Not easy being Christian with Election

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-05-2004
Not easy being Christian with Election
49
Thu, 09-23-2004 - 8:24pm
Orginial link: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/9/prweb155931.php

Christians object to their faith being appropriated for political purposes; preaching anger and revenge in the name of Christianity ignores the New Testament messages of grace, love, and inclusiveness.

Indianapolis, IN, (PRWEB) September 9, 2004 -- As the 2004 election approaches, many Christians believe their fellow Christians are deserting the principles of their faith to follow a banner of anger, revenge, and punishment.

One of those is Gregg Hodgson, 67, an Indiana businessman and former banker who has served as campaign manager for Republican political candidates. A self-described "quiet Christian," Hodgson has devoted his recent years to helping people plan their own small businesses. "I've worked, one-on-one, with nearly 2,000 small businesses," he says. "It's the talent I've been given, and I try to make a difference with it before my own Judgment Day arrives.“

Today, Hodgson has decided to back the Kerry-Edwards ticket. "I'm rather conservative," he explains, "so I can't possibly support an administration that throws away a nice surplus and turns it into the worst deficit we've ever seen, in four years. The worst part of the deficit – which is being called our first 'permanent deficit' – was caused by Mr. Bush's lavish tax-breaks to the wealthy,” says Hodgson. “Even ignoring the way he exalts the rich, which of course isn't a Christian principle, what do we have to show for all that wasted money? Virtually nothing. It'll get even worse for the not-so-rich, too. Our treasury is broke, so we'll have to slash education, health-care and environmental programs.”

Hodgson also decries the Bush administration’s way of governing and campaigning, which he labels, "fear-based manipulation, with nothing behind it." He suggests that politicians who appeal to our primitive fears, angers, and desires for revenge are stuck in the Old Testament, and are forgetting the New Testament messages of inclusion and love.

Hodgson acknowledges that there was a political aspect to the decision by the early Christians to build on the Old Testament. But he worries when he sees modern-day Pharisees attempting to hijack Christianity for political purposes.

"The Old Testament can be handy for bad guys," Hodgson observes. "Whenever they want to appear 'righteous' while exalting the rich, bullying the poor, passing judgment on others, or attacking others with vengeful anger,” they usually invoke the Old Testament.

Real Christians should not be fooled, Hodgson warns. "We've seen plenty of demagogues in our time, wrapping themselves in the flags of Christianity or patriotism so they could gain power. Christ repudiated the vengeful aspects of the Old Testament in very strong language. He ordered us to treat others as we'd want them to treat us – the toughest lesson anyone has ever tried to teach human beings. That's why he accompanied it with blanket forgiveness. He knew we'd often fail at it!"

"Angry, judgmental, revenge-filled people may call themselves 'Christians,' or even 'Fundamentalist Christians,'" Hodgson concludes, "but the Prince of Peace would know them as the very people he came to save! He'd forgive them, of course, but he'd weep bitterly at the harm they do in his name."

For a copy of John Bugay’s “The Christian Right Need Not Fear a Kerry Presidency” and other articles on this topic, contact media@republicansforkerry04.org


Edited 9/23/2004 8:25 pm ET ET by crownotangelgrl

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-21-2004
Fri, 09-24-2004 - 12:36pm
Just a note to all here,

Let's just put Religion in a little box and get it out when it's convenient for everyone. Why would we want someting as fundamental as beliefs and moral values get into our everyday lives and the affect the way we make decisions? That would only make things more difficult, don't you think? It's much easier to just float through life not being accountable to anyone or anything but yourself! I mean the Bible is just an old book, how in the world could it be relevant to our lives now?

It's MUCH more important not to OFFEND anyone with Christianity. Only the majority of Americans are Christians, so they should remove all reference to their God and His teachings out of respect to those who worship trees and birds...

I don't think so.

(Where IS that sarcasm button when you need it???)

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-06-2004
Fri, 09-24-2004 - 1:32pm
Ignoring the tone of this comment and reflecting instead on its content, I'll take a leap and respond. No one is suggesting that people aren't accountable to anything or that the Bible isn't relevant. I'm a Christian and I'm offended by the current administration's actions and demeanor, and by its hijacking of a faith that's very important to me and central to my life. I was recently re-reading Paul's letter to the Galatians as well as Martin Luther's preface to it. I apologize that this is long, but I think it highlights the differences between what you're assuming people are saying and what they are actually saying.

Luther offers the following to us:

When Paul discusses the biblical doctrine of justifcation by faith he explains that there are several kinds of righteousness:

First, there is political or civil righteousness -- the nation's public laws -- which magistrates and lawyers may defend and teach.

Second, there is cultural righteousness -- the standards of our family and social grouping or class -- which parents and schools may teach.

Third, there is ethical righteousness - the Ten Commandments and law of God -- which the Church may teach, but only in light of Christian righteousness (defined later as the righteousness of faith - given to us by God -- that asks nothing in return).

So, from an intellectual perspective, one can see that everyone who lives in this country has civil standards to follow that are the law of the land. Most of those overlap with cultural standards, which also encompasses many social niceties that different groups practice-- things like, don't be rude when people are having a serious discussion. So, most people are accountable to at least two overarching sets of fundamental moral standards and beliefs in their everyday lives that guide them and affect the way they make decisions and hold them accountable for the actions they take. These are the ones that are held apart from the standards that Christians are held to by their belief in God. And while no one is allowed to murder according to various standards, only Christians are required not to murder because God says not to. The Ten Commandments and other guidelines given to believers by God are for us to cherish and strive for -- not to be pushed onto people who don't believe in God (or hold to different spiritual beliefs) in the Constitution, in civil court or in school who are going about their own lives, already accountable to other standards. This is the separation between church and state.

Best wishes to all!

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-05-2004
Fri, 09-24-2004 - 1:46pm
True. Does make sense about the pledge. I guess it was always was apart of my daily school life, but now days more people are "coming out" with their religions and everything. I do agree about the courthouse and the commandments. Not everybody believes in them though now days. XOXO.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-09-2003
Fri, 09-24-2004 - 1:56pm
For those who don't believe religion should be kept in a box, this link comes from another thread-many may find it interesting: www.sojo.net
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-28-2004
Fri, 09-24-2004 - 2:08pm
Thank you for your thoughtful post.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-21-2004
Fri, 09-24-2004 - 6:53pm
The point is there are many religions in this country and some who have no religion, like me. We all have a right to our beliefs and should not be pressured by
Donna
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-08-2003
Sat, 09-25-2004 - 8:52am
I met the United Methodist minister last weekend who presided over my nephew's wedding. We were the stragglers to the reception. My husband and I missed a turn and had to retrace our route and she had to go home and change out of her vestment. We ended up sitting at the same table. We were talking about the church which was built in the mid 19th century and if it had always been a United Methodist church. Some how a comment was made about wasn't George Bush as a United Methodist and been chastised by leaders of the United Methodist Church for his constantly invoking God. She nodded her head and quickly inserted that "We're not all fundamentalists like George Bush. Within the church we have all kinds." Distancing herself from Bush. LOL
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-07-2004
Sat, 09-25-2004 - 10:50am
Many people are able to reach the moral conclusion that murder is totally unacceptable without being required to adhere to that standard by a church. So those people require themselves not to murder.

Buddhism teaches that all life is sacred. I'm sure other religions have similar requirements.


"only Christians are required not to murder because God says not to."

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Sat, 09-25-2004 - 11:50am

no single religion has a monopoly on what's right and moral.


Elaine

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-05-2004
Sat, 09-25-2004 - 2:36pm
Right with Buddist. I know of someone online who's one and she doesn't even like to kill a bug. Heh heh. XOXO.