Congress may open with prayer, but it is not a religious body. Yet religion is something that moves so very many, inescapably impacting Congress. Perhaps our attempts to increase civility and boost the best in our democracy should not neglect the role of faith in our lives. Perhaps we can even have faith play a role in uniting us.
Philia, in the sense of “brotherly love,” is one of the loves that is part of the great Christian tradition. Should not this mean Christians should love our political opponents – enough to create a functioning democracy? Then there is Paul’s letter to the Philippians: “Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.” And Paul’s letter to the Galatians: “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” The flesh could be seen as a politics of ego, or holding grudges, or hating opponents, or lying, or even setting up straw men to knock down; serving one another in the context of a legislative body means working with each other to get to “yes” on how best to help others.
Getting to “yes” in today’s political environment in Congress has been difficult. Yet it has happened with bipartisan majorities passing legislation. Last session, with a slight margin for Democrats in the Senate and a slight majority for Republicans in the House, the numbers necessitating some coming together, an omnibus appropriations bill passed by a bipartisan majority kept the government open. A foreign aid bill passed by a bipartisan majority funded Ukraine in the war of naked aggression by Russia, Israel in its right to exist, Gaza's humanitarian aid, and Taiwan as it faces a China that believes it is part of China. The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act was extended by a bipartisan majority for two more years, making sure that the United States continues to have authority to monitor foreign terrorists, but also under continual oversight much greater than before FISA was enacted at all.
Is there a Christian position on any of this, yes or no? I would say a qualified “no.” I do not doubt the faith of anyone who comes to contrary positions that I believe in. Yet I do think there is room in today’s politics for more brotherly love, reasonableness as a virtue, and exercising our freedom such as to “serve one another.” Perhaps we can go beyond numbers as the only reason for bridging differences; perhaps a kind and still voice can play a role, too.
Throughout my career in public service, I have engaged with the Religious Right and the lesser-known Religious Left. Both are actually very strong in their own ways. What seems to be missing is a Religious Center. This center could be Center-Right or Center-Left. For me, what I want is a religious movement willing to try to get to “yes” on every issue – so long as the end position is reasonable. This does not mean capitulating to everything. Just that “no” is not the only position.
I think of the organization Bread for the World when I worked in the US House of Representatives during the George W. Bush administration. People of faith showed up in our office with a stack of letters and “asks” that both Republicans and Democrats could support. One was the funding of Millennium Challenge Accounts, a competitive program that awards funds to developing nations that govern justly, invest in people, and promote economic freedom. Another was the funding of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). President Bush had called for the creation of these programs, and Democrats agreed.
A religious coalition of the Center-Left and Center-Right on select issues could do tremendous good for our country. Imagine more respectful dialogue and good compromises. The religious coalition would not appeal solely to a party’s base. Only to love of all (Democrat or Republican), reasonableness for all (Republican or Democrat), or serving each other (Republican and Democrat). I can imagine what this looks like – and maybe you can too. I hope what we see is less a country torn apart and more a country of the best in leadership.
Scott Miller is a graduate of Widener School of Law, a former chief of staff in Congress, and the author of 'Christianity & Your Neighbor's Liberty.
