I like what Rick Warren said on this subject at the beginning of the Forum on the Presidency back in August. He said “We believe in the separation of church and state but we do not believe in the separation of faith and politics. Because faith is just a world view and everybody has some kind of world view so it’s important to know what they are.”

We don’t talk politics a lot at InDependence on Sunday for a couple of reasons. First, I too believe in the separation of church and state and I am not interested in risking certain things like church tax exemption just to try and persuade people to vote like me. Secondly, I am not ready to declare that God is a Republican or a Democrat because in doing so I just told a bunch of people that they really aren’t welcome at our church.

But we do openly support people getting educated about their options, prayerfully making their choices and exercising their freedom to vote. Outside of church I express my opinion because I have every right to but it is usually because people ask.

Wednesday after our InVest Group a bunch of us loitered and watched the presidential debate. Is it crossing the Church/State line to do that? Well I looked into it and I am only limited to using the “pulpit” (which I am not sure how that relates to my stool).

Regardless, I walked away that night very encouraged. Not necessarily by any one candidates plan to solve our current challenges, but in the following:

• In our church we have people who are educated on the issues and the proposed solutions from both sides.
• They are prayerfully considering their selection and allowing the Holy Spirit and conscious to guide them.
• They are serious and passionate about that selection.
• They are willing and prepared to exercise their right to vote and their freedom to express their opinion.

As a pastor that made me proud and I think God is too.