News-Record.com

ANY monies that are given by the government to churches, whether for educational or social action are a bad idea. Just as Abraham would not take charity from the pagan Hitties in Gen. 23, so Christians should not depend upon the secular magistrate for any provision or favor. There are always, or will be, strings attached. The Church should maintain its freedom and separation, institutionally, from the state, meaning that the state should not tax the Church or meddle in its affairs and policies; nor should the Church seek to control or manipulate the state: any influence should be through legitimate means, such as free voting of individuals, or public addressing of issues, as any other free agent in society may.

There SHOULD be a reciprocity of principles and spiritual commitment to God's moral and case laws between the state and Church, but no insitutional or governmental comingling. The whole faith-based pheonomenon is simply political posturing, and is a really BAD idea. Perhaps Obama sees the state supporting radical left-wing churches such as Wright's organization. I think the right has seen it as a means to further THEIR social work as well, perhaps with the hope of bringing the Gospel to bear on the problems. The latter is a good idea; minus the government's money and beurocracy.