You’re failing to make an important distinction between the organized “church” and the “free exercise of religion.” The activities of a church as a religious organization and denomination is certainly not the same thing as the activities of individuals in the free exercise of their religion. But the modern-day Leftists have blurred this distinction to unconstitutionally curtail individual free exercise of religion and have used the unconstitutional phrase “separation of church and state” to justify doing so.
Nobody wants government in their church or meddling with their free exercise of religion. This governmental meddling is patently unconstitutional.
But religion and religious beliefs (not necessarily your organized denominational church) can and should be freely exercised in government. The Constitution and the stone carvings all around Washington D.C. and state government buildings across the country testify to the need for just that: the free exercise of religion in government.
The Church which are God’s people who have the Tree of Life (Jesus Christ) and are the Tree of Life to this world, has the medicine a government needs for a nation’s healing, cure and wholeness (Rev 22:2). To separate the free exercise of religion from government is to take away the doctors that would keep the patient healthy. That is EXACTLY what has taken place in our modern times and is EXACTLY why the government is so sick and destructive.
If you take the free exercise of religion out of government, Satan will have free reign to turn government against you so you will have neither a church OR free exercise of religion. This is taking place right now as we so enjoyably discuss this.
I’m not failing anything.
I have an informed and well contemplated opinion.
The fact we disagree makes my opinion no less valid, well researched, or thoughtful, much less prayerful.
Pastors have, in my opinion, no business endorsing other men, all of us failed, for positions of political power.
There is an implied power and persuasion available from the pulpit, and it is a slippery and dangerous path when men of the cloth delve into candidate politics.
Should the Pope, or Cardinal Law individually endorse specific men? Should the Elder of Salt Lake? How about brother Graham? Do we want preacher Joel to tell us who he supports specifically? What about Qahdi - should he support individual candidates by name?