Sitting on the political fence

It is interesting being a non-American and a Christian in "Christian America". Jeremy and I find it fascinating to hear how people articulate (and integrate) their faith and politics. Interest in the relationship between the church-state divide (or lack thereof) seems to be growing steadily. Even our 20s/30s group at church has chosen this exact topic to discuss at the upcoming retreat.

As a foreigner, I am very hesitant to comment. I am dismayed at how little anti-war sentiment I hear: neither in the church nor in Davis (which is a notably liberal town!). I realise I don't understand the issues very clearly, and the offense-risk is high, with the war being such an emotional issue at the moment. And so, more often than not, I choose the ostrich tack and just bury my head under the sand.

But today I read a most brilliant and challenging article on "Confessing Christ in a World of Violence". I want to sign my name at the bottom of that confession. It's the most clearly articulated statement of the relationship between Christianity and the current global conflict that I have read thus far. No wonder over 200 noted Christian theologians have added their names to the paper. Would that all of Christian America would think this through.

But I'm blogging it because, still feeling rather ostrich-like, I don't yet have the courage to send it to my address book as an e-mail.