In
commemoration of Martin Luther Kings "I HAVE A DREAM" speech.
I am
a fully ordained minister with a Masters of Divinity degree from a noted
theological school who left the pulpit over thirty years ago after serving
congregations for ten years. Although no longer affiliated with any
denomination or religious body, I am still interested in the effect of religion
on American life and I follow news reports, as few as there are, of trends in
religious activity. I find no greater example of the divide between church and
state than in the apparent silence echoing from the majority of American
pulpits about the apparent indifference at best and antipathy at worse, of the
Republican dominated House of Representatives and reactionary Republican
senators to the plight of the working poor, their elderly, and most egregiously
their children. Unfortunately there is a financial reason for this.
The
local churches to which many of these wealthy Republican legislators claim
membership are member supported and it is an unwise and generally soon replaced
clergy who alienate their membership by preaching sermons that afflict the
comfortable by reminding them how they are falling short of important tenets of
their professed Christianity. To challenge and therefore trouble the wealthy
members of any congregation is to prompt financial retribution. I know this
first hand.
Right
leaning (conservative, evangelical, fundamentalist) ministers, especially those
with strong media voices, are long and loud in their condemnation of liberal
(progressive) politicians and causes but I have heard not a word of rebuke from
them concerning the responsibility of the wealthy to those in need. Or better
yet, the responsibility of politicians to respond to the needs of the many, the
taxpayers who pay their salaries and for their perks, and not to cater just to
the greed of the wealthy few.
There is an old parable
about a fire and brimstone preacher addressing the sins of people in general.
He railed away at fornicators, adulterators, gamblers, drinkers of spirits, and
smokers. Three grand dames seated in the Amen Corner responded to each of these
attacks with loud and vigorous 'Amens'. The then pastor attacked the evils of
dipping snuff. The old ladies were quiet for several moments after he finished.
Then one was heard to whisper to the others, "Now he's quit preaching and
gone to meddling!" In my view, it is time for the preachers in America's
pulpits to openly criticize and remind politicians at all levels of government
who profess to be Christians that their religion teaches that greed and
covetousness are evil, as are intolerance, prejudice, and injustice.
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