While politics has long been viewed as a dirty business, the
problem has worsened in recent years as the country has become ever more
polarized. The differences between the
two parties seem more sharply drawn and more bitterly contested than they were
when I was young. There is less room for
compromise and consensus building. Civility
has fled the public square. The country
today may be more deeply divided than at any time since the Civil War. Today Republicans and Democrats are waging
the Uncivil War.
Dirty and politics are not the only words with
long association. So have church and sanctuary. The sanctuary is
a place dedicated to the worship of God.
It is sacred space. It is also
seen as a place of refuge; a safe and quiet place far removed from the dangers
and unpleasantness of the outside world.
That’s an appealing and timely image.
In an earlier era people were taught that politics and
religion were two subjects best avoided in polite society. The passions these topics triggered were
regarded as unseemly. Obviously in
church it is both appropriate and expected that we talk about religion. But is it too much to ask that when we gather
for worship we check our campaign buttons at the door? The church is not a political convention and
the Sunday school class is not a party caucus room. We have every right to our political
opinions. In fact, in a democratic
republic such as ours, it is not just our right; it is our duty as responsible citizens to be politically engaged. But conversations appropriate for the golf
course or the break room at work may not be appropriate for church. We are to be a church for people from all political persuasions. We are Republicans, Democrats, and
Independents. We are liberals and
conservatives and moderates. And while
some of us are quite forthcoming about where our political allegiances lie, not
all of us wear our party affiliations on our lapels. Partisan comments made in passing at church may
not be welcome by everybody within earshot.
This is bad enough if the hearer is another church member. But it could have tragic and eternal
consequences if the hearer is an unbeliever who came to church seeking answers
to spiritual questions but instead went away feeling that his or her political
views were under attack.
So if you wish to offer an impassioned opinion next week in
Sunday school class, make it something non-controversial—like your views on Calvinism.