tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9159824297638302770.post1483514275381818095..comments2023-03-29T05:54:55.729-05:00Comments on Rev Peep: How Political Should the Church Be? (Dialogue Column 3.3.09)revpeephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12163946543123147416noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9159824297638302770.post-57447044688911513322009-03-09T23:11:00.000-05:002009-03-09T23:11:00.000-05:00Another thoughtful post--I share all of your conce...Another thoughtful post--I share all of your concerns about groupthink in churches. I've lived my professional life as a minister often in reaction to such thinking. Also, there is the real risk of some people feeling disenfranchised who do not hold the majority view, just as there is the real risk of the church remaining silent in the face of injustice. You are right, most churches aren't like First Christian, let's hope we live up to that praise this Sunday.revpeephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12163946543123147416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9159824297638302770.post-66173586660786638732009-03-09T10:41:00.000-05:002009-03-09T10:41:00.000-05:00A peculiar problem that arises when a church steps...A peculiar problem that arises when a church steps into the political arena is the cultivation of groupthink. It seems that political churches tend to react to the volatile nature of politics by making certain political sentiments a prerequisite for church membership, or by taking a political stance and <EM>assuming</EM> the congregation agrees. The former implies that to be a Christian one must hold a certain political opinion, while the latter disenfranchises church members who might disagree with the stance taken by the church.<BR/><BR/>In the sense that church money should not be used to fund political lobbies or campaigns, that the pulpit should not be used to promote certain candidates or parties, and that church grounds should not be used for electioneering, I agree that churches should refrain from politics. I do think, however, that the church <EM>should</EM> be a safe haven for rational political discourse -- not limited to the confines of faith and dogma -- and a catalyst for action. <BR/><BR/>Ideally this would be the case, but let's admit it, most churches aren't like First Christian...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com