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Go politics of hope and not fear!
Go America the land of democracy!
Go world that God dreams of and works for!
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Recommended Reading
- Surprised By Hope by N. T. Wright
- Everything Must Change by Brian McLaren
- Finding Our Way Again by Brian McLaren
- The Spiritual Life by Evelyn Underhill
- The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning
- Jesus by Marcus Borg
- The Heart of Christianity by Marcus Borg
- The Meaning of Jesus by Marcus Borg and N.T. Wright
- Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time by Marcus Borg
- Reading the Bible Again for the First Time by Marcus Borg
- How to Read the Bible by Marc Z. Brettler
- A Heretic's Guide to Eternity by Spencer Burke and Barry Taylor
- They Like Jesus But Not The Church by Dan Kimball
- The Emerging Church by Dan Kimball
- A New Kind of Christian by Brian McLaren
- The Story We Find Ourselves In by Brian McLaren
- The Last Word and the Word After That by Brian McLaren
- A Generous Orthodoxy by Brian McLaren
- The Secret Message of Jesus by Brian McLaren
- God's Politics by Jim Wallis
- The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard
- Simply Christian by N.T. Wright
5 comments:
am I allowed to say ??
Is it wise for clergy to support particular candidates?
How would you feel about one of the pastors in your district posting a sign in the parsonage front yard?
Would that build up community and Christian unity or would that be unwisely causing harm and divisiveness.
I don't have good answers but I am interested in your thoughts.
Well, let's see. Good question. I think putting a sign in the parsonage yard might not be good because that property belongs to the church, whereas this blog is mine personally. And yes, I think we must at times say where we stand while at the same time giving others permission to share where they stand. But you are right that politics can divide. So, is the question how, in the kingdom of God, can we be who God is calling us to be, give others the same right, and discuss things in love?
I asked this question from personal experience. I had a blog and the folks in my last church were reading it. When I posted a 5 part series on Patriotism and Civil Religion, people got angry. Some printed out only parts of what I had said and spread that around to Veterans who did not read the blog. Some of those folks left the church (one sent a letter to the SPRC on red, white, and blue stationary with flag stickers on the envelope and said they could not “sit under a pastor who did not love and respect the land of his birth.” The SPRC called a meeting to discuss my blog and asked me to get rid of it.
While I have a new blog for my new church, I am very careful what I say on it. And I would not endorse a candidate because I have learned that my political opinions are not welcome. Perhaps if I were a DS I would be more bold to make such statements, after all the SPRC is not going to call together a meeting to tell me to get rid of my blog (or to get rid of my thoughts). On second thought, maybe it is more dangerous as a DS.
Anyhow, you are right that clergy need to express our stands, even or maybe especially on political matters. I have just been battered and bruised and slow to step on those same land-minds. In fact, last month, when Mitt Romney made his religion speech, I posted some thoughts on Faith and Religion. I tried to be very fair. Either no one from grace is reading my blog or no one cared.
I appreciate your post, no matter if it is bold or stupid.
Peace,
Chris
I'm sorry that happened Chris. You are a brave follower of the Brave One.
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