This Might not be a Bad Thing

December 1, 2005 · Filed Under theology

From the 12/1 Indianapolis Star:

House prayers can’t invoke Jesus
by Richard D. Walton

“A federal court judge Wednesday barred prayers that mention Jesus Christ or endorse any religion at the opening of each daily session of the Indiana House of Representatives.
Judge David Hamilton found that the House practice breached the clause of the U.S. Constitution prohibiting government establishment of religion. While not banning prayers in the House, Hamilton ordered that any person chosen to give the invocation be instructed it must not advance any one faith or be used in a bid to convert listeners.”

Now, I’m neither all that surprised, nor all that disheartened, that this has come to pass.

Why, you ask?

Well, I’m not surprised because our society/culture is fallen, and it can’t get up — at least not how it thinks it can. And a goodly portion doesn’t even want to get up out of the gutter, as they’re there on purpose, and they like it.

I’m not that disheartened because something like this actually removes a harmful ambiguity. It takes away the temptation to think that such situations — where unionism & syncretism are almost too difficult to avoid — are “manageable” and/or can be evangelism/outreach opportunities despite any/all compromises.

I hope that some folks are shocked out of their “can’t we all just get along” stupor (wherein they usually tend to justify things my eisegeting 1 Cor 9:21-23 & Gal 3:26-29 …).

I hold no illusions that this will stop folks from going where they shouldn’t be (Yankee Stadium, after all, will always be alluring — houses of ill-repute often are…), although I confidently pray that God will use this to best further His Will.

It’ll be interesting to see how this all plays out. I imagine that there will be a great hue & cry from the American Evangelical Right, along with those who have become enamored with the acclamation (if not always power) that comes from being a high-profile “player” on the contemporary local/state/national scene. It’ll be fun to watch.
Update: This is also being discussed over at the Cranach Blog…