Points of agreement

Imagine my surprise to read a press release by the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE)...and find that I agreed with it!

The resolution was put together by the association, which comprises about 40 evangelical denominations, and calls for comprehensive immigration reform where ways are found to allow immigrants already in our country to move toward citizenship rather than toward deportation, ala Arizona's new law.  In the full-page ad they will soon run, the NAE recognizes that our biblical foreparents were often strangers in strange lands, and that God frequently reminds Israel to treat the aliens among them with care.

I appreciate this move toward a constructive process rather than using the immigration debate as cynical political theater. For many, the anti-immigrant stance is all about fear and ignorance, and the perception that somehow immigrants are "getting it over" on "real" Americans. When the economy was booming, there was little discussion of immigration reform; now that jobs may be tougher to find, it's easy to scapegoat people who are often willing to take jobs most of us would find too hard to stomach.

The anti-immigrant mood for some is also about hatred of the "other," hence the ridiculous move also being made in Arizona to get rid of ethnic studies. The law is meant to engender fear of those not perceived to be real Americans, and uses language of government overthrow for courses designed to simply help people understand the history of an ethnic group. Using their logic, any classes that seek to help people understand another culture are anti-American, as though "American" is one, static ethnic group.

Let's keep this conversation going.

Public Prayer

I've been asked to take part in a community discussion that will soon be taking place around the issue of public prayer before Forsyth County's Board of Commissioners.  Though a judge has already ruled that the Commissioners should end this practice of beginning with prayer, the board voted to appeal the decision to the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.

As a Baptist minister, I am surprised at how many of my Baptist ministerial colleagues ignore our history. Baptists in colonial America faced persecution for their beliefs at the hands of early theocratic establishments of religion. Baptists and other religious minorities were sometimes imprisoned for their dissenting religious views and practices.

Weighing in on the formation of the U. S. Constitution, Baptists like John Leland pressed for a declaration of religious freedom. The idea that the government would not do anything to establish religion or obstruct an individual's religious practice was a new, radical thought, built on the understanding that when the government claims partiality for one religion, bad things happen. As Leland commented, "The notion of a Christian commonwealth should be exploded forever. ... Government should protect every man in thinking and speaking freely, and see that one does not abuse another. The liberty I contend for is more than toleration. The very idea of toleration is despicable; it supposes that some have a pre-eminence above the rest to grant indulgence, whereas all should be equally free, Jews, Turks, Pagans and Christians." (From "A Chronicle of His Time in Virginia," as cited in Forrest Church, The Separation of Church and State, 92, 2004.)

Now that Baptists are thick on the ground, many seem to have forgotten the thoughts -- and real persecution -- of their foreparents, claiming discrimination against Christians in a county where there seems to be a church on almost every corner.

Because I think my parents in faith had valid points, I have declined invitations to offer prayer before the meetings. I do so because it seems that most of those clamoring for this public prayer are focused more on power than prayer, using their prayers to remind any other non-Christians/non-religious present that they are in the minority in this community.

Jesus never advocated for public prayer, indeed, in teaching Christians the model of prayer, he suggested it be done in private.  Public praying encourages the speaker to focus on things other than God, just as this whole subject focuses our attention away from God.  People are more intent on winning their right to impose prayers on others than on whether what they are doing is pleasing to God.

For those who say, "Yes, but I think it's wise to pray over my public officials" I would say yes, that's a wonderful thing to do.  But do it on your own time.  Or, let's have a time of silence before each meeting so that citizens could, if they chose to, offer a silent prayer for the officials.

Finally, I know the imams and rabbis in our local community.  I have worked with them in local organizations, and respect them tremendously.  I do not want to be a party to a process that seems to be focused on further marginalizing them.

Oh, and if you wish to come to the event, here's a link.

Blog Delays

Aaaahhhhh....can you hear the sound?  It is the sound of sweet relief!

My blog has been taking a back seat recently because of my work toward finishing my Doctor of Ministry program.  It has been a long 3 1/2 years, but I've really enjoyed the process. 

I won't be going back to Chicago Theological for graduation, but I'll be with them in spirit.  I still vividly remember graduation following the completion of my masters program; finally, at 44, I was ready to move back into the Church after having been pursued by God and pushed away by most so-called Christians for 20 years. 

Many MDiv students are experiencing similar feelings right now, so enjoy your graduation, and move with joy into your work.  For my fellow DMin students at Chicago Theological, continue your excellent ministerial endeavors.  And as always, thanks to the professors who worked so diligently to support us and encourage us along the way.