I think this is a legitimate concern in light of the value we place on separation of church and state. We do seem to get a bit miffed when the government is backed by right-wing religious conservatives spouting anti-gay rhetoric, or when they demand prayer in school. Some progressives don't really care for that whole "one nation under God" business. And all of that is for cause of concern, for those of us who profess a belief that we are all created equal, and strive for justice, peace and to respect the dignity of every human being.
So why are we, a church community, hosting this prayer vigil? Well, because the dignity of every human being isn't being respected. Because justice and peace aren't happening. Because weekly more and more calls for financial assistance are coming to churches from those who have found themselves unemployed or under-employed and they can no longer put food on the table or keep a roof over their heads. They are fearful for the well-being of their children. And the role of the church is to help relieve suffering whenever possible, and to be that prophetic voice in the world calling for justice.
Last week's reading from Micah calls religious leaders and communities to task on this issue (The Message translation):
Then I said:
"Listen, leaders of Jacob, leaders of Israel:
Don't you know anything of justice?
Haters of good, lovers of evil:
Isn't justice in your job description?
But you skin my people alive.
You rip the meat off their bones.
You break up the bones, chop the meat,
and throw it in a pot for cannibal stew."
The time's coming, though, when these same leaders
will cry out for help to God, but he won't listen.
He'll turn his face the other way
because of their history of evil.
Here is God's Message to the prophets,
the preachers who lie to my people:
"For as long as they're well paid and well fed,
the prophets preach, 'Isn't life wonderful! Peace to all!'
But if you don't pay up and jump on their bandwagon,
their 'God bless you' turns into 'God damn you.'
Therefore, you're going blind. You'll see nothing.
You'll live in deep shadows and know nothing.
The sun has set on the prophets.
They've had their day; from now on it's night.
Visionaries will be confused,
experts will be all mixed up.
They'll hide behind their reputations and make lame excuses
to cover up their God-ignorance."
But me—I'm filled with God's power,
filled with God's Spirit of justice and strength,
Ready to confront Jacob's crime
and Israel's sin.
The leaders of Jacob and
the leaders of Israel are
Leaders contemptuous of justice,
who twist and distort right living,
Leaders who build Zion by killing people,
who expand Jerusalem by committing crimes.
Judges sell verdicts to the highest bidder,
priests mass-market their teaching,
prophets preach for high fees,
All the while posturing and pretending
dependence on God:
"We've got God on our side.
He'll protect us from disaster."
Because of people like you,
Zion will be turned back into farmland,
Jerusalem end up as a pile of rubble,
and instead of the Temple on the mountain,
a few scraggly scrub pines.
So will you occupy with us? Will you pray for justice and peace?