Politics #4: A Scary Divide! (Joe Noland)

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n America there is a divisive, unhealthy divide, politically, within the Christian community. In fact, the church tends to align itself with a particular political party based upon its orthodoxy, liberal or conservative, TSA included. And that’s not only dangerous; it’s downright scary!

For example, there is a church in the Deep South with a sign on its front lawn: “No homo mayor.” Or one in the Northeast who lost its tax exemption for taking out an advertisement in major newspapers during an election claiming that the presidential candidate was a “sinner” and that people who voted for “sinners” were “sinners” too. The illustrations go on and on, really scary!

The quintessential example of a Christian leader for whom there is no political divide is the Reverend (Dr.) Billy Graham, one of my heroes. He has been the spiritual mentor for every U.S. President since Harry Truman, political leanings, whatever they are, so unimportant in the grand scheme of things.

In the news recently, President Barack Obama met with Billy for spiritual counseling and prayer. Google the response to this meeting and you will be astounded by the results. It was a hot topic for discussion on my Facebook page, one of my professing Christian brethren commenting, “Will the praying do any good, after all, he’s a Muslim?”  And another saying, “What’s he doing meeting with Graham, he (Obama) isn’t even an American citizen!” This said in the context of praying for our leaders, even if we don’t agree with them politically. In other words, “I don’t have to pray for him, because technically and constitutionally, he is not my leader.” And these are supposedly Christian Brethren weighing in, some of them Salvationists. Scary!

Think about it historically, when a church with a particular orthodoxy (persuasion) assumes control over a nation. It never works, thus the founders of this nation wisely insisted on the separation of church and state, constitutionally. Ah, but certain religious persuasions in this country would have it otherwise, some of my Salvationist brethren included. Beyond scary!

When we allow the government to step into the pulpits of America, or anywhere for that matter, the free exercise of religion is endangered, and the government plays the role of a religious monitor. As the Supreme Court stated in 1943, “If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in … religion.”

I wonder whom God has chosen to follow in the footsteps of Billy Graham; a role model to help us monitor the balance? Whoever it is, you can rest assured he/she will not be influenced politically. Peter learned this lesson, unmistakably, during his God encounter, Acts 10: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality (Vs 34 NKJ).

It’s a lesson that many of us in the Christian community have forgotten, and that’s what’s really scary! 

 

Writer: Commissioner Joe Noland’s ministry can be summed up in three words: chaos, creativity and controversy - three elements implicit in any successful innovative endeavor. Cecil B. DeMille, renowned producer of Biblical epics, once wrote, “Creativity is a drug I cannot live without.” Joe’s mantra reads, “Creativity is my drug of choice.”  Access Joe Noland’s complete bio, among other things, by clicking into his website.

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