Here's the link: http://www.christianitytoday.com/bc/2005/001/3.8.html
The Scandal of the Evangelical Conscience
http://www.christianitytoday.com/bc/2005/001/3.8.html
Why don't Christians live what they preach?
By Ronald J. Sider
Once upon a time there was a great religion that over the centuries
had spread all over the world. But in those lands where it had
existed for the longest time, its adherents slowly grew complacent,
lukewarm, and skeptical. Indeed, many of the leaders of its oldest
groups even publicly rejected some of the religion's most basic
beliefs.
In response, a renewal movement emerged, passionately championing the
historic claims of the old religion and eagerly inviting unbelievers
everywhere to embrace the ancient faith. Rejecting the skepticism of
leaders who no longer believed in a God who works miracles, members
of the renewal movement vigorously argued that their God not only had
performed miraculous deeds in the past but still miraculously
transforms all who believe. Indeed, a radical, miraculous "new birth"
that began a lifetime of sweeping moral renewal and transformation
was at the center of their preaching. Over time, the renewal movement
flourished to the point of becoming one of the most influential wings
of the whole religion.
Not surprisingly, the movement's numbers translated into political
influence. And the renewal movement was so confident of its beliefs
and claims that it persuaded the nation's top political leader to
have the government work more closely with religious social service
organizations to solve the nation's horrendous social problems.
Members of the renewal movement knew that miraculous moral
transformation of character frequently happened when broken persons
embraced the great religion. They also lobbied politicians to
strengthen the traditional definition of marriage because their
ancient texts taught that a lifelong covenant between a man and a
woman was at the center of the Creator's design for the family.
Then the pollsters started conducting scientific polls of the general
population. In spite of the renewal movement's proud claims to
miraculous transformation, the polls showed that members of the
movement divorced their spouses just as often as their secular
neighbors. They beat their wives as often as their neighbors. They
were almost as materialistic and even more racist than their pagan
friends. The hard-core skeptics smiled in cynical amusement at this
blatant hypocrisy. The general population was puzzled and disgusted.
Many of the renewal movement's leaders simply stepped up the tempo of
their now enormously successful, highly sophisticated promotional
programs. Others wept.
This, alas, is roughly the situation of Western or at least American
evangelicalism today.
Scandalous behavior is rapidly destroying American Christianity. By
their daily activity, most "Christians" regularly commit treason.
With their mouths they claim that Jesus is Lord, but with their
actions they demonstrate allegiance to money, sex, and self-
fulfillment.
The findings in numerous national polls conducted by highly respected
pollsters like The Gallup Organization and The Barna Group are simply
shocking. "Gallup and Barna," laments evangelical theologian Michael
Horton, "hand us survey after survey demonstrating that evangelical
Christians are as likely to embrace lifestyles every bit as
hedonistic, materialistic, self-centered, and sexually immoral as the
world in general."1 Divorce is more common among "born-again"
Christians than in the general American population. Only 6 percent of
evangelicals tithe. White evangelicals are the most likely people to
object to neighbors of another race. Josh McDowell has pointed out
that the sexual promiscuity of evangelical youth is only a little
less outrageous than that of their nonevangelical peers.
Alan Wolfe, famous contemporary scholar and director of the Boisi
Center for Religion and American Public Life, has just published a
penetrating study of American religious life. Evangelicals figure
prominently in his book. His evaluation? Today's evangelicalism,
Wolfe says, exhibits "so strong a desire to copy the culture of hotel
chains and popular music that it loses what religious distinctiveness
it once had."2 Wolfe argues, "The truth is there is increasingly
little difference between an essentially secular activity like the
popular entertainment industry and the bring-'em-in-at-any-cost
efforts of evangelical megachurches."3
It is not surprising that George Barna concludes, "Every day, the
church is becoming more like the world it allegedly seeks to
change."4 We have very little time, he believes, to reverse these
trends. African Christian and famous missions scholar Professor Lamin
Sanneh told Christianity Today recently that "the cultural captivity
of Christianity in the West is nearly complete, and with the religion
tamed, it is open season on the West's Christian heritage. I worry
about a West without a moral center facing a politically resurgent
Islam."5
Our first concern, of course, must be internal integrity, not
external danger. What a tragedy for evangelicals to declare proudly
that personal conversion and new birth in Christ are at the center of
their faith and then to defy biblical moral standards by living
almost as sinfully as their pagan neighbors.
Graham Cyster, a Christian whom I know from South Africa, recently
told me a painful story about a personal experience two decades ago
when he was struggling against apartheid as a young South African
evangelical. One night, he was smuggled into an underground Communist
cell of young people fighting apartheid. "Tell us about the gospel of
Jesus Christ," they asked, half hoping for an alternative to the
violent communist strategy they were embracing.
Graham gave a clear, powerful presentation of the gospel, showing how
personal faith in Christ wonderfully transforms persons and creates
one new body of believers where there is neither Jew nor Greek, male
nor female, rich nor poor, black nor white. The youth were
fascinated. One seventeen-year-old exclaimed, "That is wonderful!
Show me where I can see that happening." Graham's face fell as he
sadly responded that he could not think of anywhere South African
Christians were truly living out the message of the gospel. "Then the
whole thing is a piece of sh—," the youth angrily retorted. Within a
month he left the country to join the armed struggle against
apartheid—and eventually giving his life for his beliefs.
The young man was right. If Christians do not live what they preach,
the whole thing is a farce. "American Christianity has largely failed
since the middle of the twentieth century," Barna concludes, "because
Jesus' modern-day disciples do not act like Jesus."6 This scandalous
behavior mocks Christ, undermines evangelism, and destroys Christian
credibility.
If vital Christian faith is to survive, we must understand the depth
of the crisis, discover why it has happened, and develop obedient,
faithful correctives. My prayer is that just as Mark Noll's book The
Scandal of the Evangelical Mind did much to strengthen evangelical
thinking, so a forthright acknowledgment of this sorry state of
affairs will renew evangelical resolve to live what we preach.
More On The Subject At URL:
http://www.christianitytoday.com/bc/2005/001/3.8.html
Full Version: Why doesn't the Christian right practice
Common Ground Common Sense > Issues that Affect Our Lives > Religion in Politics > Religion in Politics Issues Archive
In other words, the Leadership of the Evangelical Right is facing loss of power because they cannot keep them "down on the farm" as it were and the only way to real them in is to prevent them from joining the outsiders by requiring the outsider to abide by their rules. The truth is they've lost their way and don't know that the only back to the path is to embrace their faith themselves, not to force others to try to.
Christianity, in many ways, has become a cultural thing, rather than a faith that is practiced. I remember hearing in Church that there are "children of God" but no "grandchildren of God" - Christianity is an active thing - in one's own heart, and is not a product of "I was raised in a Christian home".
Some non-Christians act more Christ-like than self-proclaimed Christians. Some Christians feel that as Christians, they are privileged, and no matter what they do - they are "forgiven". The problem with this theology is summed up in this Bible verse -
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” Matthew 7:21-23
Some non-Christians act more Christ-like than self-proclaimed Christians. Some Christians feel that as Christians, they are privileged, and no matter what they do - they are "forgiven". The problem with this theology is summed up in this Bible verse -
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” Matthew 7:21-23
QUOTE(CrowNotAngelGRL @ Jan 9 2005, 10:49 PM)
Here's the link: http://www.christianitytoday.com/bc/2005/001/3.8.html
The Scandal of the Evangelical Conscience
http://www.christianitytoday.com/bc/2005/001/3.8.html
Why don't Christians live what they preach?
By Ronald J. Sider
Once upon a time there was a great religion that over the centuries
had spread all over the world. But in those lands where it had
existed for the longest time, its adherents slowly grew complacent,
lukewarm, and skeptical. Indeed, many of the leaders of its oldest
groups even publicly rejected some of the religion's most basic
beliefs.
In response, a renewal movement emerged, passionately championing the
historic claims of the old religion and eagerly inviting unbelievers
everywhere to embrace the ancient faith. Rejecting the skepticism of
leaders who no longer believed in a God who works miracles, members
of the renewal movement vigorously argued that their God not only had
performed miraculous deeds in the past but still miraculously
transforms all who believe. Indeed, a radical, miraculous "new birth"
that began a lifetime of sweeping moral renewal and transformation
was at the center of their preaching. Over time, the renewal movement
flourished to the point of becoming one of the most influential wings
of the whole religion.
Not surprisingly, the movement's numbers translated into political
influence. And the renewal movement was so confident of its beliefs
and claims that it persuaded the nation's top political leader to
have the government work more closely with religious social service
organizations to solve the nation's horrendous social problems.
Members of the renewal movement knew that miraculous moral
transformation of character frequently happened when broken persons
embraced the great religion. They also lobbied politicians to
strengthen the traditional definition of marriage because their
ancient texts taught that a lifelong covenant between a man and a
woman was at the center of the Creator's design for the family.
Then the pollsters started conducting scientific polls of the general
population. In spite of the renewal movement's proud claims to
miraculous transformation, the polls showed that members of the
movement divorced their spouses just as often as their secular
neighbors. They beat their wives as often as their neighbors. They
were almost as materialistic and even more racist than their pagan
friends. The hard-core skeptics smiled in cynical amusement at this
blatant hypocrisy. The general population was puzzled and disgusted.
Many of the renewal movement's leaders simply stepped up the tempo of
their now enormously successful, highly sophisticated promotional
programs. Others wept.
This, alas, is roughly the situation of Western or at least American
evangelicalism today.
Scandalous behavior is rapidly destroying American Christianity. By
their daily activity, most "Christians" regularly commit treason.
With their mouths they claim that Jesus is Lord, but with their
actions they demonstrate allegiance to money, sex, and self-
fulfillment.
The findings in numerous national polls conducted by highly respected
pollsters like The Gallup Organization and The Barna Group are simply
shocking. "Gallup and Barna," laments evangelical theologian Michael
Horton, "hand us survey after survey demonstrating that evangelical
Christians are as likely to embrace lifestyles every bit as
hedonistic, materialistic, self-centered, and sexually immoral as the
world in general."1 Divorce is more common among "born-again"
Christians than in the general American population. Only 6 percent of
evangelicals tithe. White evangelicals are the most likely people to
object to neighbors of another race. Josh McDowell has pointed out
that the sexual promiscuity of evangelical youth is only a little
less outrageous than that of their nonevangelical peers.
Alan Wolfe, famous contemporary scholar and director of the Boisi
Center for Religion and American Public Life, has just published a
penetrating study of American religious life. Evangelicals figure
prominently in his book. His evaluation? Today's evangelicalism,
Wolfe says, exhibits "so strong a desire to copy the culture of hotel
chains and popular music that it loses what religious distinctiveness
it once had."2 Wolfe argues, "The truth is there is increasingly
little difference between an essentially secular activity like the
popular entertainment industry and the bring-'em-in-at-any-cost
efforts of evangelical megachurches."3
It is not surprising that George Barna concludes, "Every day, the
church is becoming more like the world it allegedly seeks to
change."4 We have very little time, he believes, to reverse these
trends. African Christian and famous missions scholar Professor Lamin
Sanneh told Christianity Today recently that "the cultural captivity
of Christianity in the West is nearly complete, and with the religion
tamed, it is open season on the West's Christian heritage. I worry
about a West without a moral center facing a politically resurgent
Islam."5
Our first concern, of course, must be internal integrity, not
external danger. What a tragedy for evangelicals to declare proudly
that personal conversion and new birth in Christ are at the center of
their faith and then to defy biblical moral standards by living
almost as sinfully as their pagan neighbors.
Graham Cyster, a Christian whom I know from South Africa, recently
told me a painful story about a personal experience two decades ago
when he was struggling against apartheid as a young South African
evangelical. One night, he was smuggled into an underground Communist
cell of young people fighting apartheid. "Tell us about the gospel of
Jesus Christ," they asked, half hoping for an alternative to the
violent communist strategy they were embracing.
Graham gave a clear, powerful presentation of the gospel, showing how
personal faith in Christ wonderfully transforms persons and creates
one new body of believers where there is neither Jew nor Greek, male
nor female, rich nor poor, black nor white. The youth were
fascinated. One seventeen-year-old exclaimed, "That is wonderful!
Show me where I can see that happening." Graham's face fell as he
sadly responded that he could not think of anywhere South African
Christians were truly living out the message of the gospel. "Then the
whole thing is a piece of sh—," the youth angrily retorted. Within a
month he left the country to join the armed struggle against
apartheid—and eventually giving his life for his beliefs.
The young man was right. If Christians do not live what they preach,
the whole thing is a farce. "American Christianity has largely failed
since the middle of the twentieth century," Barna concludes, "because
Jesus' modern-day disciples do not act like Jesus."6 This scandalous
behavior mocks Christ, undermines evangelism, and destroys Christian
credibility.
If vital Christian faith is to survive, we must understand the depth
of the crisis, discover why it has happened, and develop obedient,
faithful correctives. My prayer is that just as Mark Noll's book The
Scandal of the Evangelical Mind did much to strengthen evangelical
thinking, so a forthright acknowledgment of this sorry state of
affairs will renew evangelical resolve to live what we preach.
More On The Subject At URL:
http://www.christianitytoday.com/bc/2005/001/3.8.html
The Scandal of the Evangelical Conscience
http://www.christianitytoday.com/bc/2005/001/3.8.html
Why don't Christians live what they preach?
By Ronald J. Sider
Once upon a time there was a great religion that over the centuries
had spread all over the world. But in those lands where it had
existed for the longest time, its adherents slowly grew complacent,
lukewarm, and skeptical. Indeed, many of the leaders of its oldest
groups even publicly rejected some of the religion's most basic
beliefs.
In response, a renewal movement emerged, passionately championing the
historic claims of the old religion and eagerly inviting unbelievers
everywhere to embrace the ancient faith. Rejecting the skepticism of
leaders who no longer believed in a God who works miracles, members
of the renewal movement vigorously argued that their God not only had
performed miraculous deeds in the past but still miraculously
transforms all who believe. Indeed, a radical, miraculous "new birth"
that began a lifetime of sweeping moral renewal and transformation
was at the center of their preaching. Over time, the renewal movement
flourished to the point of becoming one of the most influential wings
of the whole religion.
Not surprisingly, the movement's numbers translated into political
influence. And the renewal movement was so confident of its beliefs
and claims that it persuaded the nation's top political leader to
have the government work more closely with religious social service
organizations to solve the nation's horrendous social problems.
Members of the renewal movement knew that miraculous moral
transformation of character frequently happened when broken persons
embraced the great religion. They also lobbied politicians to
strengthen the traditional definition of marriage because their
ancient texts taught that a lifelong covenant between a man and a
woman was at the center of the Creator's design for the family.
Then the pollsters started conducting scientific polls of the general
population. In spite of the renewal movement's proud claims to
miraculous transformation, the polls showed that members of the
movement divorced their spouses just as often as their secular
neighbors. They beat their wives as often as their neighbors. They
were almost as materialistic and even more racist than their pagan
friends. The hard-core skeptics smiled in cynical amusement at this
blatant hypocrisy. The general population was puzzled and disgusted.
Many of the renewal movement's leaders simply stepped up the tempo of
their now enormously successful, highly sophisticated promotional
programs. Others wept.
This, alas, is roughly the situation of Western or at least American
evangelicalism today.
Scandalous behavior is rapidly destroying American Christianity. By
their daily activity, most "Christians" regularly commit treason.
With their mouths they claim that Jesus is Lord, but with their
actions they demonstrate allegiance to money, sex, and self-
fulfillment.
The findings in numerous national polls conducted by highly respected
pollsters like The Gallup Organization and The Barna Group are simply
shocking. "Gallup and Barna," laments evangelical theologian Michael
Horton, "hand us survey after survey demonstrating that evangelical
Christians are as likely to embrace lifestyles every bit as
hedonistic, materialistic, self-centered, and sexually immoral as the
world in general."1 Divorce is more common among "born-again"
Christians than in the general American population. Only 6 percent of
evangelicals tithe. White evangelicals are the most likely people to
object to neighbors of another race. Josh McDowell has pointed out
that the sexual promiscuity of evangelical youth is only a little
less outrageous than that of their nonevangelical peers.
Alan Wolfe, famous contemporary scholar and director of the Boisi
Center for Religion and American Public Life, has just published a
penetrating study of American religious life. Evangelicals figure
prominently in his book. His evaluation? Today's evangelicalism,
Wolfe says, exhibits "so strong a desire to copy the culture of hotel
chains and popular music that it loses what religious distinctiveness
it once had."2 Wolfe argues, "The truth is there is increasingly
little difference between an essentially secular activity like the
popular entertainment industry and the bring-'em-in-at-any-cost
efforts of evangelical megachurches."3
It is not surprising that George Barna concludes, "Every day, the
church is becoming more like the world it allegedly seeks to
change."4 We have very little time, he believes, to reverse these
trends. African Christian and famous missions scholar Professor Lamin
Sanneh told Christianity Today recently that "the cultural captivity
of Christianity in the West is nearly complete, and with the religion
tamed, it is open season on the West's Christian heritage. I worry
about a West without a moral center facing a politically resurgent
Islam."5
Our first concern, of course, must be internal integrity, not
external danger. What a tragedy for evangelicals to declare proudly
that personal conversion and new birth in Christ are at the center of
their faith and then to defy biblical moral standards by living
almost as sinfully as their pagan neighbors.
Graham Cyster, a Christian whom I know from South Africa, recently
told me a painful story about a personal experience two decades ago
when he was struggling against apartheid as a young South African
evangelical. One night, he was smuggled into an underground Communist
cell of young people fighting apartheid. "Tell us about the gospel of
Jesus Christ," they asked, half hoping for an alternative to the
violent communist strategy they were embracing.
Graham gave a clear, powerful presentation of the gospel, showing how
personal faith in Christ wonderfully transforms persons and creates
one new body of believers where there is neither Jew nor Greek, male
nor female, rich nor poor, black nor white. The youth were
fascinated. One seventeen-year-old exclaimed, "That is wonderful!
Show me where I can see that happening." Graham's face fell as he
sadly responded that he could not think of anywhere South African
Christians were truly living out the message of the gospel. "Then the
whole thing is a piece of sh—," the youth angrily retorted. Within a
month he left the country to join the armed struggle against
apartheid—and eventually giving his life for his beliefs.
The young man was right. If Christians do not live what they preach,
the whole thing is a farce. "American Christianity has largely failed
since the middle of the twentieth century," Barna concludes, "because
Jesus' modern-day disciples do not act like Jesus."6 This scandalous
behavior mocks Christ, undermines evangelism, and destroys Christian
credibility.
If vital Christian faith is to survive, we must understand the depth
of the crisis, discover why it has happened, and develop obedient,
faithful correctives. My prayer is that just as Mark Noll's book The
Scandal of the Evangelical Mind did much to strengthen evangelical
thinking, so a forthright acknowledgment of this sorry state of
affairs will renew evangelical resolve to live what we preach.
More On The Subject At URL:
http://www.christianitytoday.com/bc/2005/001/3.8.html
Religion to them is merely a tool to absolve them of their poor behavior. If I am a good Christian, and go to church every Sunday, who would question my character???????
QUOTE(Sensible4all @ Jan 11 2005, 11:27 AM)
Religion to them is merely a tool to absolve them of their poor behavior. If I am a good Christian, and go to church every Sunday, who would question my character???????
Yes every side has its bone heads, Flip that question around a bit........AM I A GOOD RIGHTS ACTIVIST, IF I WHEN DISAGREED WITH INSULT,SLANDER,TRY TO SILENCE AND ACCUSE THE OTHER PERSON OF BEING A BIBLE THUMPING NEO-CON????
"The truth hurts and this is why I am a painful experience",,,,,ONLYINNY 2005!!
My new slogan....like it guys????
QUOTE(Sensible4all @ Jan 11 2005, 10:27 AM)
Religion to them is merely a tool to absolve them of their poor behavior. If I am a good Christian, and go to church every Sunday, who would question my character???????
I think faith is a personal thing to each person. I don't think it serves us to speculate on why the Christian right behaves the way they do, especially if the ones making the comments aren't Christians.
QUOTE(onlyinNY @ Jan 11 2005, 11:34 AM)
Yes every side has its bone heads, Flip that question around a bit........AM I A GOOD RIGHTS ACTIVIST, IF I WHEN DISAGREED WITH INSULT,SLANDER,TRY TO SILENCE AND ACCUSE THE OTHER PERSON OF BEING A BIBLE THUMPING NEO-CON????
"The truth hurts and this is why I am a painful experience",,,,,ONLYINNY 2005!!
My new slogan....like it guys????
"The truth hurts and this is why I am a painful experience",,,,,ONLYINNY 2005!!
My new slogan....like it guys????
I like it!!
QUOTE(so angry I could spit @ Jan 10 2005, 10:08 PM)
In other words, the Leadership of the Evangelical Right is facing loss of power because they cannot keep them "down on the farm" as it were and the only way to real them in is to prevent them from joining the outsiders by requiring the outsider to abide by their rules. The truth is they've lost their way and don't know that the only back to the path is to embrace their faith themselves, not to force others to try to.
And they should remember that being "Christian" is 24/7. "Sunday Christians" don't pass in my book.
QUOTE(Sandra @ Jan 11 2005, 10:35 AM)
I think faith is a personal thing to each person. I don't think it serves us to speculate on why the Christian right behaves the way they do, especially if the ones making the comments aren't Christians.
But I am a Christian. And married to a spouse who has led many a fellowship study. AND......In my house, no one eats a thing(not even the dog) until all have had an oportunity to thank God for the day, and to ask for his guidance, and his watchful eye over all of us, and all of mankind. We say a prayer every day to protect our soldiers, and we ask for forgiveness of our sins. We remind our kids everyday what "true" Christianiy is about. That we think DEEDS are as important and BELIEF. I think I have a right to express my disappointment in many who publicly tout their Christianity but act in an 'Un- Christian " way. It gives good people, with deep relgious values, a bad name, and I am sure it deeply offends our LORD.
AMEN!
QUOTE(Sensible4all @ Jan 11 2005, 10:48 AM)
But I am a Christian. And married to a spouse who has led many a fellowship study. AND......In my house, no one eats a thing(not even the dog) until all have had an oportunity to thank God for the day, and to ask for his guidance, and his watchful eye over all of us, and all of mankind. We say a prayer every day to protect our soldiers, and we ask for forgiveness of our sins. We remind our kids everyday what "true" Christianiy is about. That we think DEEDS are as important and BELIEF. I think I have a right to express my disappointment in many who publicly tout their Christianity but act in an 'Un- Christian " way. It gives good people, with deep relgious values, a bad name, and I am sure it deeply offends our LORD.
I understand. But I just believe that everyone has the right to believe as they believe. What I object about the Christian right is that they attempt to impose their beliefs on all. Aside from that, I don't question WHY they behave a certain way, or believe the things they do. That's their business!
QUOTE(so angry I could spit @ Jan 10 2005, 10:08 PM)
In other words, the Leadership of the Evangelical Right is facing loss of power because they cannot keep them "down on the farm" as it were and the only way to real them in is to prevent them from joining the outsiders by requiring the outsider to abide by their rules. The truth is they've lost their way and don't know that the only back to the path is to embrace their faith themselves, not to force others to try to.
Excellent point "Angry". I believe you are right. It doesn't prove anything to force your religion on others. Still others should engage in free conversations about the differences in their religion and why they believe the way they do without punching each other in the mouth.
QUOTE(FormerCIA @ Jan 11 2005, 11:44 AM)
And they should remember that being "Christian" is 24/7. "Sunday Christians" don't pass in my book.
That is exactly what Christ taught the Pharisees. Amen! What does a Christian do when they believe God's law forbids them to vote for Abortion or Homosexuality? A vote would mean to condone the practise in their minds. Just asking opinions.
QUOTE(Sandra @ Jan 11 2005, 04:55 PM)
I understand. But I just believe that everyone has the right to believe as they believe. What I object about the Christian right is that they attempt to impose their beliefs on all. Aside from that, I don't question WHY they behave a certain way, or believe the things they do. That's their business!
But as a Christian I must say that reading the article Crow posted (thanks Crow) saddens me. This is something Christians should worry about. I do believe that it has implications for politics in this country. I don't mind criticizing the Christian Right for what I regard as their twisting of the Gospel. I appreciate thoughtful and sensitive comments on this from non-Christians like Angry.
QUOTE(Kra/Lee @ Jan 11 2005, 05:17 PM)
That is exactly what Christ taught the Pharisees. Amen! What does a Christian do when they believe God's law forbids them to vote for Abortion or Homosexuality? A vote would mean to condone the practise in their minds. Just asking opinions.
Christians should pray and be very thoughtful when trying to apply their religious principles to their political actions and views. They should avoid ideas that come from smugness, false certainty and lazy thinking (please don't take this as a criticism of you, all are vulnerable to this kind of thing. It comes with being fallen.) What does it mean to vote "for" or "against" abortion or homosexuality? I don't think that the meaning here is as anywhere near as obvious as many like to claim. IMO no vote or government action is going to change anyone's decision to participate in homosexual actions. What is the best way for government to reduce the abortion rate? Ban it in certain states with some women getting illegal abortions and others crossing state lines? Or enacting noncoercive measures that could get more political support.
Well, you know its just faith that we need to have and not the expectation of magic. Man and woman are mortal human beings that have the capability of doing great wrongs. So, what else is new? Being pious doesn’t mean they are above doing sins. Faith has taught me to care for my fellow man, so where is that happening with them that I haven not heard before. I am not surprised in any behavior of the right.
QUOTE(Arneoker @ Jan 11 2005, 03:59 PM)
Christians should pray and be very thoughtful when trying to apply their religious principles to their political actions and views. They should avoid ideas that come from smugness, false certainty and lazy thinking (please don't take this as a criticism of you, all are vulnerable to this kind of thing. It comes with being fallen.) What does it mean to vote "for" or "against" abortion or homosexuality? I don't think that the meaning here is as anywhere near as obvious as many like to claim. IMO no vote or government action is going to change anyone's decision to participate in homosexual actions. What is the best way for government to reduce the abortion rate? Ban it in certain states with some women getting illegal abortions and others crossing state lines? Or enacting noncoercive measures that could get more political support.
I very much agree with what you are saying.
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