Today marks the beginning of the New Life Providence's Video Cafe at 10 discussion forum. This blog is a place to discuss current issues that are relevant to our faith and culture. Some will be related to the sermon, while others will be the 'hot buttons' of our times.
With the historic nomination of Barak Obama - age 47 - and the recent selection of Sarah Palin - age 44 - as the vice presidential candidate with John McCain, there has never been a presidential election with such intense focus on the igeneration as 2008. This election is marked by both the first African American candidate as well as the first Republican woman VP hopeful. At the same time each party is struggling to shape its identity and define its relationship with religion and faith. Religion again plays a central role in the American voting conscience as illustrate by the recent forum at Rick Warren's Saddleback Church.
The question I want to pose is "What should the role of the church be in politics?" Most knows that God "raises up kings and and kingdoms and brings them down", but what does that mean in practical terms for the local church? How does God's sovereignty relate to man's obedience to vote or pray? We are encouraged by Paul to pray for those in authority, yet how are we supposed to pray? Many Christians hold a deep conviction about whom they should vote for, so if I feel convicted to pray for my candidate should I pray against the others? The questions could go on and on...
So tell me what you think?
Pastor Dan
Cafe' Artist of the Week
Kawanna Williams
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3 comments:
I think what ever you think Pastor Dan..LOL
YOUR ALWAYS RIGHT!so when you make your stance, be sure to fill me in. ...lol hehe
Blessings 2 U Gods girl
What is the church? The church, the body of Christ in the earth, is people rather than an institution. And we the people of the church here in America are (most of us anyway) also American citizens. And American citizens have a voice (by voting, speaking out, running for office, etc). And I don't think there's a dichotomy between the two (Christian vs. US citizen). Secular society compartmentalizes things as being "secular" or "religious". Whereas in reality, there is no such division. There is merely truth and the way things are. And that includes nature and spirit, people and God. The story in the Bible isn't a "religious" story (as if it were somehow completely separate from "secular" history). The secularists have simply ignored vital parts of history because they don't recognize God or the spirit world. Similarly, the church cannot be compartmentalized. And so as Christians, we have a responsibility in the political realm as much as in any other.
I suppose there's the particular question of leadership in the church, and what role the leadership should play in politics (rather than the implied individual role that I mentioned above). I suppose at the most basic level, it's important for the leadership to assess the truth and speak the truth.
As to particulars... I feel that in most cases (dealing with elections) it might be unwise for a church (in particular, the leadership of the church) to directly endorse a particular candidate. However I also feel that the church should always speak out for what is right, especially in something so important as who our nation's leaders will be. So I don't see a problem with a church pointing out certain values that are important to keep in mind when voting, and I don't even necessarily see a problem with a church pointing out the stances of particular candidates that might be morally reprehensible, or the stances of particular candidates that would greatly advance God's kingdom values. (I of course understand the fear of reprisal from the government on being too specific about things; maybe that's a whole new discussion. It does seem to be an elephant in the room though! It would be nice if it were something we didn't have to deal with.)
I think that we sould pray for whoever is in office that god will guide his decisions over the nation.I also think we should pray that our president will also seek god for himself about the decision that will be made while he is in office.
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