so different than justices Scalia and Ginsburg from how they voted on everything from Obamacare to gay marriage? Scalia was a bombastic Reagan appointee and the reserved Ginsburg the Clinton choice. They had such divergent views on the role of the court. Yet Irin Carmon writes in The Washington Post: “They were the court’s most famous odd couple of friendship. … They stood as an example of warmth and professionalism across traditional divides.”

What has happened to us?

Carmon comments about what their relationship can teach us about civility in this sick culture of criticism: “Their friendship made a statement about the court as an institution: that was strengthened by respectful debate, it could work, no matter how polarized its members were.”

Again, what has happened to us?

In an article, James Joyner said of Scalia, “His best buddy on the court is and has always been Ruth Bader Ginsburg, even though they disagree on everything.” Yet they always got together on New Year’s Eve, where Scalia brought the meat he had killed from one of his hunts, and Ginsburg’s husband, Marty, cooked it. When Chief Justice Roberts informed the court that Ginsburg’s husband, Marty, had died, Scalia wiped tears from his eyes.

What has happened to our compassion for each other that goes beyond political positions and anger?

Listen to Justice Scalia describe differences on the court: “If you can’t disagree ardently with your colleagues about some issues of law, and yet personally be friends, then get another job, for Pete’s sake.” The issue goes beyond the Supreme Court to our country, political campaigns, the Congress, our communities, the city councils or our churches when it comes to discussing or disagreeing over controversial issues. It is time to stop demonizing each other, posturing, dividing us into groups, or using fear as a political ploy.

According to Joyner’s article: “Scalia emphasized the court is not a political institution, and not a single one of his colleagues considers politics when making decisions in the court.” The church is not an earthly political institution either, and never has been.

The Apostle Paul never tried to lobby the Roman Senate or cozy up to Caesar. He just preached a gospel of inclusion and building bridges to the Gentiles and outsiders, which eventually dismantled the Roman Empire. Jesus was never big into labels of being liberal or conservative. He said we would be known by the way we love each other and work with each other. Our Lord called us not to be conservative, but to be crucified and pick up his cross of sacrifice—and that is the gospel.

The real tribute to Justice Scalia was his funeral. Even though I am not familiar with all the Roman Catholic funeral liturgy, I was deeply moved by the service. It was more than his son, who is a priest, officiating. I thought Judge Scalia was a person of genuine faith. What struck me was that his casket during the service was covered in the tapestry and cloth of the church. It was not until the casket was outside the church that it was draped with the American flag, which is obviously deserving of a Supreme Court justice and servant of our great country. Yet in the church, the casket was covered with the cloth of the church.

The church is God’s plan for changing the world and not some politician’s platform or promises.

It reminded me we are citizens of both God’s kingdom and this world. We first and foremost are citizens of the kingdom of God. Our first allegiance is to God’s kingdom as we pray, “Thy kingdom come… .” As William Willimon said in his lectures at Hardin-Simmons University, “We are resident aliens.” We belong to “Another” whose goals of love, mercy and justice go beyond any earthly rule, borders or nation.

This Sunday, as we are invited to bring shoes for orphan souls, we bring our gifts as citizens of the kingdom. These shoes will go to children on the Texas border to help them walk to school, get an education and move beyond poverty—kingdom business. These shoes remind us of our greater citizenship and calling: We have been called to build bridges and not walls. The followers of Jesus never have been big about protecting borders. After all, Jesus crossed the biggest border and invited us as outsiders and Gentiles to come in. And that is the gospel!

Let’s live by hope and not fear.

Phil Christopher is pastor of First Baptist Church in Abilene.