Troubling Paradigm

There is a troubling paradigm developing in our country that sees spiritual statements as political and understands only certain political positions as acceptable in Christian settings. At a recent meeting comments supported by many studies about the manner of passing on one's religious point of view were challenged as being political statements. I have seen the same occurrence in society. Certain groups can throw their political aspirations into the religious context and that is acceptable, but if that other side does the same thing, woebetide the poor soul who is target for allowing such to happen!

Now, let's be clear, I don't think it is possible to separate one's faith from one's political persuasion - not really! - but I do think most of the major themes in our nation's current milieu are also major themes in Jesus' new vision of what the world could and should be. I believe that one cannot follow Jesus and avoid speaking of poverty and systems that abuse the poor, about hospitality and the treatment of "illegal aliens" - did they drop off of Mercury with a criminal record? - about personal integrity and the current state of our nation's leadership.

If, in the course of a sermon, I speak of the call of Jesus to reach out to and share our abundance with the poor, it is not a support of socialism, but an echoing of the call to be like Jesus in feeding the multitudes! If I speak against the discrimination leveled at a person based on race, religious background or sexual orientation, it isn't pie-in-the-sky, Pollyanna mush but a recognition that we are as apt to make arbitrary, hateful, emotionally charged distinctions that set people into disadvantaged, ostrachized settings as the people of Jesus' day when he met with drunks, prostitutes, social outcasts and hated enemies of the state!

It is time for us to STOP the artificial separation of our faith and our politics, as well as to desensitize ourselves from looking for reasons to tackle someone who voices a different opinion - after all, that only affords both parties a chance to discuss their differences and see if one or both might need to reconsider some of their positions -- heaven knows I've had to more than once! When the gospel is preached, it will pinch, squeeze and nail us for our imperfections, but that is not reason to see it as attack any more than our parents correcting the manner we tied our shoes was viewed as an attack.

May the Spirit of the Holy One abide in people of faith, and may people of faith live in that faith, not apart from its call! Peace!