Endorsements

The closer we get to November 7th, the more contentious the rhetoric seems to get. The question is, do you believe that pastors should endorse a candidate from the pulpit? The IRS Tax Code is set up to deny pastors that right...but is it truly a "right"?

This is a most interesting survey...

Meanwhile, in many mainline churches, the curious thing this Oct. 7 will not be Pulpit Freedom Sunday, but World Communion Sunday. In these churches, the day’s worship will not be centered on one man (because it is almost always a man who enjoy freedom to speak in a pulpit in most churches) at the podium, but on the body of Christ around the world feasting at a communal table.

The difference in how this Sunday will be marked seems instructive, symbolic even. In one, the focus rests on the importance of freedom and of an individual speaking out, fist pounding with righteous fury about a fleeting moment in one country’s political history. In the other, the focus will be on men, women, children, rich, poor, gays, lesbians, Africans, Asians, Australians, Europeans, and Americans, coming to a shared table with thanksgiving and solidarity, palms outstretched receiving a piece of bread, a sip of wine, eternal life. 

Read the rest...

Human rights...

I try to stay out of the political arena when it comes to writing this blog. In my personal life I am active...my children have often teased me about my "letter writing" to politicians. It is good natured teasing...it is one of our rights as citizens and they have witnessed it, first hand.

Since when has it become a right "not to be offended"? Is this a written law that I have somehow missed? When one mentions free speech, many in our country stand a little straighter because they know they are allowed to speak their mind. That's the way it should be, isn't it? How can we grow without the free exchange of ideas? Even if those ideas step on my toes...it is still your right to speak them. If I don't like it then it's my right to respond and explain why I think you're wrong.

There is a lot of controversy in Australia these days about free speech...and you're welcome to research it if you'd like...But I think James Allan of "The Australian" says it pretty well...

The only valuable sort of freedom of speech is the sort that allows people to do or to say what others find wrong-headed, offensive, distasteful and intolerant.

Being free to say and do what everyone else wants you to say and do is not a liberty or freedom you will ever have to fight for; it will make little difference to anything . . .

I think any good, well-functioning democracy requires its citizens to man up and grow a thick skin. If you’re offended, tell us why the speaker is wrong. Don’t ask for a court-ordered apology and some two-bit declaration.

After all, even Pirates had rights...

New idols

An idol can be any thought, word or action that we place between ourselves and God. With the ancient Israelites in the desert, their idol had form, if no substance. One could reach and touch the golden calf, it was on view for all to see.

In today's world we still have our physical idols...money, cars, homes, jewelery. But there are just as many, perhaps more, that cannot be seen with the naked eye...power, prestige, the cult of celebrity and even politics. We have reached a point that any idea, law or topic boils down to "us vs them". We've left ourselves no place to meet in the middle. Everyone is viewed as either red state or blue state, conservative or liberal. You are labeled and hated simply for the choices you make and the way you choose to live your life. Hour upon hour is spent on television and radio trying to convince us that this side or that is the best. Page after page and website after website are dedicated to those we "support". Mere humans are placed on pedestals too high for mortal man to achieve. And woe be unto you if you should speak against "our person"!!

We have lost our ability to choose a leader without emotion or fervor. To rate their abilities on past accomplishments and current stances. We are made to feel that if we do not go "all out" for our person we are somehow attacking those who are. We are not allowed to see any weaknesses in them and are duty bound to hate the other side.

This is, without a doubt, another form of idolatry. ANYTHING that gets between us and God...and the politics of hate definitely blocks our access to Author and Finisher of our faith. When we choose to set one human above another, we are offering up another brick in the wall we build between ourselves and our Creator.

This Lenten season, we would do well to sacrifice our idols for the sake of our nation as well as our very souls.