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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That was my point exactly to the original poster -- that people who aren't Christians are not out there living by no moral code or and with no accountability. Whether it be the civil or cultural or ethical (as Luther defined it, not to say that others aren't ethical) standards that Luther mentioned, everyone lives by these codes that are very important -- even if they aren't based on the Bible or Christian beliefs. A country's civil standards and an individual's cultural standards say that murder isn't right. Christians adhere to these civil and cultural standards -- with the added level that certain things are prohibited by God. But I did miswrite when I said only Christians can't murder because God said not to -- obviously this applies to the Jewish faith and non-Christians who also might believe in God (covering all my bases here!). My word choice was too exclusionary (my apologies!), but the point is the same -- that people who don't believe in God should not be held to a biblical or God-given standard -- the civil and cultural standards suffice for everyone in the public realm.
I hope that's clearer. The original poster was of the opinion that denying biblical or God-given influence over the public realm, which includes believers and non-believers alike, means that there is no morals or accountability -- this was what I was originally arguing against and I'm sorry that your reading of my post seemed to say to you that I was agreeing with that belief. I absolutely do not.
Best wishes!
It's a public service piece that appears to be produced by www.takebackourfaith.org
(the same people who make those "God is not a Republican... or a Democrat" bumper stickers)
http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=action.election&item=petition_flash2
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