Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ

Written jointly by Rev. Winton Boyd and Rev. Scott Carlson (Sun Prairie United Methodist)

Maybe there is a new day in this country for the use of religious faith in the realm of politics. For over a generation, much of the public discourse around faith and politics has centered on faith (usually Christian) as a divider of people into various camps. A few hot button issues have been touted as the only concerns in the hearts and minds of people of faith. Another attempt to use Christianity to divide people surfaced recently when Dr. James Dobson challenged Barak Obama on his understanding and practice of faith. More notable than the differences between these two national figures was the relative lack of support Dobson has received for his cutting and divisive words. Evangelicals like Dobson were among those who lamented this latest attempt to polarize people in the church. Increasingly, religious voices of all kinds are suggesting it is time to put the best of our various religious traditions to work to help address important and pressing issues in this country.

While Obama is certainly liberal in his political and religious views, it may be more important that he is a politician who is comfortable living and talking about his faith. He recognizes what most pastors have known for a long time; that the Christian faith encompasses so much more of our lives than our political views. Deep bonds are formed in churches across this country between people with differing views on the few more public issues of the day. Most everyday Christians appreciate a sense of kinship with brothers and sisters in the faith that come from different traditions, different cultures, and even different languages. Most Christians would never presume that the way they understand the faith is the only way it can be lived. Most appreciate and celebrate the diversity of thought, practice, worship,and outreach that emminates from our pluralistic American landscape. Obama did not create this dynamic, but from his own personal life recognized the power of diversity as a Christian value. For the good of our churches and our country, we can hope and pray that our American future will celebrate religious people of all persuasions as they act out their faith with joy, hope, hospitality, and compassion.