Christian Pastors Focus Group
Feedback
Christian Pastors Focus Group
Feedback
says a Christian is another church will say another that ’ s not a Christian . I mean , so It ’ s just interesting that even in our own community . We just got a lot of different definitions of what a Christian might be or Debra , you just mentioned , the disciple , you know , it ’ s so it ’ s like I know God ’ s sovereign , and I knew that He created us . He knew the mess we ’ re going to get in . But sometimes I just shake my head and go home . It seems so easy when I read the book . How come you guys can ’ t get it right ? [ laughing ]
• But I do think that one of the challenges for the Christian community , not just in Arlington many in Arlington and in a in a political system like we ’ re in America . Is for the Christian communities and not become just so completely identified with any one particular political persuasion . And I think that ’ s a very real temptation . And I think the Christian community should guard against it . Because we need to have a healthy distance to where we can be critical and thoughtful and analytical and stay true to what we believe we ’ re supposed to be called to . And I think that we all know the American experiment is a very unique thing . You know my PhD is in history , and I don ’ t know of another nation of our size , who has tried this for as long as we have to really have a Democratic Republic where religious freedom is at the core of it . That there really is no other thing that I know of other example in history of it , and it is fraught with some unique challenges . And so I think we have to as Christian leaders . I think one of the things we have to be thoughtful about it ’ s one thing in my opinion to be in to be committed to the cause of justice . I ’ m talking about society or politically . It ’ s a whole other thing to be completely absorbed by political party that to me . Those are two very different things . I think the first one is righteous . I think the second one is dangerous .
• There is an American nationalistic Christian thing that ’ s on a lot of believers right now and it ’ s not healthy . It ’ s not a part of the kingdom of God . At least it ’ s not it ’ s not supposed to be a part of the kingdom of God . But we ’ ve got people that would rather identify more as one side of the island and they would a disciple Jesus . Yeah , it ’ s more important , who they vote for than who they pray to .
• Yeah , and you know I had a family leave our church over it , the Sunday before the election , I asked the question , I said , “ I just want to ask you a question . Is it possible to be a Christian and Republican ?” And it got really quiet in my church and somebody follow up . Finally , just shout it out . Well , yeah . I said , Well , you know , I think it is . When I think it is so . Well , let me ask you this , as it possibly a Christian and a democrat and it got really quiet and an older lady of the Church said , “ Yes .” I said , “ well , I think it is .” I said , “ I would say it used to be .” But now I feel like it ’ s almost like you ’ ve got to be identified as one of those first before you can be identified as a follower of Christ . And I think the Christian community because we are so large in America , and I don ’ t I don ’ t necessarily get off on that tangent extras and Jennifer and that was beyond the scope But I think it ’ s on everybody ’ s mind right now . And I think for us as Christian leaders , if we get site down that whole y ’ all . I ’ m not sure if there is any help , because I can promise you I ’ m not going to . I ’ m not gonna go to bed with national politicians , I ’ m just , I ’ m not gonna do it .
• Not I think building on that one , and what I mentioned earlier , I think one of the things that we need to create our spaces for our congregations to have those same conversations that we ’ re having . There are things called be the bridge groups that pull together different ethnic groups to come have deep discussions about what are the what are the problems that we ’ ve experienced because of race relations because of any kind of ethnic experience and we can have really honest deep dialogue about it . You can do it within your own churches where we can partner together with various churches . And bring different people together , let them have conversation . I don ’ t know what that looks like in practice , I just know we need it so I think creating spaces for us as pastors , absolutely . And then for our congregations to do that as well .
Unity Council Report 107