The Real Battle in Madison

Wisconsin is in a state of turmoil.

And everyone has an opinion.

As I've watched countless friends and acquaintances chime into the state's budget discussion on Facebook or through other mediums, I've developed a bit of an opinion, as well. And, since I hadn't blogged in a while (and it's a longer opinion), I thought I'd share it here.

My understanding is that these are some of the facts:

We are in a budget deficit. Wisconsin, constitutionally, is not allowed to carry a budget deficit. It ranges in the $140 million range (honestly, this should preclude me from talking about it. I have a hard time dealing with $15, much less $140 mil). Part of the reason we have that deficit is $200 million in tax cuts pushed through by the Republican party last year. But, next year we will again face a budget shortfall - much greater. The majority of these shortfalls are due to a loss of jobs, and fallout from the global recession.

This bill proposes that state workers carry a greater percentage of the cost of their retirement and healthcare benefits, as well as removing most of the collective bargaining rights their unions have. As I understand it, the loss of rights is much more troubling to those opposed to the bill than the pay-ins are.

Tens of thousands of people are protesting in Madison as well as around the state. Teachers are not coming into work in order to protest, and many schools (as well as the ones here in Merrill) are closed.

There. I understand my facts are limited. And if they are askew, please correct me.

My thoughts start in Luke 13, in an instance where Jesus was asked a remarkably pointed and controversial political question. The Roman government had murdered some local men, and the people were incensed. So, some of the local politicians mentioned the event to Jesus - probably to gain credence and traction in their political agenda. He responded with this parable:

“A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’"

... ... you can almost hear the crickets chirping.

Honestly, the answer seems remarkably unhelpful and... lame. Detached.

What did he mean?

When Jesus looked at the political landscape of the day (as he would look at the political landscape of today), and saw real issues. But ultimately, he saw a far greater crisis.

We are that tree - intentioned to bear fruit, but bearing none. And in the midst of a political squabble, Jesus responded by saying, emphatically - "Your efforts to produce fruit are going to lead to greater ruin that you can imagine."

This can mean two things, depending on whether or not you have accepted the truth claims of Jesus.

If you are not a Christ-follower, the reality of the political battle in Madison is important, imminent, pressing and consuming. But it is not a crisis. Please don't misunderstand me: yes, many lives will be dramatically and powerfully changed. Many of those affected are parents of students I minister to, or congregants at my church - or my own immediate family.

But it is not a crisis.

The true crisis is that your soul remains alienated from God - from the creator and sustainer of all our rights. The true crisis is that there is coming a day of justice to the world; this justice is not merely social, nor merely ethical - it's eternal.

The issues in Madison are great - but the crisis of your soul is greater. And the gains you stand to win in Madison are great - but the gains through Jesus Christ are greater by far. The concern is that workers will be stripped of rights; the reality is that apart from God's grace, you have been stripped of rights - of freedom, of hope and of life as it is meant to be lived: in communion with a holy and righteous God.

A blog post cannot change your heart (and I would be a fool to think it would), but it can encourage you to give me a call or shoot me an email or send me a letter and chat.

And to the Christians: Remember that our greatest battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers and the authorities of this dark world, and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. And make no mistake: Satan sees this political battle as an opportunity to leverage his lies and deceit.

Please, engage this topic. Please, stand for righteousness and justice; these are close to God's heart. But please, also remember that our ultimate fight is not one to win collective bargaining rights or to reduce wage garnishments. These are things that are passing away.

No, our ultimate battle is the battle for souls. And our ultimate victory is not a balanced budget, but is found in Christ's defeat of death. And our ultimate source of hope and pride is never in political agenda, but in the loving God who entered into the brokenness of this world for our eternal peace.

Proclaim the gospel - for only the gospel has the power to save.