THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, July 15, 1995 TAG: 9507140066
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E5 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Issues of Faith
SOURCE: Betsy Wright
LENGTH: Medium: 91 lines
WHEN I WAS a child, adults used to tell me that nice girls don't discuss religion and politics in public.
Obviously I'm not a nice girl, having proved the point two weeks ago by doing the grand ``no-no'' of discussing both religion and politics in the same column. If you recall, that column blasted Gov. Allen for what I believed to be some un-Christian words hurled at inmates of the Bland Sex Offender Treatment Community. In return, I got blasted for being too political.
While the Reader Response last week was heavily against what I'd written, this week's mail bag brought in the supportive troops. Despite all the ``atta-girls,'' however, I've been doing some deep introspection - and prayer - about that column.
I've finally come to the same conclusion as Portsmouth reader Margaret N. Windley, who wrote that I ``should have calmed down before writing (it).''
Don't get me wrong. I still believe Allen was insensitive for spouting off the ``heal thyself'' remark. I still think he was trying to use Scripture to buttress his political position. I still believe the remark was un-Christian.
I should not have, however, thrown in the smart-aleck remark about the two unrelated issues of the Gaston pipeline and Goals 2000. I apologize to Gov. Allen and his supporters for that un-Christian remark of mine.
Also, I must apologize for an error caught by reader Douglas W. Montgomery.
``In (that column) you wrote, `Are Allen's policies any more or less Christian than those of any other non-Christian politician?','' wrote Montgomery. ``That's quite different from writing, `Are Allen's policies any more or less Christian than those of a non-Christian politician?' The words `any other' clearly denote that you think the governor is a member of that group. . . . I believe you really wanted to write that the governor (and, indirectly, his religious supporters) are not true Christians. . . .''
No, Douglas, I did not want to write that the governor and his supporters are not true Christians. It was an honest mistake. I apologize for any hurt it may have caused the governor or his supporters. I would never have accused him or anyone else of not being a Christian.
Again, my intent was to chastise a powerful Christian for what I believe to be some un-Christian words.
Now, having eaten a bit of crow, I'd like to solicit some feedback on what I think is the bigger issue: Should religion and politics ever mix? And on a more personal level: Should this column address issues that are both religious and political?
Experience teaches me that other than sex, politics makes readers the most vocal. Everybody has an opinion and most are more than willing to share it with whoever will listen.
What it seems to boil down to is this: If someone agrees with a person espousing a certain political belief, then that someone is in favor of mixing politics and religion. If, however, someone disagrees, then they are against the mixture.
I do it. We all do it.
But isn't there more to it? Aren't there some issues that crisscross the boundaries of both politics and religion? I believe there are. Abortion and school prayer are just two.
The issue of politics and religion is discussed in the book ``Biblical Ethics'' by Robertson McQuilkin. McQuilkin is the former president of what is now Columbia International University and was also a missionary to Japan for 12 years.
``The coloration of public policy by the values of the citizenry, whether religiously inspired or antireligiously inspired, is inevitable,'' McQuilkin writes. ``Public policy is inevitably influenced by some ethical ideology.''
I believe he is saying that it is impossible for people of faith to totally separate their religious values from their political views. I agree. But when it comes to a column about religion, do readers want to see political issues discussed? What about sermons? Can we really separate religion and politics altogether?
In his section titled ``Responsibility Toward Society,'' McQuilkin gives a Christian's personal ``how to'' list for being a good citizen. One way is to ``voice what (one) believes in personal conversation, letters, articles, sermons and letters to the editor as opportunity affords.''
So I am affording you an opportunity to voice your belief on this issue.
Help me decide which topics, if any, are fair play and which are off-limits. Feel free to expound at length, or simply call and leave your message of either ``stay out of politics'' or ``go for it.'' Answers will be published next week.
MEMO: Every other week, Betsy Mathews Wright publishes responses to her
opinion column. Send responses to Issues of Faith, The Virginian-Pilot,
150 W. Brambleton Ave., Norfolk, Va. 23510; call (804) 446-2273; FAX
(804) 436-2798; or send e-mail to bmw(AT)infi.net. Deadline is Tuesday
before publication. You must include name, city and phone number.
by CNB