Can’t Christians & Jews Debate Better Than Politicians?

Recent news reports tell a woeful tale of churches & synagogues struggling to “reunite deeply divided” flocks thanks to the 2 Ps, politics and pandemic. Invariably, we’re told, that the flocks were told to please “leave both diseases at home.”

I beg to question that wisdom. At least, when it comes to deciding whether a ban on politics in religious services is realistic. Certainly, Jews are famous for debating everything & anything in the Old Testament. And, the New Testament tells us of early Christians’ debates that would knock your socks off, e.g., over “circumcision.” In fact, Jesus Himself debated all comers on practical as well as divine issues and urged all to respect one another’s opinions, subject to hell fire if they did not “choose wisely.”

Shhh. Truth is, so much from God’s Divine Wisdom is “political”, including what the nation and localities must do to “contain”, “control” or “give the finger” to the Covid pandemic. Politics certainly invades everyone’s conscience when it comes to today’s hotly contested issues of Freedom of Religion and the right to say in public, “Merry Christmas.” Ditto vis a vis abortion vs choice; health care for all vs bad health care for everyone; environment safety vs job preservation; poverty vs wealth redistribution; whether to ban the death penalty (certainly common in the Bible); and cheering for Notre Dame vs Clemson. Instead of pretending these compelling if not existential issues can be swept under the pulpit, maybe get them out in the open for once as real religious folks?

Davd Soul