This is a great take on the way Christianity has become politically and radically motivated in recent years, posed as a letter from Christ to his church. As we begin what the Christian Church calls "Holy Week" I thought this would be a great article to share with you along with my thoughts, especially given recent court rulings and laws passed in Indiana and proposed in Arkansas and Massachusetts regarding religious beliefs and civil law.
Regardless of your faith, the mixture of religion and politics is dangerous to our system of government. We can't make laws based on Christian values and then yell about communities imposing elements of Shariah law. Separation of Church and State is an all or nothing proposition, and our constitution clearly calls for total separation.
Those of you that know me well are very aware of how my faith influences my life, my family, and our view of the world. While that also influences my political views and how I vote on various issues, I have never been one to try and force my beliefs on anyone. To me it is something personal, a relationship as important to me as my marriage to Carrie, and one I work just as hard to maintain.
Just like my marriage, if people come to me asking how my relationship with Jesus is still so alive and vital I have no problem talking about it. I talk about my Dad's theory of "Personal Theology" that helped me shape my faith and find peace and comfort in churches of all denominations. I talk about being asked to leave the first bible college I attended and how theological differences caused that conflict. Above everything else though I talk about the peace and joy I feel in those quiet moments with Jesus....from worship on Sunday morning at church, to quiet talks with him at 2am when I just don't know how to deal with my teenage daughter, and from laying in a quiet forest staring up at the tree tops to receiving communion.
Our faith was intended to be something intensely personal, yet so transformative that those around us couldn't help but ask about it. It shouldn't ever be something we feel a need to force on anyone. If it is, we are doing it wrong.