Shocker: Sanity From the Religious Right!
Focus On The Wrong Families?
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/calthomas/ct20041110.shtml
Finding this at right-wing propagandist site TownHall.org shocked my socks off. Cal Thomas articulates many of my issues with these "values voters". Yet I don't think he goes far enough. They aren't in danger of losing their first love, they have lost their first love.
I always wondered why we had so many issues with gay rights, when we can't get our own marriages together.
I always wondered why abortion was a major concern, when we were aligning ourselves with a party whose leading lights advocated the execution of children and the mentally challenged.
And I thought we'd decided the Crusades were a bad idea... like, oh, say eight centuries ago.
Jesus said that if we lifted Him up, He would draw all men. The past election's "value vote" was a cheap ploy to co-opt the work of the Holy Spirit. The reason why the United States is such a Christian nation is because it is a free nation. Real Christianity thrives in liberty. It dies in theocracy... observe what happened in Christendom in the Middle Ages. As an evangelical, I do believe in the importance of a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus, but I don't think it is my place to force Christianity as a religion down people's throats.
Gays, lesbians, and women who choose to terminate their pregnancies are serving as scapegoats. Instead of cleaning out the issues in our own churches, we are becoming like the Pharisees of old.
Lord, I thank God I am not like that man...
My question for values voters is this: when Jesus walked, did He close down the brothels? No--he overturned the tables of the moneychangers in places of worship. Did He join in the stoning of the woman who had committed adultery? No--he forgave her, and gave her an opportunity to start anew.
I agree with Thomas. Can't the evangelicals hear Jesus talking?
Nevertheless, I have this against you: you have left your first love.
You know, Jesus' ministry was for us--the church. His kingdom. One of the Scriptures that gets to me every single time is found in John, when Jesus prays for Himself, His disciples... and then, for us! He tells the Father specifically that He was not praying for the world, but for us, that we would be one, just as He was one with the Father.
It was his desire that we walk as He walked--in love. Is denying groups civil benefits walking in love? Yes, our faith teaches us certain things about a homosexual lifestyle. However, many of these couples have children. Should their children be denied benefits?
As for a woman's right to choose, women in Biblical times were engaging in infanticide. The potential child is one sad casualty of abortion, but another, less mentioned one is the woman herself. What about her physical, mental and spiritual health and well-being? Should we risk two lives by criminalizing abortion and forcing it to the darkest corners of our society?
The supposed rise in homosexuality and abortion has been attributed to (among other things) the "selfish spirit of the age". What about prosperity theology that has overtaken the American church? The gospel of materialism? The mantra of name-it-and-claim-it? The taking of Scripture out of context? The idea that the minister with the most toys--and the most members--wins?
Where are the New Testament Christians?
What's more, would Jesus vote Democrat or Republican?
Would Jesus be concerned with any of this at all?
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/calthomas/ct20041110.shtml
Finding this at right-wing propagandist site TownHall.org shocked my socks off. Cal Thomas articulates many of my issues with these "values voters". Yet I don't think he goes far enough. They aren't in danger of losing their first love, they have lost their first love.
I always wondered why we had so many issues with gay rights, when we can't get our own marriages together.
I always wondered why abortion was a major concern, when we were aligning ourselves with a party whose leading lights advocated the execution of children and the mentally challenged.
And I thought we'd decided the Crusades were a bad idea... like, oh, say eight centuries ago.
Jesus said that if we lifted Him up, He would draw all men. The past election's "value vote" was a cheap ploy to co-opt the work of the Holy Spirit. The reason why the United States is such a Christian nation is because it is a free nation. Real Christianity thrives in liberty. It dies in theocracy... observe what happened in Christendom in the Middle Ages. As an evangelical, I do believe in the importance of a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus, but I don't think it is my place to force Christianity as a religion down people's throats.
Gays, lesbians, and women who choose to terminate their pregnancies are serving as scapegoats. Instead of cleaning out the issues in our own churches, we are becoming like the Pharisees of old.
Lord, I thank God I am not like that man...
My question for values voters is this: when Jesus walked, did He close down the brothels? No--he overturned the tables of the moneychangers in places of worship. Did He join in the stoning of the woman who had committed adultery? No--he forgave her, and gave her an opportunity to start anew.
I agree with Thomas. Can't the evangelicals hear Jesus talking?
Nevertheless, I have this against you: you have left your first love.
You know, Jesus' ministry was for us--the church. His kingdom. One of the Scriptures that gets to me every single time is found in John, when Jesus prays for Himself, His disciples... and then, for us! He tells the Father specifically that He was not praying for the world, but for us, that we would be one, just as He was one with the Father.
It was his desire that we walk as He walked--in love. Is denying groups civil benefits walking in love? Yes, our faith teaches us certain things about a homosexual lifestyle. However, many of these couples have children. Should their children be denied benefits?
As for a woman's right to choose, women in Biblical times were engaging in infanticide. The potential child is one sad casualty of abortion, but another, less mentioned one is the woman herself. What about her physical, mental and spiritual health and well-being? Should we risk two lives by criminalizing abortion and forcing it to the darkest corners of our society?
The supposed rise in homosexuality and abortion has been attributed to (among other things) the "selfish spirit of the age". What about prosperity theology that has overtaken the American church? The gospel of materialism? The mantra of name-it-and-claim-it? The taking of Scripture out of context? The idea that the minister with the most toys--and the most members--wins?
Where are the New Testament Christians?
What's more, would Jesus vote Democrat or Republican?
Would Jesus be concerned with any of this at all?
posted by Ebony Elizabeth at 9:51 PM
2 Comments:
Ebony -
I am so pleased to hear your voice (and a voice like yours - christian and democrat) in the din of the blogosphere. You are so, so intelligent, thoughtful and articulate - please do keep going with the blog - we NEED your voice out there in the world!
Amen!!!
This is exactly what I've been trying to say, only you do it so much better. I only wish more people heard you...
Love,
Maria
http://www.livejournal.com/users/kiwiria
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