The mixing of politics and religion in America

Americans go through a very special dance every fourth year. It is called “the presidential election.” There is nothing quite like it in the entire world. Darlene and I love it. We are political junkies. We love all American elections. We never miss voting. However, Presidential elections are extra special. There is nothing like it with the possible exception of March Madness when college basketball takes over the whole nation to find the best college basketball team in the land.

During a presidential election year, chaos takes over. Any person over 35 years of age and born in America is eligible to run for the most powerful position in the world. Billionaires and paupers are all eligible. Religious tests for candidates are forbidden. Christians, Jews, Muslims and atheists are all eligible. Candidates come from all walks of life. One cannot imagine more humble origins than that of Abraham Lincoln. Considering his roots Barak Obama was a true long-shot to become president of the United States. Bernie Sanders is the son of Jewish Polish immigrants, who could speak no English when they came to the U.S. For me the emergence of billionaire Donald Trump has been a complete surprise.

Many Americans believe religion should be kept out of American politics. This is a huge misunderstanding. The Second Amendment says that religion should be freely exercised. There are no stated exceptions. Our constitutional framers made it clear that government was to stay out of the religions of its citizens but left the door wide open for the participation of religious people in government. There is no reason for religious people to leave their religion behind when they enter the political realm.

The mixing of religion and politics in the U.S. is inevitable. Americans have always been and are very religious. When Americans enter the political realm, they are free to bring their religion with them. In religion, the Baptist tradition has been a huge winner in America. At the beginning of our nation, Baptists were a small minority and operated under the shadow of the much stronger Episcopal and Reformed traditions. In the founding of our nation, Baptists, though a small minority, argued successfully that religion should be left in the hands of individual believers, who freely gather in local congregations. While the IRS has regulations about the involvement of churches in politics, government and their bureaucracies have no rules that inhibit religious people from full participation in political campaigns and elections. When Americans enter the political realm, there is no reason to leave their religion behind.

Religious freedom in America is an inseparable companion to the individual rights that are enumerated in the Bill of Rights. In America individual believers have full freedom to bring their religious commitments, beliefs and values into the political arena. In the midst of almost every political campaign, crazy things are said, and people are called absurd names. Free speech provisions protect the speakers. Religious speech has the same protection. People who want to talk about their religious convictions in the context of an election are free to do so, no matter how absurd their religious convictions might be.

The United States is not a Christian nation and the intent of our founders was not to establish a Christian nation. Their intent was to create a nation in which religion was practiced freely. I cannot imagine having a discussion of any kind in which I am willing to leave my Christian Faith out of the conversation. That includes every election in which I have participated. Good elections are full of honest debate. Religious beliefs ought to be a part of those debates.

Judaism, Christianity and Islam embrace the traditions of Abraham. All three acknowledge Mosaic Law as being sacred. In all three of these major religions, the creation myths that are found in the book of Genesis are foundational. Genesis states very plainly that human beings have been created in the image of God. Further, the account states that God observed what he had created and declared it good.

The creation accounts make very plain that these declarations are universal. There are no exceptions. Tribal and national Gods were put in the past. Christianity, Islam and Judaism have no borders.

In these religions there are ongoing debates about what is meant by “created in the image of God.” No matter the content of those debates, one conviction is inescapable. Human life is universally precious. All human beings are equally precious. To downgrade the value of any human being is immoral.

In this presidential election year, as a Christian I am willing to draw a line in the sand and make certain assertions:

1) Any form of racism is immoral.

2) Every form of segregation based on race, language, or ethnicity is immoral.

3) Fences or walls along our national borders are immoral.

4) To the extent of student desire and ability, education should be available without monetary cost.

5) The death penalty must be brought to an end.

6) Incarceration without rehabilitation is unacceptable.

7) Every person must be free from hunger.

8) Affordable, quality health care is a human right.

All of the listed affirmations are directly related to my personal faith. They are each based on Bible teachings and more directly on the teachings of Jesus from Nazareth. As a born again Evangelical Christian in the Baptist tradition, I want my voice to be heard in this presidential election.

The Rev. Howard Bess is a retired American Baptist minister, who lives in Palmer. His email address is hdbss@mtaonline.net.