PASTORS: Pay heed to Proverbs

Responding to Scott Grunsted, Betsy Sears, and Ron Vieselmeyer, whose letters appeared on Wednesday 11 June 2014 in the Coeur d’Alene Press:

Proverbs 29:7 which is repeated from the Jewish Tanakh reads, “A righteous man is concerned with the cause of the wretched; a wicked man cannot understand such a concern.” The reason why I bring this scripture to the attention of other people is simple: If the general argument of a Mr. Grunsted, Ms. Sears, or a Mr. Vieselmeyer is to tell us all about how the founders actually intended for this nation to have a church inseparable with the government, further with politics in general, then the above scripture is a reminder about the obligations such a government must have toward the above named wretched.

If you want to immediately argue that this is some sort of “Communist” position? First point: This is God’s word. Included in this first point Thomas Paine made a declaration about the government’s obligation to the wretched, very much in line with this scripture in Proverbs. Second point: It is you people who demand a role for religion in government. Therefore, it is you people who place upon the government a moral burden to assist the wretched.

A few weeks ago, an “Inlander” article had come out, their “State of Mind” investigation, regarding a much needed mental health crisis center for Kootenai County. Kathy Sims was mentioned as voting against such a center in the Idaho State Legislature. Her reason was: “Money doesn’t fall out of the sky.” If this was reported as accurate, and with the above scripture in mind, then Kathy Sims voted on the side of the wicked.

My view of pastors who get deeply involved in politics: If they don’t have a decent understanding of what is found scripturally in their own bibles, then what difference would it make which politicians they endorse or do not? There are many reasons why this country might not now be blessed by your God, but it has nothing to do with the politics of gays, fetuses, or guns. Instead, it has everything to do with our failure to treat each other with a degree of humanity and compassion.

Therefore, that scripture in Proverbs is most apropos to this discussion.

JOAN E. HARMAN

Coeur d’Alene