Category: Guest Column
“Sightings” by Martin Marty
“Shocking” News on Worship and the Public
Martin Marty, May 1, 2017
The focus of Sightings is on the “public,” as in “public religion,” a concept which often leads to discussion of “church and state” affairs or “religion and public life.” The “private religion” of the sanctuary and temple does not often make news. Yet we have to be ready for surprise, and we were prompted to be surprised, even shocked, by headlines like this one from last week: “Survey shocker: music dead last, sermons first, as worship draws.” It headed an article at Baptist News Global by Jeff Brumley, who was shocked—shocked!—as he presumed most of his readers, Baptist or non-Baptist, must have been. Instantly the subject of this “survey shocker” appeared in many articles on the internet.
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Pocket Guide to Xpian Lawmaking
Rev. Walke’s husband was sworn in as an Oklahoma State legislator. Her reflections on the experience and suggestions for the overtly Christian in their propensity to govern based on their faith experience is worth a few minutes.
Rev. Walke’s ‘Pocket Guide to Christian Lawmaking’
NONDOC, March 2, 2017At the time, I anticipated that these very public declarations of faithfulness to the teachings of Jesus would result in the most family-friendly and community-minded legislative session our state has ever seen. Surely all of these self-identified Christian lawmakers would author legislation reflective of Jesus’ mission to bring good news to the poor, proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, and to let the oppressed go free.
My mistake.