God’s Politics

Akita Suggagaki · 2025-12-13T09:10:25-0600

D book by Jim Wallice but still seems relevant.

God's Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong

Politics and religion can be a volatile combination. In his new book, Jim Wallis sets aside partisan arguments to take a stab at explaining God's Politics.

www.ulc.org

“The beating drum of the book: poverty is a moral issue. This is why the [religious right are "getting it wrong"]Asserting that America has strayed away from God's ideas of equality and rewards, Wallis points out that no matter the quality of their actions, the rich are getting richer and the laborer more destitute. Wallis effectively strips religion away from many positions held by the religious right.

“But at least the Right made the attempt and has reaped the benefits, regardless of whether they should have. The Left, on the other had, "doesn't get it" at all as shying away from "God talk" so as to differentiate themselves from the right divorces them from a past of social movement sparked by faith and morality. Wallis concludes, and I believe rightfully so, that how aggressively secular the Left is leaves those who are religious progressives without a home.”

A more contemporary religious progressive voice is Rev. William Barber II

Bishop Barber on Building Social Justice Movements

Rev. William Barber, Repairers of the Breach president and senior lecturer and the co-chair of the Poor People's Campaign, spoke about social justice at the City Club of Cleveland in Ohio. He discussed the Trump administration, authoritarianism, U.S. history and racism, and advocacy for the poor.

www.c-span.org

Fantine · 2025-12-13T09:32:42-0600

I think that Pope Leo XIV's strong advocacy for immigrants, an end to Venezuelan adventurism, support for Ukraine and human rights for Gaza is showing the world that progressive politics is very compatible with faith, and much more compatible with the words and actions of Jesus on earth.

As a Catholic, sometimes I (and others) feel like we are under a lot of pressure from the religious right in our own church. Sorry, but it will be a cold day in July when I will walk into a voting booth to vote for a convicted felon and fraud or a single one of his (approximately) 275 Congressional puppets--or his puppets in state office.

I'm familiar with Wallace and Barber's Poor People's Campaign--and the nuns on the bus.

So many young people have given up on religion because of the hypocrisy and meanness they see, and if you are Christian and progressive, you need to lead the way to show them that we need to take Christianity back from the faux-theology of the religious right.

Akita Suggagaki · 2025-12-13T09:52:11-0600

Jusr a few minutes ago I was reading David Tracy’s “Fragments”. He pointed out how Leo XIII brought Gospel into the public political conversation with ideas of common good, solidarity, just wage, rights, tolerance, etc.

Leo XIV may be an affirmation of those values on the world stage. Certainly Dilexi Te seems to point that way.

Aryeh Jay · 2025-12-13T10:43:07-0600

Anyone on Facebook knows.

Akita Suggagaki · 2025-12-13T10:52:31-0600

Blasphemy!

Aryeh Jay · 2025-12-13T10:54:34-0600

Akita Suggagaki said:
Blasphemy!

Agreed, but there's a large group of people in the US that have no problem with it.

Akita Suggagaki · 2025-12-13T11:13:45-0600

Rather than asking hard questions about our political beliefs and theology we superimpose them with little thought. The Left, however, seems far less concerned about religious concerns. Maybe because they try to tolerate even champion all religions, cultures and lifestyles. And that, pn the surface, seems to challenge Christian norms.

Say it aint so · 2025-12-13T11:36:29-0600

Akita Suggagaki said:
D book by Jim Wallice but still seems relevant.

God's Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong

Politics and religion can be a volatile combination. In his new book, Jim Wallis sets aside partisan arguments to take a stab at explaining God's Politics.

www.ulc.org

“The beating drum of the book: poverty is a moral issue. This is why the [religious right are "getting it wrong"]Asserting that America has strayed away from God's ideas of equality and rewards, Wallis points out that no matter the quality of their actions, the rich are getting richer and the laborer more destitute. Wallis effectively strips religion away from many positions held by the religious right.

“But at least the Right made the attempt and has reaped the benefits, regardless of whether they should have. The Left, on the other had, "doesn't get it" at all as shying away from "God talk" so as to differentiate themselves from the right divorces them from a past of social movement sparked by faith and morality. Wallis concludes, and I believe rightfully so, that how aggressively secular the Left is leaves those who are religious progressives without a home.”

A more contemporary religious progressive voice is Rev. William Barber II

Bishop Barber on Building Social Justice Movements

Rev. William Barber, Repairers of the Breach president and senior lecturer and the co-chair of the Poor People's Campaign, spoke about social justice at the City Club of Cleveland in Ohio. He discussed the Trump administration, authoritarianism, U.S. history and racism, and advocacy for the poor.

www.c-span.org

Thanks. That book was written in 2011.
I wonder what that book would look like if it were written today?

partinobodycular · 2025-12-13T11:58:22-0600

Fantine said:
So many young people have given up on religion because of the hypocrisy and meanness they see, and if you are Christian and progressive, you need to lead the way to show them that we need to take Christianity back from the faux-theology of the religious right.

I can't help but wonder, should that really be the goal... 'to take Christianity back' from the religious right, or should the goal simply be to free it from religion entirely? For me it's simply a question of WWJD.

Akita Suggagaki · 2025-12-13T12:14:36-0600

Say it aint so said:
Thanks. That book was written in 2011.
I wonder what that book would look like if it were written today?

I think the principle remain while some specifics have changed.

Always in His Presence · 2025-12-13T13:13:48-0600

Neither political party is a turly 'religious' or Christian in nature - they are not designed to be and this is not a Christian Nation -

But it will be a cold day on the surface of the sun before I could vote for a party who supports the murder of the unborn and acceptance of perversions.

From a strictly Christian perspective.

Rom 1:22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

How someone can claim to be a Christian, yet endorse and support what is abhorrent to Him is beyond me. ou cannot serve two masters.

CRAZY_CAT_WOMAN · 2025-12-13T13:45:26-0600

God's politics belong in church. And I don't see electing Trump, would be what God wants. God's just probably in shock. About both sides.

mark46 · 2025-12-13T14:26:24-0600

Always in His Presence said:
Neither political party is a turly 'religious' or Christian in nature - they are not designed to be and this is not a Christian Nation -

Agreed.

We are to look to the teachings and actions of Jesus and decide how best to help the weakest among us:

mark46 · 2025-12-13T14:32:17-0600

Always in His Presence said:
Neither political party is a turly 'religious' or Christian in nature - they are not designed to be and this is not a Christian Nation -

But it will be a cold day on the surface of the sun before I could vote for a party who supports the murder of the unborn and acceptance of perversions.

From a strictly Christian perspective.

Rom 1:22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

How someone can claim to be a Christian, yet endorse and support what is abhorrent to Him is beyond me. ou cannot serve two masters.

Some are very concerned about the sexual conduct of others as their top priority. This has been true for many centuries.

Others look to themselves and try to best do what Jesus would have done.
================
In looking to the bible, some focus on the rules and regulations of Romans. Others focus on the Sermon on the Mount.
========
I well understand why we Christians are opposed to abortion and homosexuality. Why should this me be a person who hates the sinner?
And some have come far from the medieval and Puritan idea of loving someone by burning them at the stake.

BCP1928 · 2025-12-13T14:43:10-0600

Always in His Presence said:
Neither political party is a turly 'religious' or Christian in nature - they are not designed to be and this is not a Christian Nation -

But it will be a cold day on the surface of the sun before I could vote for a party who supports the murder of the unborn and acceptance of perversions.

From a strictly Christian perspective.

Rom 1:22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

How someone can claim to be a Christian, yet endorse and support what is abhorrent to Him is beyond me. ou cannot serve two masters.

Because maybe some people believe that there are more important things going on, more important issues for Christians to concern themselves with than trying to regulate the sex lives of the non-Christian citizens of a secular republic.

Always in His Presence · 2025-12-13T14:54:56-0600

mark46 said:
I well understand why we Christians are opposed to abortion and homosexuality. Why should this me be a person who hates the sinner?
And some have come far from the medieval and Puritan idea of loving someone by burning them at the stake.

All I said was that I would not vote for them - and why.

Always in His Presence · 2025-12-13T14:55:43-0600

BCP1928 said:
Because maybe some people believe that there are more important things going on, more important issues for Christians to concern themselves with than trying to regulate the sex lives of the non-Christian citizens of a secular republic.

All I said was that I would not vote for them - that isn't regulating anything other than my personal vote.

BCP1928 · 2025-12-13T15:08:16-0600

Always in His Presence said:
All I said was that I would not vote for them - that isn't regulating anything other than my personal vote.

Yes, you did. Thank you for sharing. Then you went on to say,

Always in His Presence said:
How someone can claim to be a Christian, yet endorse and support what is abhorrent to Him is beyond me. ou cannot serve two masters.

Which is a highly offensive way to describe Christians who believe that there are more important things going on, more important issues for Christians to concern themselves with than trying to regulate the sex lives of the non-Christian citizens of a secular republic.

Always in His Presence · 2025-12-13T15:18:15-0600

BCP1928 said:
Which is a highly offensive way to describe Christians who believe that there are more important things going on, more important issues for Christians to concern themselves with than trying to regulate the sex lives of the non-Christian citizens of a secular republic.

To make it abundantly and unequivocally clear, beyond a shadow of a doubt -

I am NOT calling for anyone to regulate the sex lives of anyone at any time, any season or in any venue. I am merely stating that I personally cannot in good conscience vote for anyone who kills a child in the womb, nor endorses those things the Lord finds abhorrent.

Nor IN MY OPINION, can someone who calls themselves a Christian support those who openly support sin.

That's an OPINION - not a regulation nor call for regulation.

It's called freedom of speech. What is highly offensive are people who try to stop people from expressing their opinion and make accusations, not based on what is said, but their interpretation of what was said.

mark46 · 2025-12-13T15:23:17-0600

BCP1928 said:
Yes, you did. Thank you for sharing. Then you went on to say,

Which is a highly offensive way to describe Christians who believe that there are more important things going on, more important issues for Christians to concern themselves with than trying to regulate the sex lives of the non-Christian citizens of a secular republic.

The open question is how much should Christians try to have the state regulate non-Christian sexual habits and mores.

Perhaps it is truly better for Christians to try to have the state provide for the poor and the weak (to provide for the general welfare).

I submit that Christians can have much influence in having government support the weakest among us. Soup kitchens and a church charities just isn't enough.
=============
Of course, I do overlook one obvious factor. Seeing Christians continually spewing hate directed at non-Christians does very little to evangelize them. Every day and in every way, Christians provide a model in their personal actions and in their interactions with others.

For all of the overuse of the word "evangelism", the Christian Right has done much in to push away non-Christians, certainly in my lifetime, but I think at least since the Puritans.

Also, Christian spewing hate toward other Christians with difference views gives an example for all to see. Non-Christians see all the fighting among those on the ark and (reasonably) ignore entreaties to come aboard and experience the love of Jesus.

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