November 7, 2010:

Ponderings of a Pilgrim PASTOR: A Twofer

“Without a Prayer”

Some folks in Chattanooga are in a tizzy over the recent decision of public school officials to ban public prayers before local football games.  “How dare they stop us from praying!  Aren’t we the majority? Why should anyone object to public prayer?”  Such protests ignore the changing nature of our community as well as the very nature of prayer itself.

As our friend Chuck Lippy pointed out in a recent Times Free Press article Chattanooga, indeed, the whole “South,” is becoming more and more religiously and culturally diverse.  While there may still be a majority of  folks who are Evangelical Protestant Christians, there are growing numbers of other faith groups:  Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Mormon, etc. etc. etc.  Public Evangelical Protestant Christians prayers are by their very nature an imposition on those who prefer a different form of prayer or no prayer at all.  In this free land, the right of a religious minority to freedom from religion must always trump the rights of an aggressive majority attempting to “evangelize” others.

By the way, I have nothing against a group of parents, players and pastors gathered off by themselves to offer whatever prayers they wish though I could also wish it would be done in a less self-righteous fashion.  And, of course, no one can ban silent prayer!

“A Compassionate Ending”

“Do not go gentle into that good night . . .”

Dylan Thomas’ famous poem reflected his own struggle as well as his father’s at the time of the father’s death.  How should we approach death, our own as well as that of those we love?  With rage or resignation?  And if death does not come easily, when the body is racked with pain, should it be possible to give death a hand.

A recent article in USA Today suggests that physician-assisted suicide is quietly gaining ground around the country.  A strong majority of Americans now believe that doctors should be able to administer a lethal
dose of narcotics for those in terminal pain.  Oregon now permits this although only a few such deaths have been permitted because of appropriate stringent requirements.

Despite the abuses of such nortorious figures as Dr. Kevorkian and despite the strong support Christian people should give to supporting appropriate life, I do believe that medical ethics and common compassion should allow for that compassionate release from a life that has lost its meaning and has become too painful to bear.  What do you think?

Love,
Pastor Dave