Don't get all pissy at me. I didn't say it. Jesus said it. I wouldn't argue with Jesus if I were you.
Seriously though, just because W. says he has God's direction and he knows God's will for our country does that mean that it is part of our christianly duty to support him, to keep quiet and not question him? I know, I realize, they already had the election, he won, he's in charge. I just can't believe some of the things that W. has gotten away with saying just because he tagged on some kind of reference to God. Don't get me wrong, I've done it a million times. I've used the Lord's name in vain to get dates, to get a job, to win friends and influence people, that's right, I did it. I'm not proud of it.
Anyway, whenever I hear the W. speak my B---S---ometer goes off like crazy.
5 comments:
Jimmy, it's just like you to find this stuff!
to keep quiet & not question...
not only does it work for w, just try raising a question about whether or not your church should build xyz building to accomidate new growth or not (especially 1 the preach is pushing) & you're going to end up on the wrong end of providence...
you're apparently less spiritual, immature or just flat out anti-christ...
sad but true...
I was watching a movie, a documentary I guess, about the Evangelical side of Christianity and its involvement in political elections in America for the past several decades...I think it was called "God is on our side; George W. Bush and the Evangelical Church" - (I may be wrong on the title)...
Either way, it was an eye-opening education-of-sorts to watch how politics and politicians on their way to the White House have been influenced directly (and sometimes in-directly) since the rise of gentlemen like Billy Graham...to the point that Richard Nixon and Billy Graham were apparently best friends, privately and publicaly, and had designs to get Nixon in the White House because he was "A man for God and the People" - of course their friendship deteriorated rapidly upon the investigation into Nixon's dealings with a certain something called Watergate...queue the villain music...
Billy Graham also prayed over newly elected President Richard Nixon - on the steps of the White House none-the-less - in supplication to God to "Sanctify Richard Milhouse Nixon" for his Presidency...talk about salting the soup...Graham could had just as easily compromised his judgment by searching out a young man named William Jefferson Clinton and claimed him to be a devout and steadfast man of God...queue the Circus music and bring out the clowns, things get wackier...
On to the current administration and the topic at hand...George W. Bush was re-elected by a majority vote that was strongly backed and encouraged by Evangelical ministers and their congregations...we know why, W. is a "Born-Again Christian" who upholds the ideals of Good VS Evil...Post-Election in Churches across America you may have heard praises being sung to the Replican Right and W. instead of the Old Rugged Cross...but why not? And why should that surprise us? - The Church (in general) is so heavily steeped in the everyday workings of politics and power on (so many) different levels that no amount of coercian by preachers and clergy alike from the pulpit should shock anyone anymore...Does that make it OK though? Does it even make it Justifiable to Preach of political-religious solidarity in the Body of Christ?
I'd like to think I have an answer...but I really don't.
Jesus said in Matthew 10 that we shouldn't take on great causes of significance but rather focus on our communities and the people in them...
I'll vote, probably in every election, but I don't kid myself for a moment that one candidate is better for the job than the other because they are "Born-Again" and have the Evangelical Churches backing.
For the time being I'll keep my head ducked low from the flying debris and hope for the best.
P.S.
On a side note of encouragement about W. and his actions thus far...After WWII it took Germany 10 years to have Free German Elections - It has taken a little over one year for Iraq to have Free Elections - For what its worth.
Good Words Brother...
I think Billy Graham prayed at Clinton's inauguration too.
Fascinating. Let me be frank. Evangelical Christian votes have less to do with the republican party and more to do with one issue - abortion. We are going to see this in 08. As it stands right now the front runners for the republican nomination are both pro choice (McCain and Guliani) and you are going to see them lose a lot of votes because of their stance on this issue. Christians are so radically anti abortion in general that the day a republican is prochoice is the day he loses his base.
Secondly, I don't buy the hype. It has become so easy to say that Bush is pandering to get votes from the Christian right, but why can't we just take him at face value and accept that he is christian right. Why are we disallowed from judging anyone elses faith, until it comes to the president. Then it becomes a political move rather than sincere faith. Where are the people criticizing the hip hop community, and the way they are christian enough to thank God for his role in their lives, but no one points out their lifestyle being contradictory to his word.
anyway - thats my two sense. I don't believe that jesus is a democrat or a republican - I do believe that each election has a better candidate. We need to get past all the bologna and chose the one who is. Don't believe all the hype - from either side.
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