by Cinda Smaagaard

Created on: March 27, 2009   Last Updated: March 31, 2009

"Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's and unto God the things that are God's," (Matthew 22:21). Religious organizations are groups, not individuals, and should NOT be participating in politics for the simple reason that political interests involve governmental regulations, executive laws, special financial interest groups with deep pockets and ethical perspectives which may run contrary to the very word of God, or at least what you believe that word to be saying to your country.

In the above passage the disciples were asking Jesus specifically about taxes. He asked them to take a look at a coin and see whose inscription was shown on it. We can do the same today and may find Lincoln or Ben Franklin's face looking out at us from the currency. Ironically, we might also see the words, "In God We Trust" but for the most part money is not part and parcel of the overall message of the church about forgiveness and charitable service. In fact, we are asked to give our money and time to charity without giving a thought to tomorrow because God will take care of our needs so long as we are faithful and just.

The United States is a unique county with the understanding that religion is not the controlling influence of those who govern it. You will not see that so much in other countries like Italy or Israel or Saudi Arabia. The reason why the forefathers set in stone that the State should not endorse any particular religion is because they understood how much damage leaning in one direction or another could be whether it was conservative or liberal, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Communist or simply atheistic.

My youngest influence by religious organization was growing up in a predominantly Jewish community in New York City. They definitely understood why one country should not allow religious organizations to become major influences in politics, let us not forget the Holocaust. Later I became a Christian attending mostly fundamentalist foundations. They believed that if the government could decide matters of faith, or if the church was decided by popular vote, that the very principles of God as based upon Biblical premise might be compromised along the way. A few examples of this would be abortion guide-lines, regulations regarding lending practices (large interest and loan-sharking are mostly frowned upon), not to mention plea-bargaining, civil and human rights, employment practices (Workmen's Compensation) and child-custody disputes.

Non-profit religious organizations

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