My neighbor or.....


Todays thought was brought about by a reader. Thank you all for reading and helping with content on this page. Please understand that as always this opinion, like all others, is mine and is not the opinion of any Grand Jurisdiction or the Masonic bodies there in, nor any other Mason. 

On this page I do my best to avoid political discussions. Not that I can not but it is just a bad idea. Like discussing politics in Lodge very bad idea. So much so that in Andersons Constructions. It is covered.

“Therefore no private piques or quarrels must be brought within the door of the Lodge, far less any quarrels about religion, or nations, or state policy, we being only, as Masons, of the catholic religion above mentioned; we are also of all nations, tongues kindreds and languages, and are resolved against all politics, as what never yet conduced to the welfare of the Lodge, nor ever will. This Charge has been always strictly enjoined and observed; but especially ever since the Reformation in Britain, or the dissent and secession of these nations for the communion of Rome.

That being said no topic seems to bring about private piques and quarrels more than politics. Forget private, we seem to get on the internet and make our thoughts known, even to the point of Brothers attacking Brothers.

The majority of us have fallen victim to political discussions, me included.

I hate politics, I really do, to the point I am not a fan of many politicians. The one exception I can think of is a House Rep from Texas.  Since I live in Kansas I can just listen to him and nod.

We make politics personal. I mean it is to a point.  But the issue happens when we forget what it is and make it what it is not.  We make it a way to attack another human being, not just a Brother, but a fellow human being. We forget that it should be an exchange of ideas and the only thing we should attack is that idea.  Maybe attack is the wrong way to look at it but take an idea and make it better.  But we are to short sided.

Are Masons political people, oh for the love of all that is Holy we sure are. We come from both sides of the political spectrum and the middle too. That’s ok we all have our views.

But I believe our views should be tempered with a bit of sacred oil.

That Texas House Rep who is also a student in a Texas Seminary.  Made the comment that one of the theologians he admired made the comment “If my religion ever asks me to choose between my faith and my neighbor.  I will always choose my neighbor.”

So I will say the same thing with a minor change.  If my politics ever ask me to choose between my government or my neighbor. I choose my neighbor.

I love you and may we govern ourselves accordingly


 

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