How far should our concept of “separation of church and
state” take us? Should a president never mention anything about his personal faith?
If so, then almost every politician has violated this principle. But should a
president lead his nation in prayer? Evidently, the Ugandan president thinks
that this is legitimate, even necessary: http://drudgegae.iavian.net/r?hop=http://www.wnd.com/?p=314155
- The Ugandan newssite New Vision reports President Yoweri Museveni celebrated Uganda’s 50th anniversary of independence from Britain at the National Jubilee Prayers event by publicly repenting of his personal sin and the sins of the nation.
- “I stand here today to close the evil past, and especially in the last 50 years of our national leadership history and at the threshold of a new dispensation in the life of this nation. I stand here on my own behalf and on behalf of my predecessors to repent. We ask for your forgiveness,” Museveni prayed.
- “We confess these sins, which have greatly hampered our national cohesion and delayed our political, social and economic transformation. We confess sins of idolatry and witchcraft which are rampant in our land. We confess sins of shedding innocent blood, sins of political hypocrisy, dishonesty, intrigue and betrayal,” Museveni said.
- “Forgive us of sins of pride, tribalism and sectarianism; sins of laziness, indifference and irresponsibility; sins of corruption and bribery that have eroded our national resources; sins of sexual immorality, drunkenness and debauchery; sins of unforgiveness, bitterness, hatred and revenge; sins of injustice, oppression and exploitation; sins of rebellion, insubordination, strife and conflict,” Museveni prayed.
Admittedly, I find Museveni’s pray so utterly refreshing and
needful. But doesn’t such a prayer represent the establishment of a national
religion? Clearly not! President Obama had Pastor Rick Warren pray at his
commencement. In fact, Congress has never made a move to remove congressional
prayer!
But wouldn’t such a prayer marginalize some of Uganda’s
citizens? I’m sure it would! However, feelings of marginalization aren’t always
measures of truth. Besides, doesn’t every presidential proclamation marginalize
someone? Isn’t someone going to feel offended or slighted? Of course!
I certainly felt very marginalized in High School, having to
attend their assemblies and pep rallies. I had felt that these “sacred” assemblies
disaffirmed everything that I was about. I felt deeply offended – even before I
could put it into the correct verbal form – having to mindlessly spout “Yea
team,” when I didn’t care at all whether they won or lost.
Was the school wrong for coercing me to participate in behavior
contrary to my honest inclinations? I see things differently now. Schools can
only survive and fulfill their mandate if they have the authority to enforce a
certain degree of conformity. Should the pep rally have been part of this
mandate? I don’t think so, but I must admit that if the school enforced the program
of my choice – “Why Christianity should be Banned” (at least, that’s the way I
felt at that time) – others would
have been offended. Besides, this programming wouldn’t have helped the school
fulfill its mandate.
Well then, how are nations to fulfill their mandate to serve
their citizenry? As a Christian, I think that there can be no better example
than Museveni’s pray. This is the best way to acknowledge our need for Divine
help and to position ourselves to receive it. It’s also the best way to pursue
the welfare of our countrymen, even those who would oppose such a prayer.
Not everyone will approve of Museveni’s pray; nor should we
expect otherwise in a democratic society. However, Ugandans mustn’t say “He has
no right to invoke his faith in national matters.” After all, our faith and
values govern almost all of our decisions. Instead, they have the ballot box,
but before they cast their ballot, they should consider their own welfare –
whether they have benefited under Museveni’s presidency.
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