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Real Estate in North Carolina: The Peaks at Wolf Ridge.
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Trinity Baptist, a local mega-church, is only two blocks away from my home. Like many houses of worship, they have a marquee on their property facing the road informing people about upcoming events.
Last week they featured "Law and Order Sunday". Here is what the marquee read:
On Sunday, the church's property was filled with police-cars and officers in uniform. I wanted to take a few snap-shots of the scene, but cops get antsy around citizens with cameras; so I waited until the next morning to photograph how Trinity Baptist decorated their parking lot for the event:
Note how the church doesn't have a single cross on the building, yet they displayed more flags than a used-car dealership.
There is nothing wrong with supporting police officers, troops and other authority figures. Nor is there anything inherently wrong with symbols of nationalism or a marquee proclaiming support for a government organization.
The police have a tough job that deserves respect. I agree 100% with my church-going neighbors that civil servants should be honored.
However, I don't see how "Law & Order Sunday" fits with the Christian message of peace, love and brotherhood. It also blurs the line between church and state in a way that should make all citizens wince.
If Trinity Baptist wants to honor people who put their bodies on the line for the rule of law, why not have a special service for activists who were arrested, beaten and shot at for demanding an end to the occupation of Iraq?
You know, the way Jesus would have done.
Or, if that idea is too political, why not have a weekend where the local homeless folks are invited to camp out on church property for a few days? A dozen scruffy homeless men are a better reminder of Jesus's teachings about caring for each other than an entire squad of police officers.
To be fair, perhaps Trinity Baptist does host these kind of events. I checked their calendar and didn't see any, but it's possible that I missed it.
I should also add that they are fine neighbors. It's just that for a church dedicated to the teachings of Christ, I don't understand their fascination with earth-based power.
Read counterpoint here.
Tags: Christians - Police - Church and State - Baptist - Church - Marquee
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