Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Yale theologian-philosopher Miroslav Volf's Election Values

OK, one more value, foundation of them all:

Value #0

Value: The ultimate allegiance of a Christian is to Jesus Christ, the creative Word (become flesh), which enlightens everyone, and the redeeming Lamb of God, which bears the sin of the whole world. A Christian ought not embrace any practice, no matter how prudent it may seem from the standpoint of national security or national competitive advantage, which conflicts with allegiance to Christ.

Rationale: “Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:11)

Debate: For Christians, the debate should not be whether the allegiance to Christ trumps the allegiance to the nation. The debate should be what key values national life follow from their allegiance to Jesus Christ and what the proper relation is between universalist claims of Christ and particularist claims of the nation.

Question to Ask: To what extent is the candidate merely seeking to serve the “goddess nation” and to what extent is what he stands for compatible with the Christian conviction that Christ is the key to human flourishing?

Value No. 1: Freedom to Choose Way of Life

Value No. 2: Concern for the Poor

Value No. 3: Quality and Affordable Education

Value No. 4: Economic Growth

Value No. 5: Abolish Death Penalty

Value No. 6: Speak the Truth in Love

Value No. 7: Eradicate Global Poverty

Value No. 8: Live within our Means; No Reckless Borrowing

Value No. 9: Every Citizen Equal Access to have Say on Human Flourishing, Common Good

Value No. 10: Meaningful employment

Value No. 11: Special Care for the Elderly

Value No. 12: War is Never Justifiable

Value No. 13: No Nation is Exception to Justice

Value No. 14: We should Never Torture

Value No. 15: Unborn Human Life deserves Respect, Protection, Nurture  

Value No. 16:  Healthcare

Value No. 17: Care for Creation

Value 18:  Respect all Faiths

Value No. 19: On Offenders 

Value No. 20: Competence matters less than character

 



No comments: