Independence For Sale But At What Cost with Rev. Dr. Kristofer Lindh-Payne

St. Francis Spiritual Sustenance -- July 5, 2022

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Yesterday was a nationally recognized holiday of our country’s independence. We hope you found wonderful ways of celebrating with friends and family, whether it was cookouts and parades and fireworks or something more low key.

In today’s video, Kristofer reflects momentarily on the Fourth of July experience but also invites us to go deeper in examination of some challenges that we face collectively when patriotism and nationalism collide with institutionalized religion. This intense topic of consideration has many entry points but for Kristofer’s message today it focuses on a disturbing Facebook ad for body armor that he recently noticed in his targeted newsfeed. See photo below (insert photo) for a glimpse at what provoked him to speak about this topic.

As we consider the radically non-violent call of Jesus and the claim it has on our lives, what comes up for you as you consider the entanglement of church and state and dangers of religious extremism?