Conservative. Liberal. Something of a surprise revelation and an accompanying observation was made Sunday as a group of leaders gathered to discuss Tim Keller‘s, Generous Justice, at Snow Hill. Yes, I know. Yesterday I mentioned my friends reading Jacob Taubes and today I note a group where I pastor is reading Keller. So much for polarities, dualities, and binaries.

Keller, in chapter 4, remarks about the way conservatives and liberals have played their respective emphases as well as their dimunitions. He argues for a more complete, or whole, vision when it comes to the way we understand human matters he categorizes under the rubric of justice. A move I like except for the pejorative way “social” is often added to justice by conservatives as if in the Scriptures the call of YHWH for deference to the poor, stranger, and widow can somehow be construed as non-social. Reading Keller’s thoughts stirred some to re-think the way we flippantly toss about conservative and liberal as a means to pigeon-hole people. Words often constitute code language. Each group has their attendant vocabulary to distinguish “us” from “them.” A move which makes conversation’s first move one of winning and losing rather than understanding.

Politics and Religion – oil and water? I don’t think so. Just listen. No matter your particular politico-persuasion the end of the world seems to loom at sundown on National Election Day come this November. Pay no attention to the preachers. Listen to the politicians and pundits.

Since the Dems are not in “primary” mode via an incumbent President, we are left to look over the Republican landscape. My mentor, Dr. Rick Davis, weighs in with regularity on the shape of the events leading up to “selection day.” You may disagree with his analysis but he is a pastor familiar with Baptist politics. Surely in America this is as near a solid pedigree as any other qualification for political observations.

Analysis usually follows the language game that includes, “If [candidate] gets elected then [policies resulting in great cataclysm ensues].” Adjust the content of the brackets when current Republican wannabe’s target our current President. Every telling of the way it will be is couched in apocalyptic encryptions. And there you have it Politics and Religion do mix.

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