Do not use faith as a political weapon

Mark C. Johnson, executive director of the Fellowship of Reconciliation, joined dozens of prominent Christian leaders today in a statement condemning the misuse of faith as a “political weapon” and refocusing the debate on the issues that affect “the most vulnerable among us.” Dr. Johnson said, “I am proud to lead the nation’s oldest interfaith peace and justice organization, and as a practicing Christian, it is important to lend my voice to this urgent call. Our many religious stories teach us that love and understanding are the framework of our common humanity.”

In an open letter, these Christian leaders called on public officials, the media, and their fellow Christians to discontinue pushing falsehoods about President Obama’s faith and the so-called “war on religion” and return to the teachings of Jesus and the prophets. This letter was also drafted recognizing the importance of humility and repentance — especially during Lent.

As Christian leaders, pastors, and most importantly followers of Jesus Christ, we are greatly troubled by recent attempts to use faith as a political weapon.  From Rick Santorum’s claim that the President’s theology is “not a theology based on the Bible,” to Franklin Graham’s implication that the President may be a Muslim, to the drum beat of false claims about Obama’s so-called “war on religion,” these cynical attempts to use faith as a weapon of political division are bad for our country and especially harmful to the Christian witness.

We can disagree about what it means to be a Christian engaged in politics, but Christians shouldn’t bear false witness. And the teachings of Jesus and the prophets call us in our imperfection to put the most vulnerable among us ahead of our self-interest. As the President said at the last Easter Prayer Breakfast, Jesus “took on the sins of the world – past, present and future – and he extended to us that unfathomable gift of grace and salvation through his death and resurrection.” This gift of grace should remind Christians to enter the public square with a spirit of humility and respond to all we’ve been given (and forgiven) by serving our neighbor and protecting the vulnerable. That’s how we strengthen our witness. Using faith as a partisan tool weakens it.

No politician or government will ever reflect God’s will perfectly, but we prayerfully call on political leaders and members of the media to return to the issues Jesus and the prophets were most concerned about and to stop using faith as a weapon to advance partisan politics and self-interest.

For the full text of the letter and the latest signatories, please click here.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.