What does the White House have to do with the church, synagogue, temple, or mosque?

Mitt Romney, is wrestling with a question that is part of the national conversation since its inception. More recently with John F. Kennedy's speech in the 1960s. What role should faith play in the public sphere? I do not think that this is a question just for Governor Romney but all candidates.

As an Evangelical leader and educator I often get this question from friends who know I'm a pastor. Certainly, a candidate's faith and worldview (be it religious or not) informs his/her moral compass and frames many decisions he/she takes. In this way faith, worldview, and politics are intrinsically intertwined. Still, I do not think I should vote for someone to be President simply because they belong to my faith tradition. (Interestingly, both President Bush and Senator Clinton belong to the same religious affiliation). I certainly do not want a president who makes policies based only on his/her church's doctrine (even though I expect him/her to be in conversation with the public ethical proclamations of faith groups). In short, your religious affiliation is not the lithmus test for presidency.

This country is not the United States of any religious tradition, it is the United States of America. (I certainly don't want the government telling me I can't be a Christian anymore than anyone wants to be forced into being one).Our unity is not based on uniformity but on respectful and honest dialogue concerning our common public life. One of the genius points of the Constitution is that it does not require the President to be any specific faith as a criteria for office. I think it is a fair question for any candidate to ask about how his/her faith or worldview will inform their presidency. What is not appropriate is trying to establish a religious monopoly that confuses the White House with the church.

Continue »

I think that people of faith are called to speak, work, advocate, pray, protest around issues that affect the human race and creation. I am aware that people of faith cannot solve all the world's crisis but we are called to a message of hope and transformation. Jesus of Nazareth brought a message of hope and transformation in the midst of a world under Roman imperial rule, we should do no less. Second, we are called to work with people of different faiths and world views to address some of the greatest crises of our time. Christians can and should work with all people of good will whenever possible to improve the plight of humanity. We may not cure all social problems but we should definitely treat them (to continue the medical metaphor).

Continue »

What is interesting about Christ's birth is that for all of its significance, it was not celebrated by everyone. The Gospel narrative places Jesus in a rather obscure manger, in the little town of Bethlehem. Certainly, the narrative speaks of angelic choirs and shepherds. Moreover, some time later the magi from the Far East (who knows what countries). Herod, the king, was not so glad to hear of the birth of Jesus (for obvious reasons).

I think the point of the Christmas narrative points us to one important fact for Christians to remember: Christmas is an invitation, not an imposition. It is improper and un-Christlike to force people to celebrate the birth of Christ. Christ himself did not do it, rather he was born in a nondescript stable. The birth of Christ is an invitation to see the significance of God's love for the world through the giving of his Son to us. We as Christians should share our story and then let people respond as they are led.

Continue »