Lamed Vavnik Convention

Now that the political parties have finished their conventions, I would like to propose a different kind of nominating convention. In Jewish legends Lamed Vaviniks (hidden righteous ones) are  36 people of great humility, piety, righteousness, and compassion who keep the world (some of the legends focus on the Jewish diaspora) from falling into chaos at any given time. They don’t know who each other are and usually don’t know they are one either. When one dies, God appoints a replacement. Considering that you may be a Lamed Vivnik is an incentive for upright living, knowing that the welfare and maybe even the survival of the community or even the world depends on you. The forces of chaos, of course, are looking to remove or disqualify Lamed Vavniks. The concept comes from Genesis 18:26 in which Abraham appeals to God to spare Sodom if even ten righteous people can be found there. I am not an expert in Jewish mysticism or legends, so will not go into any further detail, but I think this gives you the idea.

When I did youth ministry, a Lamed Vavnik Nominating Convention was an exercise we used to prompt young people to consider the qualities of people they respected and to prompt them to aspire to for themselves. After explaining the Lamed Vavnik concept, each one was asked to think of someone they know personally they would nominate. Then they were each to give a brief nominating speech explaining why they considered this person as a candidate. After all the speeches, we had a discussion about why we respect certain people and how to cultivate such qualities in ourselves. 

I would venture to suggest that no Lamed Vavniks spoke at either political party's convention. The very public nature of politics is contrary to their essential hiddenness. And political dependence on self-promotion is contrary to their humility. Perhaps this year more than usual, the rhetoric of both parties warns that a victory for the other side bodes chaos for the nation and maybe the world. I know people in my circle of friends and family who are reading this believe that, some for one party and some for the other. My only observation is that whichever one you see as the threat, your party is not the protection against chaos. Neither party has the necessary virtues of Lamed Vavniks. 

That doesn’t mean that it doesn’t matter which party wins, or that I don’t care which party wins. The two parties are presenting sharply contrasting visions for the country. I am reminded of Goldwater’s ‘64 slogan that he used in a different way: “A choice not an echo.” My advice is to pay more attention to what each party and candidate presents as their vision than their critique of a caricature of their opponents. That doesn’t preclude vigorous debate and even criticism, but not with juvenile ridicule and name-calling. No matter which party wins, we must look elsewhere for protection from chaos. 

For years I have taught that when we make decisions based on fear, we almost always make the wrong decision. When 1 John 4:18 says, “perfect love casts out fear,” I believe it suggests that the opposite of fear is not courage but love, and the opposite of love is not hate but fear.  I’ll just let you ponder that for a bit. I believe Lamed Vavnik character affirms that love is more effective against chaos than fear.  I intend to decide how I will vote this year based on love rather than fear and urge you to do the same.

Regardless of how the election turns out, I encourage you to be alert for potential Lamed Vavniks whose hidden humility, piety, righteousness, and compassion keep the world from falling into chaos. Perhaps this is akin to how Fred Rogers’ mother told him to watch for the helpers in tragic, troubled times. Perhaps you could even write a brief nomination of someone and post it to encourage others, but I suggest not naming your nominee, after all Lamed Vavniks are the hidden righteous ones.

Vote by Mail

Some states have been voting by mail for over twenty years without incident, so the concept is not about covid-19 or the impending presidential election. Debilitating the United States Postal Service that so many American people and businesses depend on for everything from delivery of medications to paying bills strikes me as counter-productive if not disingenuous. My hope is for such an unprecedented, massive voter turnout that no speculations about voter suppression, voter fraud, or foreign interference could cast any doubt on the results, whatever they turn out to be.

Sexual History Politics

Apparently Kamala Harris has been criticized for her sexual history. I have not seen or read the accusation nor her response, if any. My comments here have nothing to do with her or her critics. However, I had had and expressed opinions on the sexual history of those who seek public office in the past, and this prompts me to clarify my own thinking. Whether I post it beyond my Writing Workshop blog remains to be seen, perhaps depending on how things unfold with Kamala Harris.

 Based on sexual history, in my personal opinion, neither Bill Clinton nor Donald Trump (and several others in this and other positions of public responsibility) should have been allowed anywhere near the White House (or any public trust). For me this is not a question of individual morality but a matter of trustworthiness of character, a track record of honoring sacred commitments (marriage vows, oaths of office).

 Having said that, I recognize and accept that we human beings have the capacity to grow and change, leaving behind errant paths of the past and embracing new and more wholesome journeys. While not necessarily expressed in specifically Christian language, this would be akin to what John the Baptist called “fruit worthy of repentance” (Matthew 3:8; Luke 3:8).

 That sort of transformation is rare in our culture that accepts and sometimes even celebrates sexual conquest as intrinsic to the expectations of men in positions of power. (Recent developments such as “Me Too” seem to be making some headway in challenging that sort of thinking.) That some women also exploit sexual power is as old as Potiphar’s wife in Genesis 39:6b-20, but it is suspect (and probably more rare) in our culture in which sexual power is such a male domain.

Deciding How to Vote

Psalm 72 is rooted in the monarchy of ancient Israel with clear messianic overtones. It is the most comprehensive prayer for the king in all of Scripture. It appeals to God for values that I believe we can pray will be manifest in all human governments. Of course, the ancient Israelites didn’t get to vote for their king, nor did Jesus or Paul get to vote for the Roman Emperor, yet, I believe Psalm 72 suggests content for the prayers for those in positions of authority as the apostles encouraged.

 

We who follow Jesus in the US do have the opportunity to not only pray for those in government but also to vote. I have expressed many times that in our properly pluralistic, secular culture I do not expect those in government to be my brand of Christian or even to identify themselves as Christians. Not only does the US Constitution forbid religious tests for holding public office, I am convinced the community of we who aspire to follow Jesus is stronger without legal and cultural crutches. I look for integrity, transparency, competence, and highly value trustworthiness in the pursuit of justice and peace, ethics and compassion.

 

In my pastoral career I never wanted to tell people what to think but how to think like Jesus from an overflow of internalized Scripture. One implication of that is that this far supersedes loyalty to a political party or identity with a political philosophy. This brings me back to Psalm 72 (from my monthly prayer journey through the Psalms for the past 50 years). I commend prayerful, contemplative reading of the entire Psalm, but I have excerpted the lines that are informing, and I believe determining, how I will vote in this election cycle, knowing any choice will be an approximation at best.

 

Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to a king’s son. May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice. May the mountains yield prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness. May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the needy, and crush the oppressor.

 

In his days may righteousness flourish and peace abound.

 

He delivers the needy when they call, the poor and those who have no helper. He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy. From oppression and violence he redeems their life; and precious is their blood in his sight.

 

May prayer be made for him continually, and blessings invoked for him all day long. May there be abundance of grain in the land; may it wave on the tops of the mountains; may its fruit be like Lebanon; and may people blossom in the cities like the grass of the field.

 

May all nations be blessed in him.