What Would Jesus Say About The Partial Government Shutdown?

A rapid response to the question posed is:  'who knows?'  

Jesus certainly has more important things to deal with, than the pettiness of politicians.

But in actuality -- Jesus majored in rescuing us from pettiness -- and every other form of egocentric -- self-centered -- self-promoting -- self-saving -- sin.

For the real issue before us is not the partial government shutdown -- but the shutdown of any Godly sense -- that fails to prioritize the common good -- above every other agenda.

The concept of the common good is attributed to a rich philosophical tradition https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/common-good/ -- but in actuality -- it is rooted in scripture, best expressed in the words of the apostle Paul in Romans 12, through The Passion Translation:

"...Let the inner movement of your heart always be to love one another...Despise evil…Try to outdo yourselves in respect and honor of one another…Speak blessing, not cursing…Live happily together in a spirit of harmony, and be as mindful of another’s worth as you are your own. Don’t live with a lofty mind-set, thinking you are too important to serve others…Don’t be smug or even think for a moment that you know it all. Never hold a grudge or try to get even, but plan your life around the noblest way to benefit others...Don’t be obsessed with taking revenge, but leave that to God’s righteous justice..." (Romans 12:9-19, The Passion Translation).

Though overlooked -- scriptures like Romans 12:9ff offer a way out of any shutdown, including the current government shutdown.  Consider a few of its recommendations:

•  Try to outdo yourselves in respect and honor of one another (Romans 12:10)
•  Speak blessing, not cursing (Romans 12:14)
•  Live in harmony, mindful of another's worth  (Romans 12:16)
•  Don't be smug, thinking you know it all (Romans 12:16)
•  Never hold a grudge or try to get even  (Romans 12:17)
•  Plan your life around the noblest way to benefit others (Romans 12:17)

A unifying theme in these texts is forbearance.

The inference is we need to 'give and take' with each other, being willing to negotiate with each other, in a spirit of mutual regard and mutual respect. 

The Apostle Paul offers direct counsel in this regard: "...Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love..."  (Ephesians 4:2, emphasis added).

Bearing with one another -- 'giving and taking' with each other -- expressing a willingness to negotiate with each other -- means naming a common goal, for the common good, and then flexing, as one works to achieve that goal. 

Clearly, there is little, or no flexing as the current shutdown grinds on, injuring more and more people, -- not only individually, but corporately, as the U.S. economy is significantly threatened.  The New York Times provides an update:  

“…The partial government shutdown is inflicting far greater damage on the United States economy than previously estimated...as President Trump’s economists doubled [this week] projections of how much economic growth is being lost each week…The impasse has left 800,000 federal employees furloughed or working without pay…Some economists have begun to warn…that economic confidence could be undermined as businesses, consumers and investors lose faith in the ability of political leaders to find agreement…That lack of confidence could snowball into a self-inflicted economic contraction on the heels of what appears to have been the nation’s strongest year of growth since the 2008 financial crisis…” https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/15/us/politics/government-shutdown-economy.html

And so what would Jesus say about this injurious predicament?  

Jesus-Speak #1 - Recognize: Pride And Ego Are The 'Root' Of The Problem

At the core of any shutdown, is willful self-protection that prioritizes self -- rather than -- larger, group needs.   In other words -- we 'dig in our heels' emotionally, psychologically and spiritually -- becoming recalcitrant, belligerent, and stubborn -- in the worst possible way.  

Jesus has a simple (not simplistic) remedy: 'swallow' your pride. 

“Beware of the scribes who like to walk around in long robes, and like respectful greetings in the market places, and chief seats in the synagogues, and places of honor at banquets -- who devour widows’ houses, and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers; these will receive greater condemnation.” Mark 12:38-40 -- “Woe to you! For you are like concealed tombs, and the people who walk over them are unaware of it.” - Luke 11:43-44  (emphasis added)

“The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” - Matt 23:2-12 (emphasis added).

Servants don't do shut-downs.  

Rather, servants do peace-building -- jettisoning pride and ego -- for --   a common goal, of the common good -- for all.

Jesus-Speak #2 --  Visualize Innocent People, Victimized...Suffering.

According to most reports, few of the politicians involved in the partial federal shut-down are forgoing their salaries and benefits, (that are still in place, in spite of the current congressional impasse.) https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2019/01/16/members-congress-paid-shutdown-curious-texas-finds    Yet,  800,000 federal employees are furloughed, or working, without pay.   The result has varied, but a growing number of those without paychecks/benefits are ending up at food banks.  As CBS recently reported:

"...More than three weeks into the longest government shutdown in history, an influx of impacted federal employees and contractors have sought assistance from food banks around the country as they struggle to make ends meet without their paychecks. “We’ve been hearing from a lot of food banks that this is increasing by the day,” says Robert Campbell, policy director at Feeding America...“Hunger is a symptom of a lack of resources, and that includes, of course, people’s livelihoods and income from their jobs.” http://time.com/money/5502485/government-shutdown-workers-food-banks/ 

Jesus would prioritize such folk, hungry folk.  For Jesus always prioritized marginalized, forgotten folk.  The famed parable of the great banquet suggests this:   

"...He said...to the one who had invited him, ‘When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors...But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed...’  (Luke 14:12-14).

Not only is the U.S. economy being hurt by the partial government shut-down -- 800,000 specific, individualized, precious persons -- and their families -- are being hurt by the partial government shut-down.  

And that's enough reason -- Jesus would stress -- in and of itself -- to end the shut-down -- now! 

   

Jesus-Speak #3 --   Activate -- Now -- Another Way of Governing 

Jesus was fully aware of the governance system of both the Jews and the Romans.  For the Jews it was governance based on legalism (e.g. The Law) -- and for the Romans, it was governance based on Pax Romana -- but peace at any cost, including bloody submission and violence.  

But Jesus advanced a new politics, a new Kingdom, beyond legalism and Pax Romana: the Kingdom and Reign of God.  And that reign was another way of politicking and governing.  Jesus made that clear to Roman-politician, Pilate.

“…Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”  “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me? “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?” Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place...”  (John 18:33-36, emphasis added).

I've named some marks of that 'Kingdom from another place':  naming a common goal, for the common good -- flexing -- not being smug -- not holding a grudge -- being mindful of another's worth -- servanthood -- prioritizing the hungry.   

But additional detail can be added -- and this week it came from a most unlikely place:  from a 'secular' politician.   

Mindful he was only 30 miles from the partial government shut-down, Larry Hogan was determined to set a different tone, as he was inaugurated for his second term as Governor of Maryland.  Listen. 

"...Four years ago, I committed to usher in a new era of bipartisan cooperation and prosperity…I believe…we kept that promise to put -- problem-solving ahead of partisanship -- and -- compromise ahead of conflict…We debated, discussed, and reasoned together honestly and productively -- with integrity and sincere purpose. We argued without acrimony -- negotiated without hidden agendas -- and compromised without political posturing. We didn’t demand Republican solutions or Democratic solutions -- we sought out bipartisan, commonsense solutions that worked for the people…We didn’t surrender our principles; we simply practiced the art of the possible…Do the right thing and the politics will work itself out — that was our plan..."  (emphasis added) https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-hogan-inaugural-address-speech-20190116-story.html

Larry Hogan is not Jesus.  No politician is Jesus.  Please hear me.  But Hogan touched on Jesus-themes:

• Problem-solving ahead of partisanship
• Compromise ahead of conflict, 
• Arguing without acrimony
• Negotiation without hidden agendas
• First:  do the right thing.

Paul summarizes such principles, as he speaks to the Christian flock in Philippi.

“…Live together in harmony...as though you had only one mind and one spirit between you. Never act from motives of rivalry or personal vanity, but in humility think more of each other than you do of yourselves. None of you should think only of his own affairs, but should learn to see things from other people’s point of view…”  (Philippians 2:3-4, emphasis added) 

Not a pale way to either live or govern...

...Another way to live and govern -- that if adopted -- will end any shutdown -- including the one currently in Washington -- injuring over 800,000+ lives.