By Ray Balogh
InkFreeNews

SYRACUSE — Syracuse Baptist Church, 10013 N. Syracuse-Webster Road, will host “Jesus and Politics: Battle Lines,” a challenging and informative conference featuring elected representatives and area clergy, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23.

There is no charge for the event and lunch will be provided.

Presenters include:

• Jon Harris, host of the podcast, “Conversations That Matter”

• Indiana State Rep. Curt Nisly

• Fort Wayne Councilman Jason Arp

• Pastors Joseph Spurgeon, Tim Bushong and Jason Gingerich

Bushong, pastor of Syracuse Baptist, explained the need for such an educational interactive opportunity.

“As the poet Yeats said, ‘Things fall apart; the center cannot hold/Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world.’ Indeed, in 2020 and 2021 we have witnessed ‘mere anarchy’ in ways our grandparents could never have imagined happening in their beloved land of the free.

“Even worse, many once-accepted standards of basic common law have been turned on their head: Self-defense of home and hearth is criminally prosecuted while wanton destruction of private property is overlooked — and sometimes even justified and celebrated.

“How did this happen? How did we become a nation of subservient drones and angry mobs? How did we go from the land of the greatest opportunity and personal liberty, however imperfect and flawed, with the best chances of upward mobility, to a land of burned-out businesses and residences, ever-widening social gaps, and factious, violent political disagreements?

“What are we missing here? And, most importantly, can anything substantial be done about it?

“These are precisely the kinds of questions we hope to answer in our upcoming one-day conference.

“Believe it or not, this event is for both Christians and for those who aren’t affiliated with religion at all. Yes, it is being held in a church building, and yes, the name of the conference has ‘Jesus’ in the title. Fair enough — we are Christians, after all.

“But we will be tackling issues that affect everyone regardless of their faith, and that’s why I’m reaching out to you personally, as a citizen of this once-great nation — whether you’re a believer in Christ or not.”

For more information, call (574) 457-5846 or (574) 457-5532 or visit syracusebaptistchurch.com.