The Lord says, “Seek me and live” (Amos 5:4). How will you do that this week? What spiritual disciplines help you feel more alive in the Lord? (Serendipity Bible 10th Anniversary Edition, page 1271 – 2).
The
founding fathers got us out of a fine kettle of fish and in some ways
introduced us into a finer kettle of fish. By separating the state
from religion government officials cannot claim a special connection
to God as a source of their actions. Neither can the state quash
dissent based upon the demands of an established religion. This is
the fine kettle of fish the founding fathers extracted us from. Yet,
the most basic functions of any enduring society must attend to such
matters as justice within a context of mutual interdependence – in
other words, a type of extended family. That Christianity, for
example, also asserts these values is sometimes problematic and can
even be seen as conspiratorial. Other values of Christianity have
direct implications for public policy: compassion, due regard for the
outcast and deprived, equality, the sanctity of the individual, a
bias towards humility, simplicity, and the “spirit” rather than
simply “letter” of law – all these can impinge upon public
policy. I know of no clear path out of this dilemma except for the
operative convictions I share with many other Christians. I
adamantly object to Christian institutions becoming directly involved
in affairs of state. It would require a very rare, exceptional, and
egregious situation before I would take kindly to hearing my
Methodist minister telling me how I should vote on a matter. And this
would include even the Vietnam War which I adamantly opposed. In my
view the institution of the church is to propound principles of
Christ's spirit from the pulpit not detailed voting instructions. If
worship services became political rallies huge losses would ensue –
not the least of which would be the loss of the sanctity of
individual conscience and the sacred leading of the inner voice. In
such event, both church and state would have reason to grieve a
perhaps irreparable loss.
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