There could be a lot of reasons why I keep asking for clarification. It just doesn't make any sense to me. You say your faith guides your political opinions, but you take great care to make sure your politics are as divided from your faith as possible.
I will try to explain it again.
My faith is what commands me to be involved, politically. If I lived in China (where all religions are basically banned) or Afghanistan (where Muslim law prevails) or Great Britain (which is technically a church state), as a Christian I would still have the same sense of calling to demand justice from the government that I do here, in the US. It might play itself out differently in each of those countries, but God is not different, depending on what country you live in. The difference might be in how I get involved, how I play out my faith. Here, I do it by exercising my right to vote, and/or in advocating for certain laws. In China, it might be in opening an underground church and teaching the faithless about Jesus. In Afghanistan, it might be in seeking common ground to overcome the hatred and prejudices there. Not having lived in any of those other places, I really can't say for sure, just that I know I would fight for justice anywhere I was.
The distinction is not that
I keep
my faith and politics separate. I cannot keep my own faith separate from anything, because it is in everything I do. Rather, I recognize that we live in a country where the laws must
not be intertwined with any particular faith.
The separation of church and state is national, corporate (and by corporate I'm not referring to businesses, but the definition of the word meaning pertaining to all people, not just one).
The joining of church and state is only in my own personal uses and actions. It is the "why" behind it.
Is this starting to make sense?
You seem to be claiming that one cannot separate church and state on the national level without doing so in one's own personal life. That is not only wrong, but highly insulting to every non-Christian in this country. A non-Christian can be just as impassioned about justice as I am. They would have different reasons behind their passion, but the end result, to any external observer, would be the same.
In fact, you (and others) seem to be implying that non-Christians cannot be moral and ethical. This is very wrong, and rather sad, because not only are many non-Christians, even atheists, highly ethical and moral, but statistically, they are actually more so than Christians. (This is sad, and I admit, embarrassing, but it is still true.)
I'm trying to wrap my head around the idea that secular morals and ethics need to be fought for...
Please read the parable of the Good Samaritan. Read it with an open mind, and ask God to guide you in what it may mean. If you can't recognize that Jesus is commanding us to help the plight of those who aren't "the right religion" then I am out of things to say. I get that you may not take my word for it, but if you can't take Jesus' word for it, then there is really no point even discussing it.
...and it's your faith in Jesus Christ that is inspiring you to fight for them...
Absolutely. Not that those who don't have faith in Jesus Christ may not fight for them ... they can and do. They have their inspirations, I have mine, and mine happens to be God.
...to fight for them OVER the morals and ethics of the Bible.
I do not fight for them "over" Biblical morals, but
because of them.
I would also like to request a definition of what you might mean by "Biblical morals." I will provide my distinctions for you, with the understanding that we may have different definitions, but we can at least strive to understand the other's views, if not accept them.
For me, there is a lot of overlap between "Christian morality" and "secular morality." Many ... perhaps even most ... of the laws and rules a Christian would follow are also ethical according to secular standards. Examples include:
- Do not cause harm to another person (with of course exceptions in certain situations, which may vary between Christians, those of other religions, and atheists, but the basic premise remains the same)
- Honor one's word (if you say you're going to do something, do it)
- Protect those who cannot protect themselves
- Those things which are in the common good take precedence over things which only benefit one person or a minority.
There are also things which I consider "Christian ethics" but are not "secular morality," and these things I would NOT enforce in a nation such as ours. These include:
- Worship God
- Hold your sisters and brothers accountable
- Pray
- A woman is to remain faithful, obedient, and subservient to her husband
Finally, there are items which are outlined in Scripture as being "moral" but which are not moral for today's society. Examples include:
- Women are the property of men
- A man may get divorced for any reason
- A woman who is raped must marry the rapist
- Anyone who works on the Sabbath must be put to death
I am not implying that you say these things are good and/or moral. However, when you use the phrase "Biblical morality" please be aware that many people understand that phrase to condone the above.
Are there things that are moral according to secular ethics but not according to Christian ethics? Yes. Examples include:
- A woman's body is her own alone, and she is beholden to no one else (a Christian would say she is at least beholden to God, if not also to her husband)
- As long as no one else is hurt, do whatever you want
- Follow the orders of your superiors, no matter what
In these last, I would have to weigh whether supporting the secular law would violate my own (Christian) morality. If it does, the Christian morality takes precedence, even if it means breaking the law.
There are very few times when I have been forced to choose between following the law and following Christ. I guess I am fortunate in that.
