People may mean well when they say that religion has no place in politics. They will sometimes cite what they think is written in the Constitution mandating a “separation of church and state.” But there is no such mandate or wording to that effect. The actual words found in the First Amendment to the Constitution are, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”

Following from last week in which I mentioned that the burden of proof surely lies with those who permit medically induced, elective abortions that this procedure is not a taking of an innocent human being. For Judaism and Christianity, we understand this to fall under the Fifth Commandment, “You shall not murder.” And Luther’s explanation is spot on! “We are to fear and love God so that we do not harm our neighbor in any way, but help him in all his physical needs.”

This week I intend to take a break from our series on being well formed by the Bible. We will return to it soon.

The foundational Books of the Old Testament known as the Pentateuch culminate in the Book of Deuteronomy. It is a fitting finish to the five. Even the title “Deuteronomy” indicates this. Deuteronomy literally means “second law”. And indeed in this Book Moses repeats the story of what has happened to the people thus far as they are at the doorstep of finally entering the Promised Land. He repeats the whole law, and then renews the understanding of what it means to belong to God as the congregation of Israel.