Today’s Readings: Psalm 71; Numbers 16:20-35; Matthew 5:11-16; Ephesians 5:25-33; Psalm 126
In many ways, I’m a huge fan of the separation of church and state. If you’ve read my blog for a while, you’ll know why. If you haven’t, my basic reason is that I believe it’s dangerous to merge church and state because this merger would thrust power and social status onto the church in such a way that it would compromise our core values. It would likely cause us to lose any sense of what discipleship means as we might get drunk with a sense of power and privilege. Having said that, I do have one concern about the effects of separating church and state. Some have taken this principle so far that they have compartmentalized their lives to a shocking degree – so much so that it has become difficult these days to tell followers of Jesus apart from others. I believe this trend to first compartmentalize and then water down our faith so we can fit in would DEEPLY disturb Jesus. In today’s Gospel passage, for instance, Jesus reminded us of the important of standing out when he said: “Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness?” (Matthew 5:13 from The Message). So where are you at with all of this? Have you so completely integrated yourself into the world and its set of values that others would be surprised to learn of your faith; or have you maintained your saltiness so that others have sensed there is something different about you? May God continue to strengthen us so that our lives can bring out the God-flavors of this earth. Til next time…
In many ways, I’m a huge fan of the separation of church and state. If you’ve read my blog for a while, you’ll know why. If you haven’t, my basic reason is that I believe it’s dangerous to merge church and state because this merger would thrust power and social status onto the church in such a way that it would compromise our core values. It would likely cause us to lose any sense of what discipleship means as we might get drunk with a sense of power and privilege. Having said that, I do have one concern about the effects of separating church and state. Some have taken this principle so far that they have compartmentalized their lives to a shocking degree – so much so that it has become difficult these days to tell followers of Jesus apart from others. I believe this trend to first compartmentalize and then water down our faith so we can fit in would DEEPLY disturb Jesus. In today’s Gospel passage, for instance, Jesus reminded us of the important of standing out when he said: “Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness?” (Matthew 5:13 from The Message). So where are you at with all of this? Have you so completely integrated yourself into the world and its set of values that others would be surprised to learn of your faith; or have you maintained your saltiness so that others have sensed there is something different about you? May God continue to strengthen us so that our lives can bring out the God-flavors of this earth. Til next time…
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