Read Micah 3:5-4:5
We don’t agree on much in the current political environment, but almost everyone believes that the amount of money spent on campaigns has become excessive, even grotesque. Again this election year – even in the midst of a COVID-19 crisis and an economic recession – campaign spending will set new records.
For a few decades just before and after the turn of this century,our legislative leaders were on track to rein in campaign spending. The Bipartisan Campaign Finance Act of 2002, co-sponsored by Republican John McCain and Democrat Russ Feingold (the McCain-Feingold Act), restricted “soft money” contributions from corporations, unions and lobbying groups. But those restrictions were largely lifted by the Supreme Court’s landmark 5-4 decision in Citizens United vs. the Federal Election Commission (2010): The Court ruled that prohibiting corporations, unions and political action committees from funding political communication violated the freedom of speech clause of the First Amendment. The “Citizens United” decision unleashed the so-called Super PACs and “dark money” non-profits, which have since infused billions into political campaigns.
The late Justice John Paul Stevens authored the dissent in “Citizens United.” With his tongue planted firmly in cheek, Stevens wrote, “While American democracy is imperfect, few outside the majority of this Court would have thought its flaws included a dearth of corporate money in politics.”
Follow the money to Micah 3:11, which records this indictment of Israel’s leaders:
“You rulers make decisions based on bribes;
you priests teach God’s laws only for a price;
you prophets won’t prophesy unless you are paid.”[NLT]
The Spirit-filled prophet observes that money corrupts pervasively, impacting every kind of leader – prophets, priests and kings.
What do you think? Should followers of the incorruptible Prophet, Priest and King – Jesus – campaign for campaign finance reform? Should we who are the salt of the earth seek to bring healing to a money-spoilt election process? Should Children of Light help expose the influence of “dark money” on our political system?
Well, somebody’s got to do it.
– Pastor Dave
