Vicar's View

January 2008

This is one of the rare times of the year that I miss being a news reporter. While you are understandably sick of seeing political ads at home on your TV, the actual Caucuses themselves are quite a spectacle to witness in person. I’ve covered them twice. Groups of people gather in farm houses. Everyone who likes candidate "A" goes to the kitchen, while supporters of candidate "B" huddle around a grandfather clock in the living room, and so on. Then the groups verbally barter with each other to try to convince the undecideds to join their group. It’s hard to believe this is the process we use to elect the leader of the free world!

If you are involved in politics, good for you! Martin Luther would be proud. He was a strong proponent of Christians getting involved in their respective governments. His "Two Kingdoms" Theory bears this out. He believed God uses the spiritual realm (the church) as well as the civil arena (the government) to bring about the Kingdom of God and care for all of God’s people.

Those who cry for separation of church and state need to check the facts. The words "separation", "church", and "state" actually do not exist in the First Amendment of the Constitution. Here is the actual language: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." I interpret that to mean our government should not mess around in the business of the church; it does not prevent people of faith getting involved in government. We are free to exercise our religion in all aspects of this country and that includes the arena of politics!

Vicar Craig