Answer this attack

Lots of vitriol in those statements for some reason. I think there are too many Christians (fundamentalist and otherwise) who have relenquished critical thinking and personal responsibility for their own lives, and have retreated into a "logic-proof box" because they feel simply out-run by modern life.

I'm surprised those writers didn't add something about the strong current of anti-intellectualism within Christianity. (We lost paradise to knowledge after all, right? )

 

I'm probably going to be unpopuar for saying this but, I don't consider myself to be part of the "religious right".

Used to, but for the most part these folks have moved beyond what I consider our role as Christians to be. We to be salt and light, not condemnation and humiliation. There is to much hate and not enough love with those who identify themselves as the right. Then they try to hide their hatred and loathing for those who disagree with them, by telling the rest of us how sinful we are.

They forget that Christ said that He came to save and not to condemn, because the world was already condemned. The right continues to emphasize what is wrong with the world instead of emphasizing the Good News that we can be free from our burdens of sin.

Far to many nonChristians believe their is no hope for them because Christ wouldn't accept them till they clean themselves up when the real truth is that Christ has already done the job for us! Why do they believe this? Because to many times they have been told they are no good without being told that God loves them anyway.

Now I'm all for calling sin sin. Don't misunderstand what I am saying. However, along with telling people how bad they are, tell them how good God is!

Christians have exchanged their love and compassion for criticism and censure. The love of Christ for "family values".

As to the quotes above, the Mormans have a fair number of people fooled into thinking they stand up for "family values" when in actuality they are a legalistic cult that I don't care to be identified with.

The nun has a point. Not that it is okay to abort a baby, but that individual Christians aren't doing enough to insure that all those babies are taken care of and have the proper training so they don't grow up to make the mistakes of their parents. And just where were we when their parents were making those mistakes? Were helping out with VBS and Sunday School or were we warming a pew and priding ourselves on having never missed a service?

If right now every woman who is considering abortion were to give her baby to the prolife movement, would there be enough people willing to take them? Or would most of us say, I didn't get myself in that position so why should I look after the result?

We are attacking the problem of sin in the wrong places. Instead of worrying about the "religious rights" political future, why don't we start worrying about the future condition of hearts and minds.

 

I am Christian and conservative, but the Holy Spirit has led me to know there comes a point where good Christian witnessing leaves off and religious ramrodding begins, trying to force Christianity down someone's throat, Moslem-style.

The zealots Ed speaks about are merely sinners looking to justify their actions, same as the Mor(m)ons tried to justify polygamy. Sin is SIN, no matter in whose name it's committed. And trying to justify it in GOD'S NAME is a DOUBLE sin.

 

Amen MenagerieKeeper.

James 2
8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: 9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. 10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

 

Amen MenagerieKeeper.

john.

 

I agree. The hard line religious right reminds me much more of the Pharasees than of Jesus' deciples. Their focus is on "Is this a sin, Is that a sin" rather than on real evangelism. Generally, this is done so they can condemn another group rather than take them in and teach them the gospel as Jesus did with some of the worst types (prostitutes, tax collectors, etc.).
They are more interested in electing "their" candidate than they are in saving the lost.

I would like to have a REAL religious revival in this country, one that would heal us and not divide us.

 

I think I would agree with all of the above.This is where I think we should be: We should hate the sin and love the sinner. We should not be worried about whether someone is wearing pants in church or the length of thier hair. we should not be concentrating on what version of the Bible they are reading,using or carrying to church.
It is my understanding that many Christians are actively involved in the pro-life movement including adoption of unwanted children and thier aftercare.We should not be condoning same sex marriage there is no such thing. I think many Christians are praying for the unsaved including muslims.We want our supreme court justices to be traditional and constitutional we don't want them legislating.Many christians give to causes that favorably effect non-christians,and many of these are from the right.
One thing to consider is many lay people get thier opinions from thier pastors. Another thing to consider is, we are always witnesses whether good or bad depends on our hearts abnd our actions, people watch our sermons more often than they listen to them.I am all for revival in this country and all countries because revivals happen to Christains when they get thier hearts right with God.
Unfortunately liberals and the liberal press most often pay attention to the nuts more often than the right. They take the worst examples and ignore the good and the best examples.There will always be bashers on any side of any issue the bad news is somebody will always listen.

 

Ed,

The "Religious Right" especially the political one, is not being careful about who they choose as leaders - ergo - they end up with a lot of non-Christian behavior happening in the name of Christ.

I say this based on personal knowledge.

Here is the evidence I offer:

Locally - The Christian Coalition backs the conservative branch of the Republican Party.

The individual that the majority of Christian Republicans look to for advice on "who to vote for," is a woman that, on the surface, presents herself as working as a Christian for Christian causes. Well, - I noticed that she was doing a lot of things that concerned me from a Christian persepective. She was spreading a lot of malicious lies, which she knew were lies. So, I called her up and asked her if we could get together for a discussion. During that meeting, I asked her what church she attended.

She told me "none, I don't like organized religion."
I said, "Well, what denomination do you consider yourself to be?"
She told me, "I don't. I think that God doesn't care who you pray to. Everyone knows there is a God, it doesn't matter what you call Him or where you worship Him."

Well - That alarmed me.

So, I went to the candidates that she supported, and the candidates that she opposed. I said, "Call me nuts, but I want to hear your personal testimony for Christ, or if you aren't Christian, your testimony for whatever you believe."

There was a candidate she opposed greatly. Turned out that the gentleman was a duel-career Minister. He gave an amazing testimony for Christ. I said, "Why don't you back the "Chrisitian Coalition Platform?" He said, "It depends on the issues. I don't want non-Christians teaching kids in school how to pray. I don't want non-Christians giving my child religious instruction - so, I am against prayer in school for that reason. I am pro-life, and if an abortion votes comes up, I'll vote pro-life, but I won't run that platform because doing so will prevent my election, and keep me from having the opportunity to cast that important vote."

I went to the man she supported. He said, "I'm not a Christian, but it doesn't matter. I'm believe in all the same issues the Christian's believe in."

Well, to me it DOES matter.
I'd rather have a man who talks to God daily and sometimes makes mistakes, than a man that never talks to Him who seems to not make mistakes.

I went to the man who is head of the Home Schoolers here, he is also head of the Christian Coalition. I said, "I know you lied about this man who was running for office. I was present when this conversation too place, and I just heard you tell a very cruel lie about it to damage a man. Why?" He said, "Sometimes the ends justifies the means." I said, "Remember the 10 commandments? There is one that says, 'Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness Against Thy Neighbor,' I don't remember a "ends justifying the means" clause."

Now, a lot of wonderful Christians follow the guideance of these people who are using Christians to gain political power.

Christians need to be more careful who they follow.