dear newbies,

Originally posted by jaywill
[b]=========================================

“…the church SHOULD relinquish any influence it has over politics…”

==========================================

In our church prayer meetings we sometimes pray for the leaders of our country or of another. This is according to Paul's instructions. We petition God that the leaders would humbl ...[text shortened]... 't stop people from praying to the God Who is there concerning wise leadership of governments.[/b]

I can see it now. One pastor, a large congregation, the Pastor saying "God, we pray that Obama humbles himself and allows the Presidency to go to he who You want in office."

Originally posted by jaywill
[b]=========================================

“…the church SHOULD relinquish any influence it has over politics…”

==========================================

In our church prayer meetings we sometimes pray for the leaders of our country or of another. This is according to Paul's instructions. We petition God that the leaders would humbl ...[text shortened]... 't stop people from praying to the God Who is there concerning wise leadership of governments.[/b]

The problem is NOT praying for any individual, it is more things like pastors preaching political sermons, for example;

http://www.richarddawkins.net/article,2746,Pastors-Challenge-Law-Endorse-Candidates-From-Pulpit,ABC-News

Or when religious individuals or organisations like the Discovery institute try to affect educational policy;

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/21/opinion/21sat4.html?_r=2&ref=opinion&oref=slogin&oref=login

http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/87876/?page=entire&ses=05f6ce90127b35a567cef0bd19f816de

http://www.columbusdispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/06/20/mtvernon.ART_ART_06-20-08_B1_R2AHRH3.html?sid=101

Or when unproven superstition is allowed to trumph logic and reason;

http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_23845.aspx

http://www.richarddawkins.net/article,2742,-Teens-death-blamed-on-faith-healing,CNN (praying does nothing, ask this dead kid's parents - this is the second one they lost trying to use superstition to cure a sick kid)

And it's not just Christianity;

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25106145/

======================================

I can see it now. One pastor, a large congregation, the Pastor saying "God, we pray that Obama humbles himself and allows the Presidency to go to he who You want in office."

=========================================

If you want to talk about where I meet and the way thousands of us meet in the local churches - www.localchurches.org:

We do not have the pastorial system. We practice the priesthood of all believers.

We do not have a clergy laity system where I meet. All can speak. All can prophesy. And we let the Holy Spirit lead how the prayer meeting goes.

We can pray for the governments in a general way without mentioning names. When Paul told the churches to pray for those who were in government and for kings Caesar Nero was the Emperor !

You might know that Nero was no friend of the Christian church yet still the Apostle Paul said the church needed to pray for ALL those who are in high positions.


Everyone of you atheist guys is missing out.