"When you put your trust in the sword, you lose the cross"

I know Minnesotans. I lived there for 18 years. Some of my friends are Minnesotans. I taught 6000 of them at the University.

Minnesotans have a lot of common sense. Even some of the bible thumping Jesus freaks there know where to draw the line.

This minister took a big chance by divorcing his church from the program of political involvement that is expected by the Republicans who know how to exploit religion for political gain.

Bravo Rev. Boyd.

Now we need to convince some of our own bible and talmud thumping rabbis to back off from their political harangues. Even now during these tough times it is still a good time to remind ourselves to keep religion and politics separate -- like milchig and fleishig.

Some of our rabbis are really saying awfully silly things about political matters. (You know who.) Here is the Times:

Disowning Conservative Politics, Evangelical Pastor Rattles Flock - New York Times
By LAURIE GOODSTEIN

MAPLEWOOD, Minn. -- Like most pastors who lead thriving evangelical megachurches, the Rev. Gregory A. Boyd was asked frequently to give his blessing -- and the church’s -- to conservative political candidates and causes.

The requests came from church members and visitors alike: Would he please announce a rally against gay marriage during services? Would he introduce a politician from the pulpit? Could members set up a table in the lobby promoting their anti-abortion work? Would the church distribute "voters’ guides" that all but endorsed Republican candidates? And with the country at war, please couldn’t the church hang an American flag in the sanctuary?

After refusing each time, Mr. Boyd finally became fed up, he said. Before the last presidential election, he preached six sermons called "The Cross and the Sword" in which he said the church should steer clear of politics, give up moralizing on sexual issues, stop claiming the United States as a "Christian nation" and stop glorifying American military campaigns.

"When the church wins the culture wars, it inevitably loses," Mr. Boyd preached. "When it conquers the world, it becomes the world. When you put your trust in the sword, you lose the cross."

Mr. Boyd says he is no liberal. He is opposed to abortion and thinks homosexuality is not God’s ideal. The response from his congregation at Woodland Hills Church here in suburban St. Paul -- packed mostly with politically and theologically conservative, middle-class evangelicals -- was passionate. Some members walked out of a sermon and never returned. By the time the dust had settled, Woodland Hills, which Mr. Boyd founded in 1992, had lost about 1,000 of its 5,000 members.... (more at the Times)