The Question: In his speech to U.S. bishops last week, Pope Benedict XVI said: "Any tendency to treat religion as a private matter must be resisted . . . To the extent that religion becomes a purely private affair, it loses its very soul." Do you agree or disagree? Why?

Privacy is at the epicenter of faith. As evangelical Christians we believe that a personal commitment to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord is the way to salvation and eternal life.
Engagement with others is the leading edge of our faith. Internal faith should be externally expressed. Jesus called us to love and serve God and to love and serve our neighbors.

While some focus on what is public I just want to make sure we start with what is private--a right relationship with God.

There's a story about a Dad who cut up a map of the world that was ripped out of a magazine. He gave it to his child to put together as a puzzle. The child assembled and taped it with surprising speed. When the Dad asked how the child replied, "There was a person on the other side. When I put the person together the world came together too."

It's not either/or, private/public----get the private right to get the world right too.