Politics and Religion at the Supper Table

Rev. Tony Crosby is a good friend of mine, and Pastor at Alma, United Methodist Church in Alma, Georgia. He's written a great piece that reminds us how patriotism and Christianity can fit together for American Christians. I really enjoyed it and wanted to share as we approach both the 4th of July and Holy Communion in our worship at SOTH this Sunday. Thanks Tony!
Politics and Religion at the Supper Table

One of the rules that many of us were taught growing up is that you aren’t supposed to talk about politics or religion at the supper table. Most people hold very strong opinions about both of these subjects and the food just doesn’t go down very easily when the tempers are flaring and there is heated discussion.

So guess what I thought we might do? Of course! We are going to talk about politics and religion at the supper table. We will try to keep the discourse positive as the calendar and our traditions converge today with celebrating the sacrament of communion on our most celebrated national political holiday.

Mixing politics and religion is dangerous mostly because people have difficulty resolving matters where it seems that the two have competing objectives. For example, nations make war upon other nations from time to time and many Christians find this to be at odds with the “gospel of peace” that is taught in the scriptures. A controversial piece of legislation will find both support and also opposition from Christians throughout the country because of differing ideas about how Biblical principles should be lived out in the public square. It always makes me nervous when people begin to equate the work of any government with the work of God. The Christian church has historically had some of its worst and darkest times when it has aligned itself too closely with political entities.

As Christians, we serve God first as citizens of the kingdom of God; but, we are also citizens of a geopolitical nation as well. I am very thankful for the heritage of our country and for its unique expression of representative democracy in the world, however, I am cautious in my political allegiances in the context of worship. God has made forgiveness and grace available to all who will call upon the name of Jesus Christ—from Iraq to Italy, from Afghanistan to Africa, from the Czech Republic to Chile, from Bolivia to Brazil, and, yes, from sea to shining sea right here in the United States of America. As Christians who live in one of the most affluent nations in the world, let us never forget how much we need God’s grace in our lives. As we come to the supper table today on this Independence Day, let us remember that God so loved the whole world that he gave his only son, Jesus Christ, so that whoever believes in him will not perish, but have everlasting life.

Written by Rev. Tony Crosby, Alma UMC