A 'Baptized' Voters' Guide...

[David Flick]

I don't discuss secular politics in the public forum. I've done it a few times way back in the dark ages of BaptistLife and have regretted it on almost every occasion. When I was a teenager, my father once said to me, "Son, never discuss religion or politics with anyone. That's the best way to lose friendships. People are very sensitive about their religion and politics."

Since religion is my business, I didn't take Dad's advice to not discuss religion. Through the years, I've gained a few friends and lost a few friends when discussing religion. But I haven't lost very many friends by not discussing politics. I have a number of friends who are very liberal, politically speaking. If I allowed the liberal views of these friends get under my skin, I would almost instantly become enemies with them.

Having said the above, I am not beyond discussing the evils of mixing religion and secular politics. I believe in the strictest interpretation of the principle of separation of church and state. When the church becomes involved in melding secular politics to religion, I am quick to object. This week the Oklahoma Baptist Messenger published a voters' guide that promotes the Republican agenda.

I am a somewhat conservative Republican, but I abhor the idea of a denomination (state convention) publishing a voters' guide (using Cooperative Program dollars) to influence the outcome of an election. I wrote a piece on my personal blog that is sure to be controversial. For what it's worth, here's my article about ...

[pjerwin]

[HowellS]

[fox]

[Mark]

[Ed Pettibone]

[David Flick]

[David Flick]

[David Flick]

[Ed Pettibone]

[pjerwin]

[pjerwin]

[Bruce Gourley]

Baptists of old, such as John Leland, championed for pure separation of church and state. Leland declared that it was wrong for ministers to receive favoritism in any form from the state. Yet today very few if any ministers and churches would consider giving up their government tax breaks. Over the years I have become convicted that should I ever be lead to start a church, the church will pay property taxes. Years ago I felt it inappropriate for golf courses to offer a free day for ministers, and I increasingly feel those of us who are ordained are far too comfortable with the growing privileges and favoritisms that government grants religion (most of which have been established in the last 100 years, by the way). The New York Times current series on government favoritism of religion is excellent.

http://www.nytimes.com/ref/business/churchstate.html[/url]

[pjerwin]

One might extend that ethical stance to accepting "minister's discounts" at Christian bookstores, etc., as well.

[David Flick]

[Ed Pettibone]

[Ed Pettibone]

[David Flick]

[pjerwin]

I stand corrected, David.

[pjerwin]

[Ed Pettibone]

[Chris]

[Ed Pettibone]

[Chris]

[pjerwin]