I’m thinking about writing brief posts on practical, concrete steps for reforming the churches. I’ll lead with an easy one. It’s easy, but it’s controversial, especially with the elections for Caesar that are coming up next year.
Idea for Church Reform #1: No politics.
Here’s the first thing you do: take out the flags. No American flags, no Canadian flags, no Mexican flags, no Iranian flags, no Israeli flags, and no silly “Christian flags,” which don’t have any basis in Scripture and seem to me to be originated in the aping of the war-banners of governments.
The reason? We’re citizens of heaven, and who cares about our earthly citizenship? We can use it to get ourselves out of trouble (like Paul did), but it’s spiritually unimportant. Removing these national symbols can lead us to identify with our brothers around the world without fretting about the particulars of their civil oppressors.
Here’s another thing you do: stop talking about politics. That’s it: in the context of the church, it’s off limits. It divides and not based on doctrine. Instead, focus on civil/community action in terms of church, family, and individual. Don’t talk about passing this or that legislation, getting this or that guy or party into or out of office. Instead, talking about helping this person, offering to adopt these babies, caring for these widows and orphans.
Notice that that’s the kind of stuff the NT talks about? Notice how it’s completely unconcerned with political agitation? Maybe there’s something to that.
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