Should Christians have a Religious Litmus Test for Elected Officials?

[Zaac]

We seem to apply something of a religious litmus test ( are they pro/anti abortion, etc.) when we want for our candidates.

Does our "subjectivity" as to what religious mores are acceptable/unacceptable in our candidates mirror the way that non-Christians and some liberal Christians view God's word as being fluid in its CORRECT meaning?

What should be the standard? And why does it seem that our standard never seems to mesh with God's standard?

 

[OldRegular]

We seem to apply something of a religious litmus test ( are they pro/anti abortion, etc.) when we want for our candidates.

That is not a necessarily a religious test. In fact many professing Christians are pro-abortion. It is in my opinion a test of character. What is lacking in a person's character that would cause him/her to participate in this continual slaughter of unborn children? Over fifty million in this country alone.

Does our "subjectivity" as to what religious mores are acceptable/unacceptable in our candidates mirror the way that non-Christians and some liberal Christians view God's word as being fluid in its CORRECT meaning?

What should be the standard? And why does it seem that our standard never seems to mesh with God's standard?

When I vote for president I am not voting for a spiritual adviser. That being said I would not vote for a Muslim. I believe Islam is not just a religion it is a totalitarian religion that seeks total control, much like Roman Catholicism up until the Reformation.

 

[Zaac]

That is not a necessarily a religious test. In fact many professing Christians are pro-abortion.

Is it not an issue of right and wrong just as much as telling a lie or not would be?

It is in my opinion a test of character. What is lacking in a person's character that would cause him/her to participate in this continual slaughter of unborn children? Over fifty million in this country alone.

Okay. But BIBLICALLY where is character based? Murder, which is what abortion is, is Biblically prohibited. SO how would that NOT be religious litmus test?

When I vote for president I am not voting for a spiritual adviser.

But would you not vote for a candidate because he is anti-life? I ask because much like you, I'm under the impression that a lot of Christians don't really think that abortion is a religious issue.

That being said I would not vote for a Muslim. I believe Islam is not just a religion it is a totalitarian religion that seeks total control, much like Roman Catholicism up until the Reformation.

Interesting. The places we could go with this.:laugh:

 

[billwald]

Islam is probably more honest than the LDS, all things considered.

 

[OldRegular]

Islam is probably more honest than the LDS, all things considered.

That is utter nonsense. I haven't seen any terrorists coming out of Mormonism recently. Have you? Islam is a religion of death! You leftists will go to any extreme to slime anyone who embraces the Constitution of the United States!

 

[Crabtownboy]

That is utter nonsense. I haven't seen any terrorists coming out of Mormonism recently. Have you? Islam is a religion of death! You leftists will go to any extreme to slime anyone who embraces the Constitution of the United States!

He did not say there were not terrorists who are Islamic. He said they are more honest. You do not seem to be able to understand people's words.

You said that Islam is a totalitarian religion. How can this be in they do not have a clergy we understand clergy. They have no pope, no hierarchy in as we understand hierarchy. We are speaking here of political totalitarianism.

 

[AresMan]

We seem to apply something of a religious litmus test ( are they pro/anti abortion, etc.) when we want for our candidates.

Does our "subjectivity" as to what religious mores are acceptable/unacceptable in our candidates mirror the way that non-Christians and some liberal Christians view God's word as being fluid in its CORRECT meaning?

What should be the standard? And why does it seem that our standard never seems to mesh with God's standard?

I do not believe there should be a nominal religious test as far as Baptist, Presbyterian, Mormon, Jew, etc.

Now, as far as issues of life, liberty, and property are concerned, of course they should consider things like abortion.

Perhaps, if Christians considered the Oath of Office seriously, every other thing that mattered would fall into place. Christians should not be supporting people for public office that they know will violate the Oath of Office. If someone puts his or her hand on the Bible and swears before God and people to defend and uphold the Constitution, Christians should understand the seriousness of this. God in His Word takes oaths before Him seriously. If a candidate for public office promises things that are not authorized in the Constitution and simply ignores it, that should be a red flag. For a Christian to ignore the relevance of perjury before God is to support utter lawlessness.

 

[Don]

You said that Islam is a totalitarian religion. How can this be in they do not have a clergy we understand clergy. They have no pope, no hierarchy in as we understand hierarchy. We are speaking here of political totalitarianism.

Since they most assuredly do recognize clergy, perhaps you could explain further?

 

[Crabtownboy]

Since they most assuredly do recognize clergy, perhaps you could explain further?

The following says it better than I can.

Islam does not have an ordained clergy with authority over rites and rituals. Any Muslim with sufficient knowledge may lead prayers or perform rituals such as weddings or funerals. In the early years of Islam, learned members of the mosque led the prayers and gave the Friday sermon. They were called imams—literally, those who stand in front. They also taught the basics of Quran and family law, and led the prayers at weddings and funerals. In some places, this job is still done without stipend and shared by several members of the mosque congregation, but in the larger mosques, a full-time imam performs all these duties, and in addition administers schools and Islamic centers, visits the sick, and helps engaged couples prepare for their weddings.

http://www.patheos.com/Library/Islam/Ethics-Morality-Community/LeadershipClergy.html

 

[OldRegular]

He did not say there were not terrorists who are Islamic. He said they are more honest.

It all depends on how you define honest. I assume that those Christians who endorse and facilitate the American Holocaust, the slaughter of 50,000,000 plus unborn children, believe they are being honest!

You do not seem to be able to understand people's words.

Is that the best you can do CTB. I understand your words. Do you understand God's Words?

Proverbs 6:16019
16. These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
17. A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
18. An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
19. A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

You said that Islam is a totalitarian religion. How can this be in they do not have a clergy we understand clergy. They have no pope, no hierarchy in as we understand hierarchy. We are speaking here of political totalitarianism.

Islam is both a religious and a political movement. I believe that in Islam are incorporated the attributes of both the beast out of the sea and the false prophet of Revelation.

Surely you are aware of the former Ottoman Caliphate aren't you CTB!

http://infidelsarecool.com/2008/03/islamic-caliphate-the-ultimate-muslim-dream/

It’s vital to understand the underlining theology of Islam. The following is a re-post from last year, but since there are hundreds of new readers here at IAC, I’m re-posting this with more reference links this time.

Muslims have been dreaming about a Caliphate that can unite the entire Muslim world and rule with strict Islamic code ever since the death of Muhammed. There have been coups, countercoups and civil wars because of disagreements over wether or not to install the Caliph.

The dream of a caliphate is what is responsible for the Shia-Sunni split. Several Caliphates existed over time until 1924 when Mustafa Kamal Ataturk abolished the Ottoman Caliphate and established the secular Turkish Republic.

Al-Qaeda has clearly stated that the re-establishing the Caliphate is one of its primary objectives. Although Al-Qaeda has taken the violent path to realize their dream of the massive Islamic empire, there are many Islamic groups all across the world that use politics to gain influence; Tanzeem-al-Islami and Hizb ut-Tahrir to name a few.​

 

[Arbo]

Would Carter have passed a religious litmus test? We all know how good he turned out to be.

 

[ktn4eg]

Well, let's see....

From 1945 on we've had at least 3 people as POTUS who chose "Baptist" as their religious preference: Harry Truman, Jimmy Carter, and Bill Clinton.

Then we also had a divorced Hollywood star with no particular denomination as a religious preference who once was a labor union president: Ronald Reagan.

If history is any guide to the future, to me at least, that doesn't say much for litmus tests as being any kind of absolute guarantee of how a particular person will turn out as POTUS.

 

[billwald]

Anyone whom openly supports something is being honest about it. There are no secret doctrines in Christianity, Islam, or Judaism which must be hidden from the general public and no doctrines that Christianity, Judaism, ir Islam which those religions wish were secret. THAT can't be said about the LDS.

 

[OldRegular]

Anyone whom openly supports something is being honest about it. There are no secret doctrines in Christianity, Islam, or Judaism which must be hidden from the general public and no doctrines that Christianity, Judaism, ir Islam which those religions wish were secret. THAT can't be said about the LDS.

And your credentials for being an expert on Islam!

 

[Salty]

We seem to apply something of a religious litmus test ( are they pro/anti abortion, etc.) when we want for our candidates. ...

Why does everyone say that abortion is a religious issue?

Did you know there are atheists against abortion?

 

[Zaac]

Would Carter have passed a religious litmus test? We all know how good he turned out to be.

Probably. But he should have been eliminated based upon his economic stupidity after that.:laugh:

If we're applying a religious litmus test, there are some folks who shouldn't even get out of the gate with us. And avowed worshipers of other gods should be at the top of that list.

 

[Zaac]

Why does everyone say that abortion is a religious issue?

Did you know there are atheists against abortion?

And why on earth do people think it's NOT a religious issue? Atheists also believe they don't worship a god. they do.

I'm sure there are atheists out there for same-sex marriage too.

I believe the Body needs to stop taking on the world's line of thinking. If we are not taking every issue to the Cross and juxtaposing it to Jesus and His righteousness, then something is wrong with US.

Why would murder not be a religious issue just because there are atheists against it?

 

[OldRegular]

Abortion is certainly a religious issue. That does not mean it is only a religious issue. Dingy Harry Reid is supposedly pro-life even though he belongs to the "Slaughter the Unborn" party!

 

[Zaac]

Abortion is certainly a religious issue. That does not mean it is only a religious issue. Dingy Harry Reid is supposedly pro-life even though he belongs to the "Slaughter the Unborn" party!

And I for the life of me can't figure out why any Christian would want to be associated with a party that's the face of baby murder.

But on the flip side, I can't for the life of me figure out why any Christian would want to be associated with a party that's the face of it's okay to worship a false god.

 

[OldRegular]

And I for the life of me can't figure out why any Christian would want to be associated with a party that's the face of baby murder.

But on the flip side, I can't for the life of me figure out why any Christian would want to be associated with a party that's the face of it's okay to worship a false god.

There is one major difference between those who embrace a Conservative philosophy and those who embrace a liberal/leftist philosophy. Conservatives recognize that our liberty comes from God; there is no propensity to elevate someone to god-hood as is the case of the liberal/leftists who believe that ALL comes from government or from an anointed one!