Doing the Right Thing

This week the news has reported that Georgia and other states are beginning to loosen up restrictions on businesses and encouraging people to return to work sooner rather than later. 

This means that many of us will have to make difficult decisions to choose between our economic wellbeing and our physical wellbeing and the well being of our loved ones and the people we come into contact with. 

Pastors and church leadership will be having to ask these questions about how and when to best resume regular activities. I'll be honest--there were no seminary classes about pastoring in a pandemic and I don't know of a single pastor who has felt fully prepared to deal with this.

One of the fundamental characteristics of Baptists is a support of a total separation between church and state. That means that your pastor absolutely should not tell you how to vote. And it also means that the government by and large can not interfere with religious practices and religious organizations. 

This is not always as cut and dry as it looks because Jesus' claim on a Christian's life often compels us towards actions and beliefs that have political implications. Our faith cannot and should not fit neatly into a box that divides itself from our politics. 

The separation of Church and State also means that we recognize that morality and legality are not synonymous with one another. Just because something is legal or popular, does not mean it is the right thing to do. 

As we move towards resuming our activities in the coming weeks and months, pray for wisdom. Pray also for the wisdom of your pastors as we seek to protect our congregations and make decisions in service of their wellbeing. 

—
Kelsey Lewis Vincent, Pastor for Youth and Families, First Baptist Church of Decatur