Public Faith?

I read an opinion piece from Kathleen Parker of the Washington Post this weekend talking about the need for more unity in the nation as opposed to the constant polarizing messages doing battle (Ground Zero mosque, Glen Beck vs. Al Sharpton, immigration law, etc.). For the most part, I liked what she had to say. Her main point is that in the absence of leadership (and we are sorely lacking that from all groups currently), individuals should seek to retain the truly American ideas that create our national character.

Her list:
Be considerate
Tend your garden
Mind your own business
Lend a hand
Keep your clothes on and your hands to yourself
Honor your family and your country
Don't air your dirty laundry or vocabulary in public

Sounds good to me, if she had stopped there. But she added one more: "For God's sake, don't talk about religion." This, to me, would be a grave error.

First, I have learned more about my own faith and that of others from having reasonable discussions with people who disagree with me. Their faith (or lack thereof) is an important part of who they are, and to be ignorant of that is to be ignorant of their priorities. It's difficult to be a responsible citizen through ignorance.

Secondly, to be unwilling to talk about my religion would cheapen my faith. If my actions don't speak of my faith, my faith is small. If my faith is right, then everything I do must be saturated with the idea of glorifying God and enjoying him. If I don't believe my faith is right, I have no faith. To not talk about religion is to be lukewarm, non-commital, or even casual about it. I'm not casual about my love for all things UNI Panthers. I'm not casual about the Phillies. I'm not casual about my love affair with Nutty Bars and Kwik Star gas stations and Costa Rican coffee. I talk about these things. Nobody asks me not to, just because they may prefer Casey's or Starbucks. If I speak more about these, and my actions exhibit more about these trivialities, than I do about my faith, it is a weak faith indeed.

No, we must not be quiet about faith. We must have discussions and questions and hopefully even arguments. I read the other day that the real definition of love isn't making much of someone, but of giving them what they need. I believe the ones I love need God as much as I do. To not be ready to explain where my hope comes from is to avoid love out of the risk of feeling akward. I would expect them to share with me what they believe I need to hear. I must be ready to do the same.