New York Times article

There was an article that was in the New York Times last week, about Dr. Greg Boyd and his church Woodland Hills. I think that it warrants some conversation, and would love some of your thoughts to the article and to my preliminary response. I am going to try and elaborate more on this idea later, as it is one that is near and dear to my heart. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/30/us/30pastor.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

I think that this is an important issue, and I am glad to see that it is getting attention. Many of the issues that Dr. Boyd and the article brought are imperative issues not only to American Christians but to Christians everywhere. I was a bit dissapointed however in the response from the "conservative camp." It is somewhat typical of the media and todays culture to associate the radical right with all conservatives. However there are many out there who feel that way. To assert that you have to be a Republican if you are a Christian is simply absurd, it is as ridiculous as saying Christians cannot be involved in politics. I hope that in the future there can be opinions included from more moderate thinking individuals. On that note, I think that Dr. Boyd brings up some important points about the Evangelical Right and their fixation with abortion and gay marriage. As a Christian those are both things that I oppose, but those are certainly not the only two issues or even the most important for that matter. On the other hand I think that to right off the political process completely as to say that because we are Christians we have God and therefore we are too good for the democratic process that governs our country is also disturbing.

My friend Dan had a great post about this article on his blog, and it really got me thinking about the issues that Dr. Boyd and the article brings up. Dan eloquently elaborates about St. Augustine’s idea of the Christian having dual citizenship, one in the earthly city and one in the heavenly city. While citizenship is far more important in the heavenly city, it doesn’t mean we can abandon our responsibility here on earth. Politics and government are part of the earthly city. I completely understand that my allegiance is to my God in heaven. Yet while I am here on earth, I have to respect the laws of the land in which I live. Part of that is involving one self in the political process. I believe that we cannot avoid or neglect the responsibility that we have in the earthly city.

I think that there is a fine line between faith and politics that should certainly not be crossed, yet should also not be avoided. I believe that Dr. Boyd is right in that the pulpit is no place for political rhetoric, and diatribes about current events. I think that the church has a responsibility to society far beyond gay marriage and abortion. America is not a Christian nation nor is America the “new Jerusalem,” ideas on that line of thought are dangerous. There is also the idea of too much nationalism becoming dangerous. I agree with Dr. Boyd’s take that we can’t allow politics and patriotism to become idolatry. We cannot allow ourselves to be so swept up in national pride that we forget about our heavenly calling. Yet I think that the church has a responsibility to society, and should be an example to the Christian faith. The church cannot severe ties with politics and society because doing so would destroy the ability to reach out and help those who need the church.

As I stated before, I don’t believe America to be a Christian nation, but I do see America as an opportunity for believers of the Christian faith. Dr. Boyd (and so many other pastors) are free to say what they want to say about their faith, they can stand at their pulpit’s every Sunday and preach the Gospel how they see fit. If someone is telling them what to say or how to say it, it isn’t coming from the military or the federal government. We are not in Nazi Germany or the Soviet USSR. There are no Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s having to found legitimate underground churches for fear of their life if they preach God’s word. There are still places today where people are being persecuted for their faith. America is not one of them. America has granted us the right to worship the way we want to worship. My allegiance and my faith are in my Lord in Heaven, not my country, but respect and responsibility are also to my country while I am here in this earthly city.

My apologies for this being a bit disorganized, I just started to write, and went through a few drafts before anything even remotely made sense. Please let me know what you think.Blessings,Peter

Back on track

My appologies for the tardiness in my blog posts lately. I have not had one in weeks. Well that is soon to change. I have just returned from Minnesota's great North Shore of Lake Superior, and am feeling recharged and ready to dive into some topics of interest. I may also be moving blog locations in the next few months, but that is only if I am motivated to do so, and see any subsquent advantage to doing so. Such a move would be purely motivated by peer presure. Anyway look for posts in the upcoming days and weeks on: Greg Boyd's New York Times article, Middle East situation, Minnesota Twins, Shuttle Atlantis Mission, 2006 and 2008 election predictions, and other random occurancies. I am going to start working on a response to the Boyd article shortly for Intelligent Confusion and Breakfast Gravy. It should be up tomorrow or Wed.