Golden Rule Politics

The second greatest commandment, “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39) includes the Golden Rule, “Do for others what you would have others do for you” (Matthew 7:12). Politics may seem like the most unlikely context for this life ethic. But this is not necessarily the case.

Rather, imagine approaching politics asking, “How can I seek the good for others as for myself?” We can love our neighbors through the pursuit of public policies and a political community that discerns (imperfectly) how to seek the good of all.

One important way to do this is speaking truthfully about others, especially about those “on the other team.” We can pursue good without practicing “anything goes.” We can tell the truth about ourselves and others while making clear the reasons for our political aims.

Imagine if speaking truth was the first thing said of Christians when it comes to politics. Our public reputation could be that we are “good news people” who love all neighbors and tell the truth with clarity, skill and generosity. This posture and practice would demonstrate trust in God rather than political strategies, revealing we care more about what God desires from us than our tally of political wins.

As we engage in politics, we must guard against its various temptations. One is the loss of perspective, where we can fall prey to thinking current political challenges are so grave that it seems like “all will be lost.” There are times when concerns make us churn on the inside, but people who celebrate Christ’s resurrection should continually remember that no crisis is too difficult for God. Great concerns can be framed by the greatest hope.

The temptation of power and influence is not unique to politics, but there is a distinct allure of proximity to “movers and shakers.” Power itself is not problematic but can be easily misused. A further problem is the illusion that power can give us control over the direction of history; we can build the society of our dreams. Succumbing to this reveals amnesia about the truth that God alone controls history.

When facing these temptations and others, we can protect our souls by pausing and remembering the roots for our faith and practice. Guard yourself against whatever temptations politics brings to you, but engage in politics for?the sake of your neighbor. The Golden Rule demands it.

Vincent Bacote is professor of theology and director of? the Center for Applied Christian Ethics at Wheaton College. He is the author of “Reckoning with Race and Performing the Good News” and “The Political Disciple: A Theology of Public Life.” Bacote is a regular columnist for Comment Magazine and contributes to other magazines, including Books and Culture, Christianity Today, Think Christian and re:generation quarterly, and journals such as Christian Scholars Review, Urban Mission and the Journal for Christian Theological Research.?He is a member of the Evangelical Theological Society and the Society of Christian Ethics.?He received his Ph.D. in theological and religious studies from Drew University and an M.Div. from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.