church and state
I went to Watertown for church today - I would have been there a few weeks ago but I got lost trying to get there the last time. Have I mentioned I get lost a lot around here? *sigh* Anyway I suppose my reason for writing was this... the pastor preached on 'reaping what you sow' and he was talking about how you cant grow peace by planting violence - he talked about how the world views our nation - about how one of the other world leaders comparred Bush to the devil over a week ago. He talked about how our mission is peace, but we go in with violence - how does that help anything?
Everything he said resonnated with me... but inside me somewhere I begged the question - how do you separate church and state and still take a stance on anything? I know thats something that our conference - heck our denomination - struggles with every day. United Methodits are known as 'fence sitters' for a reason. We are scared to take a stance. I'm as guilty as the rest... from a church stand point I dont know how to talk politically about anything... I do know how to talk morally but sometimes politics and morals are complete opposites. How... as a pastor do you tackle that without making people angry? I know Ben told me at one point that being a pastor is not about making everyone happy or comfortable all the time.... but how do you know when what you're saying is going to make it so that person who feels like you dont uphold their view... how do you know that person isn't going to leave and tell other 'sheep' not to come to the flock?
I think I need to take a class that discusses politically how the church can take a stance without medeling in that little part of the constitution, the bill of rights, where it says that there is to be a separation of church and state. That means that the state should not preach religion... but does that mean that the house of religion should not preach politics?
Thoughts on this would be great cause I'm open to your opinions on this one and maybe it can help me resolve mine.
Now I must be off to study for a Hebrew Bible quiz that I have on Tuesday. Yee haw!
Everything he said resonnated with me... but inside me somewhere I begged the question - how do you separate church and state and still take a stance on anything? I know thats something that our conference - heck our denomination - struggles with every day. United Methodits are known as 'fence sitters' for a reason. We are scared to take a stance. I'm as guilty as the rest... from a church stand point I dont know how to talk politically about anything... I do know how to talk morally but sometimes politics and morals are complete opposites. How... as a pastor do you tackle that without making people angry? I know Ben told me at one point that being a pastor is not about making everyone happy or comfortable all the time.... but how do you know when what you're saying is going to make it so that person who feels like you dont uphold their view... how do you know that person isn't going to leave and tell other 'sheep' not to come to the flock?
I think I need to take a class that discusses politically how the church can take a stance without medeling in that little part of the constitution, the bill of rights, where it says that there is to be a separation of church and state. That means that the state should not preach religion... but does that mean that the house of religion should not preach politics?
Thoughts on this would be great cause I'm open to your opinions on this one and maybe it can help me resolve mine.
Now I must be off to study for a Hebrew Bible quiz that I have on Tuesday. Yee haw!