While the lockdown days of 2020 are behind us, this desire to build up and enliven the life of faith has remained a constant feature of the magazine.
So much is true of this reissue special. Each piece is marked by the concern to live with care, responsiveness, and responsibility in the contexts where God places us. In different ways, each invites us to be more truly alive to God and alive to others, for the common good. And it’s a rich reissue: if Common Ground is always a busy and glad kitchen, in this edition we’re throwing the doors of the pantry wide to bring out some of our best provisions.
Our lead article this month is Venn CEO Nathan McLellan’s timely piece “How to Vote Responsibly”. This is, quite simply, thoughtful and practical advice ahead of the upcoming election. Nathan pushes past party political concerns to consider the ways in which we can—and ought to—exercise the responsibility of democratic participation with faithful realism. He is both frank about the challenges of the mixed political landscape for Christian voters, and resolute about the call to seek the common good through prayerful participation.
We’re delighted also to feature Luke Fenwick’s article “What Really Matters: Politics and the Martyrs’ Witness”. Talk of martyrs might seem somewhat removed from the politics of Aotearoa, New Zealand. In fact it is the witness of Christian martyrs, argues Luke, that points us to what really matters, setting politics and contemporary political language in the clarifying light of Christ.
To these longer articles we’ve added some excellent complements: Sonya Lewthwaite advocates reading generously; Katrina Belcher takes us into the practice of the Daily Examen; and Saskia Rook depicts our digitally mediated relationships in her original artwork “Wifi Hug”. Oh, and because some things are too good not to publish all over again, we give you a standout instance of our Field Notes interviews: Jannah Dennison in conversation with the gracious, courageous, and wonderfully honest Alistair Reese.
As you journey into the weeks ahead—with all the electioneering and everyday challenges these will hold—may these good provisions help to sustain you.
Ngā mihi nui,
Dr John Dennison,
Editor, Common Ground
