Here is a Baptist preacher at a megachurch who is NOT preaching anti-abortion, pro-military, vote for Bush, rhetoric. While proclaiming he is not a liberal, Rev. Gregory A. Boyd has lost 1000 of his 5000 church members for preaching (in part):
"When the church wins the culture wars, it inevitably loses,When it conquers the world, it becomes the world. When you put your trust in the sword, you lose the cross."
This article really caught my attention. While I find myself really believing in the life and principles of Jesus Christ, I have little tolerance for organized religion and lately, the equation of Christianity with 'morality' and President Bush has really left me fuming.
Here is a man who believes in the separation of church and state. The article just appeared in the New York Times.
http://www.nytimes.com/...
He said he first became alarmed while visiting another megachurch's worship service on a Fourth of July years ago. The service finished with the chorus singing "God Bless America" and a video of fighter jets flying over a hill silhouetted with crosses.
"I thought to myself, `What just happened? Fighter jets mixed up with the cross?' " he said in an interview.
I never imagined things had gone quite so far. Guess I am naive. Of course I admit to not being in a church for a while. I have never been able to understand why church and military seem to go hand and hand in this country. I understand dying for one's country, but I think people have confused dying to save others with dying to inflict our morality on others.
(The fact that over 60% of Americans still equate Saddam with 9/11 may also have something to do with it I guess, but I digress)
From one of the sermons that have caused some trouble...
"America wasn't founded as a theocracy," he said. "America was founded by people trying to escape theocracies. Never in history have we had a Christian theocracy where it wasn't bloody and barbaric. That's why our Constitution wisely put in a separation of church and state.
"I am sorry to tell you," he continued, "that America is not the light of the world and the hope of the world. The light of the world and the hope of the world is Jesus Christ."
I am not one to put anyone on a pedestal, but I was happy to hear this coming from what I would expect to be one of the "rabid" religious right that we have heard so much about. While I suspect I would disagree with many other things he has to say, I agree with him on this very important issue. This is a voice of sanity in the wilderness. May there be many more voices, from all sides of the fence.
For better or worse, we will need to learn to open a dialogue with those we disagree with if at all possible. Here is one on the other side who is willing to separate religion and politics. It's a start.
Update: Pastor Dan has a diary up on a Street Prophets now discussing this article and another - good read and a good conversation started - check it out! (and free cookies!)