That's what I'm trying to say...

A person will worship something, have no doubt about that. We may think our tribute is paid in secret in the dark recesses of our hearts, but it will out. That which dominates our imaginations and our thoughts will determine our lives, and our character. Therefore, it behooves us to be careful what we worship, for what we are worshipping we are becoming. ---Ralph Waldo Emerson

Of late I've been reading a good many political blogs. I read conservative ones and I read liberal ones. I guess what I'm dealing with is the issue of politics & religion. See for me, it's simple. You [or more applicable, I] can't separate the two. I'm not saying you have to *be* like me or *think* like me. I don't think you have to align every conviction of yours to mirror mine. But I can only shape my thinking based on me and my experience. When I hear commentary about how a politician is religious or devout and yet he ''doesn't wear his religion on his sleeve'' so to say, I don't know how to take that statement. I don't think political rallies need to give altar calls or pass out new testaments. I don't think they have to open with praise and worship music blaring or close with a prayer of benediction. A political rally isn't a church service, you shouldn't substitute one for the other. But what is wrong with a political figure being openly religious? Why should it put someone off, if a person (who happens to be a political figure) says openly that Christ is his/her Savior, or that he depends
on God for guidance? I know that not everyone in American is a Christian. I know that not everyone has an active spiritual life or wants one. I know that many are anti God. I'm not saying they don't have that right. What I don't understand is when they want a public figure to remove [what to me is a critical part of my being] a part of their life because it to them is personally offensive. Since they don't believe in God or worship God they don't want to hear it fall from anothers lips either. Isn't that intolerance, guised as rights? The opposite argument for that of course would be that since they don't believe, wouldn't it be intolerant for us to speak religiously around them. I guess for me my religious convictions and beliefs are so intertwined with me as a whole person that they are seemlessly one. It's not like I have the Monday-Saturday, Cheri and then the Sunday, Cheri.[ Now, that is not to say I don't fail or that I don't sin. Because I do, oh I do.] But it is as natural for me to weave Christ into my decision making, as it is for me to brush my teeth. It just happens because Christ is at the root of my being. And I wouldn't be who I am if you took the "Christ" part away, or if you asked me to only exercise it in church or Christian settings. I don't understand how we can ask public political figures to check their faith at the door and feel that it is somehow right. Of course their religion guides their choices, so maybe that's it. You think that if you can make them not say Jesus, or my faith is root in the Word, then you'll somehow make them not see the sin that they stand against based on the Truth that guides them.

There is a kids ditty that comes to mind.

Hide it under a bushel, NO

I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.



People seem not to see that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character. ---Ralph Waldo Emerson