why do the nations so furiously rage together

Why do the Nations so furiously rage together

Why do the nations so furiously rage together and why do the peoples imagine a vain thing?

At this point of the 21st century one might well repeat this question, which the psalmist (psalm 2) posed 2.5 thousand years ago. There is no reason to think the time we are living through is more awful than any other time, but because there are so many of us, resources have been overly exploited and the weapons of destruction we now possess are so terrible, the stupidity of humanity appears far more cataclysmic.

In response to contemporary, humanly constructed, acts of violence throughout the world, Pope Francis proposes a theology of love. “God is the first to love. God does not love because there is something in us that engenders love. God loves us because he himself is love, and, by its very nature, love tends to spread and give itself. God does not even condition his benevolence on our conversion. If anything, this is a consequence of God’s love”.

Most Church goers of my generation will readily recognise this article’s title words. They of course from George Frederick Handel’s Messiah. The biblical text for the Messiah was chosen and complied by Charles Jennings and accepted seemingly unedited by Handel. In my view, the work of Jennings is as much genius as Handel’s music. This piece comes in a short section which Jennings titled the “world’s rejection of the gospel”; appearing towards the end of the long second part, which has outlined in detail the redeeming work of God in Jesus.   It is then followed by a section Jennings calls “God’s ultimate victory”, which of course incudes the Hallelujah Chorus. The rejection of the gospel is not rejection of dogma but a rejection of love.

The palmist, who is the inspiration behind these words, lays the blame for the world’s madness at the feet of the world’s rulers: the Kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together. Mr Dutton, who presents as not just sympathetic to the gospel, but supportive of it, operates from the opposite play book, one of fear, obfuscation and denial of reform suggested by others.

Let us lay aside autocracies for one moment and focus on what is still held up to be the highest form of government – democracy.  

It is difficult not to conclude that democracy has become a failed project. Why?  Because the two-party system has morphed into a competition between parties where winning is not understood as creation of good policy, but in wresting power.   Some years ago, I found myself in the office of a senator, now in senior ranks of the coalition. We were discussing the Middle East and particularly the plight of Palestinians. She said she fully appreciated the suffering of Palestinians. I remarked how appreciative we would be of her speeches in the parliament in support of their human rights.  She informed me she would not be doing that. I asked why not?  She said it would not be in her political interest to do so. I than asked whether she would speak on any matter of conscience that was not within her political interest. She said no.

As a US citizen, why would you vote for either side at the November election, except to try and avoid a Trump ascendancy and its inevitable catastrophe. In Australia it is clear our best hope for thoughtful longsighted policy designed to serve an equitable, harmonious, and sustainable future is to vote in as many independents as possible.

Sadly, the most productive tool in a politician’s armoury is fear: however, fear engenders extreme positions, both in the politician and in their followers. Political victory is secured through stoking love’s opposite – fear. As individuals we are capable of profound love, but as a collective, fear is our default position.

If Trump wins the US election it will be because he has successfully employed fear and disinformation.  The same applies throughout Europe.  The expansion of right-wing governments threatens hope for sensible middle ground.  The extreme right governments in Israel and Hungary are courted by Australian conservative politicians. Conflict, not appeasement is their tool in trade. John Howard took us into an unpopular war in the Middle East followed by a disastrous war in Afghanistan.  Following the Vietnam war, these conflicts have achieved nothing noble and, in the process, have left thousands of combatants with PTSD.

Here in Australia, we must seriously question the alliances we seek to forge. Given US interference in the affairs of many countries and its propensity to turn to conflict in human relationships rather than seek appeasement, why are we deepening our ties? Why are we committing gigantic sums to secure two or perhaps three submarines, which may or may not arrive, or be in working order when they arrive, in another 15 years’ time?

The gospel narrative is a about divine order found in connectedness and relationships. There is only one house which we all share – the earth. The whole created order is intimately connected.  Not to seek and nourish that connectedness is to say no to life.

It is a very vain (as in foolish) thing to seek to be top dog. What is the purpose in being top dog? There is considerable purpose in finding one’s place in the company of all life.  Smotrich, the Israeli finance minister says the winner is the one who controls Jerusalem, including the Wailing Wall and the temple Mount. No Mr Smotrich, the winner is the one who refuses to sell his or her soul.

The State of Israel has sold its soul. What basis does it have for existence if its very existence depends on violence, the elimination and subjugation of others.

The State of Israel (not to be confused with Jewish people everywhere) has consciously developed a culture of fear, totally disabling the State from any conversation which might enable flourishing through coexistence.
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Pope Francis concluded his statement on the theology of love by saying: “A sapiential theology ⦋that is a theology founded in wisdom⦌ is thus a theology of love, because “whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.”