As we become more and more entrenched in the conflicts that certain laws create between religious groups and lawmakers, I can't help but wonder, if each group complains only when they stand to benefit personally from such disagreement.
For myself I can only say that one side is no less complicated than the other when it comes to understanding the complexities of each.
If I were asked the question, "would Jesus have sentenced to a man to death if that man committed first degree murder?" I would have to say, no. And yet, even as I profess to being a Christian, if I were asked, "do you support the death penalty?" I would have to say, the punishment should fit the crime and if the murderer showed no remorse for a cold-blooded killing, then yes, I would support the death penalty. I have long felt that a criminal should endure the same fate as his victim. Does that make me less a Christian? Can I be a Christian and serve on a jury that condemns a man to die? I don't know. The Bible tells us Thou shalt not kill' and yet the Bible also tells us obey the laws of man'.
There are so many gray areas when it comes to deciding who-or which group-should decide what is right and what is wrong when the issues cross the line between Church and State. Pro-abortionists would say that a mother should have the say in the life or death of her unborn fetus and yet, Pro-life advocates would say that it is killing and killing is a crime against both the Church and the State. But if it is a case where the mother may die if the child isn't aborted, who should decide which person should live and which person should die? In such a case, the mother should decide if she has the ability, otherwise it should be her husband or closest family member-eliminating the decision all together from the Church or State.
There are moral and legal issues in the case of illegal immigrants entering the United States. Should they be allowed to stay, should they be forced to learn the English language as a requirement to earn citizenship in this country, should they receive healthcare aid, financial aid, educational aid without becoming citizens first? Should they be loaded into a truck, train, plane, whatever, and shipped back to their own countries without question? The Church may tell us it would not be the Christian thing to do, but our government would tell us we have to protect our borders and there have to be laws to govern these issues. Should companies who hire these illegal immigrants be fined and forced to pay extra taxes for all the taxes they probably haven't paid in all the years they have employed these workers? I think they should and I think their fines should be extreme, for although they say that these are jobs that Americans refuse to do, I don't readily believe that. And any government official participating in this tax-free-slave-labor should be punished to the full extent of the law. This is not to say that I do not have compassion or feelings for these people who are mostly trying to make a better life for themselves, but I can't help but agree with the old saying charity begins at home'. And all to often it is the criminals and terrorists who infiltrate our too loose borders.
All in all, I don't feel there is any way to totally separate Church and State. There are too many variances that would require the intervention of both. What of war crimes and the ethical treatment of prisoners of war? Who decides what is just immoral and what is just plain breaking-the-law?
A bill finally passed in Congress just last June allows schools to display the Ten Commandments. However, the same people who fought for this issue fight against allowing schools to teach sex education. I would think that anyone who would want their children taught religious values, would also appreciate that they be taught physical morals as well. I think that our fast paced technological world has taken too much away from more and more family quality' time and too many children that aren't taught morality in school aren't taught it at all.
With all this we don't want to forget the latest issue to bounce around the halls from the Supreme Court to the halls of the Vatican- same sex marriage. The issue here is whether or not the government should be allowed to regulate intimate relationships of consenting adults and whether or not religious organizations would recognize such a union as it negates the conventional reason for marriage in the first place.I think the government involvement is based more on the community's concern for the well-being of children. From a religious standpoint there are too many variations on different verses in the Bible to even contemplate how the numerous religious sects will react to this issue. Some religions already perform these unions. Six countries and two states in the United States now perform same-sex marriages. I'm sorry if I offend anyone, but I was taught that marriage should be between a man and a woman; therefore that it is what I will continue to believe.
Separation of Church and State and the separation of religion and politics may be two horses of a different color-Churches should not have any control over their States civil governments and vise versa, but I think it would be much harder to keep religion out of politics. Some may argue that Jesus didn't get involved with politics, but it was the very leaders of government and religion that clashed over the growing strength of Jesus' teachings; ultimately condemning him in a farce trial. Even as a baby, Jesus was considered a threat to the throne of the infamous King Herod. And it didn't begin there, what about the Egyptians and their Israelite slaves? Could there not have been some mixture of Church/State or religion/politics during those long ago cultures? And what about Adam? I think it was the politician coming out in him when he guiltily proclaimed, "Eve made me do it!"
Life goes on and as each new conundrum rears its ugly head, there will always be fall-out and who will pay the ultimate price? Who will survive the tug of war as it rips the arms off the contestants? Whenever there's a winner, there is also a loser.
John Adams once wrote:
Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly
inadequate to the government of any other.'
We have no government armed with power capable of contending with passions
unbridled by morality and religion.'
Statesmen may plan and speculate for liberty, but it is religion and morality alone
which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand.'
And as my head spins with all the thousands of dilemmas fraught in our government and our religions, there I have found the one ideal with which I can totally agree.
One Nation, Under God.
Sandra E. Graham, author, AMOS JAKEY and NICOLINA through American Book Publishing. I also write book reviews for Book Pleasures. Visit my website for more info http://www.sandragraham-articles-books.com
Hi Sandra, very well said. Lots to think about you brought out all the reasons why this issue will never be resolved. Not until Jesus is ruling and reigning on Earth. Then and only then will it be set with proper balance. Until, then we need to pray, pray, pray. Excellent job. You have my vote. God Bless.
I do disagree with you about Jesus and the death penalty. It is obvious to me that God allows the death penalty in capitol cases. He forgives the soul, but the penalty must be paid. Other wise, I loved your article and would nominate it as one of the best I have read so far in the contest. Respond to this comment
Thank you so much, Jay. I'm glad you liked my article. And in the end, I'm afraid there will be many lost souls facing the death penalty--a penalty of our own making.
We must always remember to leave "Church" out because a church to one is not to another. However, be it the golden rule or whatever decent if it is accepted by society as good and decent that is what should be done. Not always easy and that is why man must stand by their convictions. When we start to question if black is really black, etc, then anything goes. best wishes.
Exactly. The issues and questions are far too many, far too complicated---too many gray areas, too may sides, too many--but what ifs. I'm afraid laws and religious views will always be way over my head. We may all end up drowning in our own speculations and convictions.
Very even-handed and fair. It is nice to read an article that outlines some of these difficult problems without rushing to judgment or overly simplified solutions. Made me think.
i think your writing style is impeccable, and these were some hard issues to comment on. you did so very well. i think there are certain jobs better suited for government, and others better suited for religion, but i don't really believe they need to intersect each other.
Lady Sandra, you don't know politics but you know the One whose most important in your life and our lives, Jesus! You've shared your point of view with deep consideration for both sides and I agree with you and Teresa!
Thank you and enjoy a beautiful weekend. Where to for worship this Sunday? Which one of the three? *grinning* Doesn't matter, does it? I know you enjoy wherever you go or you wouldn't attend! Whisper a prayer for me, ok?
It's obvious you have great passion regarding this topic and your article delivers that passion perfectly. There is much I might disagree with, insofar as your stand is concerned, but that isn't the point. I think what you've shared with us is fabulous food for thought. And it will, in my opinion, always come down to this: right is right and wrong is wrong but we don't always agree on which is which. There will always be strong feelings on matters of what is moral and what is not. But if we can finally learn to ALLOW each other our own beliefs, there will be less to fight over and more to agree on. Wouldn't THAT be lovely?
The Church is very deficient in clarifying the Bible's teachings on how the Church and state fit. Most clergy do not understand it and would to well to go back to the teachings of the reformers during the reformation. The Bibe is very clear on it. All authority is from God, ie. the state's authority is from God and hence it is bound by His terms. It has a different job to do than the Church and is not ruled by the Church. Neither does it have authority over the Church in its realm of authority, or the head of a family in its sphere.
Your honest article very well describes the quandary many people have with regard to these issues.
Until we realise that we cannot legislate in contradiction to God's law we will have a problem. Until the Church understands it, they will not fulfil their role of moral guidance for the community and take part from a Christian standpoint.
You are right, Terence. God rules---now and forever. And it would be a better world if all people would realize that. And I agree--the deficiencies lie within our Churches to understand the true meaning of the Bible and teach us accordingly.
Sandra, I enjoyed reading this. I had started it some time ago but life side-tracked me and now I've read all of it. You raise interesting points and I agree with you on things scriptural. I also agree that as citizens we have a responsibility to "the state" to be involved as much as we can and with clear attitudes.
Thank you for reading and commenting, Jane. I'm so glad you enjoyed the article. I did the best I could for not being that well versed in Politics nor Religion.
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