I will make a confession – I am uneasy with some forms of public displays of religion. I have no problem collaring up and speaking about moral issues at a public event, but I am uncomfortable praying at dinner out loud in a restaurant. I like that our church gives two LGBTQ scholarships to Reading High School students, but I am not willing to pray a Christian prayer at their graduation. I will point fingers at political ideas that are restrictive and moralistic against a certain few but will not name a politician or party in anything that is church related. I do all of this using Jesus as my guide. Jesus’s message was often political/moral, but it wasn’t partisan.
When Jesus stood before His judge – Pontius Pilate – there was a long, drawn-out conversation about whether or not Jesus was the King of the Jews. Towards the end, Jesus says, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to a few of the Jewish leaders. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” (John 18:34). Jesus wasn’t on earth to turn Rome into Heaven; I think He was here to renew His people’s faith and bring about the Kingdom of God, which would require a total shift in the way the world ran. Jesus didn’t want His followers to create a Jewish world – I think His vision was far beyond that. Of course, nobody actually knows what He was really trying to do. That may be answered in the sweet by and by.
In the same way, I don’t think that Jesus wants us to turn any country into a Christian nation. This may be partly because we have no idea what that would look like. I have a feeling that a Jesus-envisioned world would be far different from the kinds of foolish attempts at Utopia we’ve tried in the past. Human greed and lust for power perverts every attempt we make when we try to mix religion with political systems. Recent attempts in Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Florida (among others) show just how misguided this kind of project is. When religion and politics get into bed with each other, only monsters are produced. Architects of these kinds of hells will use any means necessary – even elect immoral and greedy leaders – to get what they want. God has nothing to do with it.
I’m far more partial to putting rainbow banners on our building and speaking publicly for good causes. I think that when we try to manipulate political leaders, we miss the mark. I would much rather speak the truth with love – set up a table at Pride – support teachers and students in our local schools – than legislate my sense of morality that would force everyone to think and live as I do. That would mean that I think I am and always will be, right. I am not perfect. Neither is anyone else. Only God. Live your faith for the good of the community at large, not for your moralistic view to be dominant. That is truly living our faith in a public and positive way.
Prayer – Holy God, forgive our attempts to control others with our immature, incomplete understandings of the Holy. Guide our lives so that we produce good fruits, not rotten laws. Amen. Today’s art is about evangelical abuse by Eva Redamonti.