September 27, 2006 7:30 PM
A Ministry of Reconciliation: Christianity and the Political Divide
In a polarized nation, with widening rifts between left and right, conservative and liberal, how do we find common ground? Former Republican Senator John C. Danforth challenges Christians to choose reconciliation instead of division.
In his new book Faith and Politics: How the “Moral Values” Debate Divides America and How to Move Forward Together, Danforth speaks out clearly against the takeover of the Republican Party by the Christian Right and urges all Christians to approach politics with humility. Rather than turn political agendas into religious crusades, he believes we must acknowledge the distance between our secular politics and God’s commandments. Speaking of the power of the Love Commandment, he says, “the politics of the state will always fall short of the demands of faith.”
A voice of reason and moderation, Danforth—priest and politician—openly shared how his own faith has influenced his political methods. In this stirring evening lecture, he invited those gathered to look to the Bible for guidance on how to practice our faith in daily life and the body politic, as he moved forward the ongoing national discussion about the meeting ground of faithful people and political issues, and faith that enriches, rather than distorts, our political choices.