Not easy being Christian with Election
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| Thu, 09-23-2004 - 8:24pm |
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.â€
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

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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???)
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!
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."
no single religion has a monopoly on what's right and moral.
Elaine
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