I smiled as I read this. Among those who follow/read your words, John Pavlovitz, are people like me: Jewish and not a cleric. When I read this morning that the MAGA Party candidate warned people like me that we were doomed as was Israel (a separate topic please) if we didn't vote for him, I shook my head. He was talking to frum (religious) Jews in Vegas at the invitation of Miriam Adelson, widow of Sheldon, who has given DJT huge amounts of money and for that, received a medal from DJT who called it greater than the Congressional Medal of Honor. I digress. I posted his comments on FB saying that we were not doomed and we would not in droves because we believed in "welcoming the stranger." My vote and that of most of my family members [in every family there are a few...] will be for decency, honesty, compassion - Harris/Walz and down the ballot. Thank you for this.
Thank you for this information and perspective on what our obligations are and are not to the churches we worship in. God gave all of us free will and when I vote this November I will be using it to further freedom and choice.
Holy Cow! (as Harry Caray would exclaim). THIS article is just what I've been wresting with for the past weeks. I have the pleasure of editing my parish newsletter and as the election (of this century) approaches, I'm conflicted as how to approach encouraging loving and responsible voting choices. To be sure, I can't recall in my 78 years in this same congregation, any of the pastors preaching a certain political stance from the pulpit. Nor do I recall being pressured by the leadership of the congregation to vote any certain way. Oh, there were implicit actions in our denomination which suggested a certain political approach (women were not permitted to vote in the assembly, were never going to be pastors, could not hold a congregational or synodical post, etc) and women were, relegated to the most important denominational duty: preparing and serving the after-worship coffee!. And, then, somebodies came along, demanding a differing, more open and 'longer-tabled' approach to ministry and missions, and a new denomination formed to make these changes possible. In our parish we soon voted in a constitutional by-law change that restricted any political messaging from the pulpit, and we've done quite well not to do this. And here now is my conundrum: I want to underscore the God-given choices that each of us has inside the voting booth. We actually prohibit voter signage of any kind on our property and in our communications. On the other hand, the parish newsletter has become a vehicle for me to re-tell the congregation's story, to introduce new or existing missions opportunities, to share the Christian message of hope, new life and community with our readers. And, here's that voting booth: can I print an article similar to this one by John Pavlovitz? Do I dare emphasize one party's open-door and open-arms messages over the closed, gated mindset of the other? You bet your patoot I will, but I will do so that I won't name a party, won't declare one superior or inferior to another, will avoid massaging policy into the content of my newsletter article. Or---will I? (I love it, John, when you come right out, say what I'm thinking and want to say myself, and then perhaps show me some ways to do so. Thanks, John; thanks.)
I was raised Roman Catholic and it was different (swap Democratic for Republican) and off you go. And we were told the only way to vote that was consistent with our faith by the professional clergy which served to give us a convenient way to avoid responsibility for our choices.
But in the context of social justice voting is a religious obligation and I believe we will be held accountable for them. I don’t think “but my bishop said to” when Jesus asks me to justify my choices.
I, as an Irish Catholic Christian, was raised to vote Democrat. The party who has, in my lifetime, been fighting for the poor and the underprivileged. They have not always done a good job of it …but they keep trying. I am glad I don’t have to break from my traditions this year to vote for the Presidential candidate who is best for our country. I look forward to a time when we have a healthy two party system again, as I believe it is very helpful to have a bit of competition in the governing effort …but for now that is not the case. Thank you for your excellent essays.
And I will send this message to everyone who keeps saying they are praying for me. I don’t ask them to,I have never believed in God. And for some reason I am always asking Him/Her to help me???But I do absorb the knowledge there is about Jesus. I know that Jesus often visits and that his image and his legacy continue to heal. I believe that one tiny bit of a smile, or a solid “listen” to another, or a holding out a hand to help changes everything. Love and kindness beget love and kindness. It is that simple. Ask your cat!🐈⬛🐈🥰💕👏🏻🎶🙏🏻😇
I smiled as I read this. Among those who follow/read your words, John Pavlovitz, are people like me: Jewish and not a cleric. When I read this morning that the MAGA Party candidate warned people like me that we were doomed as was Israel (a separate topic please) if we didn't vote for him, I shook my head. He was talking to frum (religious) Jews in Vegas at the invitation of Miriam Adelson, widow of Sheldon, who has given DJT huge amounts of money and for that, received a medal from DJT who called it greater than the Congressional Medal of Honor. I digress. I posted his comments on FB saying that we were not doomed and we would not in droves because we believed in "welcoming the stranger." My vote and that of most of my family members [in every family there are a few...] will be for decency, honesty, compassion - Harris/Walz and down the ballot. Thank you for this.
Thank you for this information and perspective on what our obligations are and are not to the churches we worship in. God gave all of us free will and when I vote this November I will be using it to further freedom and choice.
Holy Cow! (as Harry Caray would exclaim). THIS article is just what I've been wresting with for the past weeks. I have the pleasure of editing my parish newsletter and as the election (of this century) approaches, I'm conflicted as how to approach encouraging loving and responsible voting choices. To be sure, I can't recall in my 78 years in this same congregation, any of the pastors preaching a certain political stance from the pulpit. Nor do I recall being pressured by the leadership of the congregation to vote any certain way. Oh, there were implicit actions in our denomination which suggested a certain political approach (women were not permitted to vote in the assembly, were never going to be pastors, could not hold a congregational or synodical post, etc) and women were, relegated to the most important denominational duty: preparing and serving the after-worship coffee!. And, then, somebodies came along, demanding a differing, more open and 'longer-tabled' approach to ministry and missions, and a new denomination formed to make these changes possible. In our parish we soon voted in a constitutional by-law change that restricted any political messaging from the pulpit, and we've done quite well not to do this. And here now is my conundrum: I want to underscore the God-given choices that each of us has inside the voting booth. We actually prohibit voter signage of any kind on our property and in our communications. On the other hand, the parish newsletter has become a vehicle for me to re-tell the congregation's story, to introduce new or existing missions opportunities, to share the Christian message of hope, new life and community with our readers. And, here's that voting booth: can I print an article similar to this one by John Pavlovitz? Do I dare emphasize one party's open-door and open-arms messages over the closed, gated mindset of the other? You bet your patoot I will, but I will do so that I won't name a party, won't declare one superior or inferior to another, will avoid massaging policy into the content of my newsletter article. Or---will I? (I love it, John, when you come right out, say what I'm thinking and want to say myself, and then perhaps show me some ways to do so. Thanks, John; thanks.)
Thank you, John!
I was raised Roman Catholic and it was different (swap Democratic for Republican) and off you go. And we were told the only way to vote that was consistent with our faith by the professional clergy which served to give us a convenient way to avoid responsibility for our choices.
But in the context of social justice voting is a religious obligation and I believe we will be held accountable for them. I don’t think “but my bishop said to” when Jesus asks me to justify my choices.
I, as an Irish Catholic Christian, was raised to vote Democrat. The party who has, in my lifetime, been fighting for the poor and the underprivileged. They have not always done a good job of it …but they keep trying. I am glad I don’t have to break from my traditions this year to vote for the Presidential candidate who is best for our country. I look forward to a time when we have a healthy two party system again, as I believe it is very helpful to have a bit of competition in the governing effort …but for now that is not the case. Thank you for your excellent essays.
And I will send this message to everyone who keeps saying they are praying for me. I don’t ask them to,I have never believed in God. And for some reason I am always asking Him/Her to help me???But I do absorb the knowledge there is about Jesus. I know that Jesus often visits and that his image and his legacy continue to heal. I believe that one tiny bit of a smile, or a solid “listen” to another, or a holding out a hand to help changes everything. Love and kindness beget love and kindness. It is that simple. Ask your cat!🐈⬛🐈🥰💕👏🏻🎶🙏🏻😇
What you bring to us with your words and insight are a true blessing for us all!
Thank you, friend!
Do I subscribe yet?!!