Our worst enemy

I am currently enjoying reading Os Guinness' book The Global Public Square: Religious Freedom and the Making of a World Safe for Diversity  This book is about religious freedom and how it is being challenged throughout the Western world. We've heard of the atrocities that occur in other places of the world where religious minorities have suffered much from religious majorities and atheistic governments, and while the attacks in America on religious freedoms pale in comparison to what others experience, it is real nonetheless. In fact, Guinness quotes a Pew Forum study that found that in 2010 "the United States moved into the top sixteen countries of the world where there was a rise in both government restrictions and social hostility toward religion."

Normally, I do not write about books I'm reading until I am finished with the book, but in this post I am making an exception. This book is not a quick read! It is filled with a lot of information that causes one to think. In a section I read earlier today he writes about some of the voices that attempt to drive religion from the public square, and one of those voices is "the rising disgust at the crude unwisdom of religious voices in public life."

A few years ago a pastor in Florida advocated the burning of the Quran sparking widespread protests. Ministers on TV promise miracle healings if you send them money for specially anointed cloths while others promote a "health and wealth" message to all who follow their teachings. Another church often protests at funerals of US service people and others claiming that these deaths are God's judgment on America for its acceptance of homosexuality. White evangelical and fundamentalist leaders were noticeably absent in the early days of the Civil Rights movement, and in some cases joined the efforts to promote segregation. The list of unwise and unnecessary voices goes on.

With the widespread use of social media these types of views and statements can go viral in a matter of days. Today when everyone has a camera and recording device unwise comments can live on forever. Many a politician wishes they had not spoken the words they did or took the stand they did to appease their current audience. It often comes back to haunt them when they are in front of a different audience. Religious leaders need to exercise caution as well.

In the past presidential election I was deeply troubled by some of the unwise things religious leaders were saying about the candidates running for office in both the primary and in the general election. Some of the things that were being said went far beyond the pale of supporting a particular candidate. I'm referring to hateful and virulent comments that people of faith were making about candidates and those who voiced support of them. In a few cases I simply unfriended them so I would not be subjected to any more of their hateful thoughts. In other cases, I cautioned people to consider how their comments were being received by others, especially those outside the faith.

Since the election we've seen the rhetoric continue between the political parties, the media and among individuals. While this is all troublesome and not healthy for our nation, it is especially sad when Christians question the faith of other Christians because of the political views they hold.

The church has a mandate to be salt and light to the world. We must speak out on the moral issues of the day, but we must do so with grace and compassion, not with malice and hatred. Our nation faces many challenging issues, and it must not exclude the voice of the church in its efforts to address these issues. Government can pass laws, but only the church has a message that can change hearts. But, if the church wants to be included in the public square it must learn to speak with wisdom. It must be committed to lifting up Jesus Christ, not its denomination or individual church or personal preferences.