Don't think of even going there! I believe that religion and politics should be kept as separate as they can be! I will go to my grave believiing that! And I have plenty of people who agree with me.
Kevin Glenn writes: As the church has increased its involvement in politics, its influence in culture has waned." Ross Douthat writes: Honor belongs to the people who resist partisanship's pull instead of rowing with it." Christ said, "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's and unto God the things that are God's." Mark 12:17
This is not the case anymore. Evangelicals embrace candidates and parties on one-issue commitments. People are out there raising money like mad from evangelical groups and some of them getting rich or prison terms in the process. And sometimes violence is involved by its stirring. I saw a video of a pastor today, with less than 50 people in his Florida congregation, who has inflamed Muslims by live-streaming a derogatory 13 minute film of Mohammed the Prophet.
Why do I feel so strongly about this issue! I believe that the church and the political system of government, while they have some common issues, have different responsibilities in this world.. I believe that the church is better off when it can receive all of its members on the basis of what they believe about God, not what political leaders tell them that they should believe. The truth is that pastors have a responsibiliity to teach Christ and him Crucified and politicians have a responsibility to outline their governing plans about many issues to the people so that they can make a choice! In my mind, seldom should the twain meet!
And I say that as a pastor's child and a seminary graduate, myself! Each of us has a responsibility to ourselves and to God to decide what is Caesar's and what is God's! And so does each pewsitter in every church!
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