QuietTempest said:
I was wondering what you all thought of groups such as the KKK, neo-nazis, skinheads, gay bashers, violent pro-life groups (clinic bombers), other white supremacists, etc.?
Many, if not all, of the groups mentioned above cite Biblical passages and act as they do in the name of the Christian god. I know that these people are a minority and do not represent Christianity as a whole (thank goodness!), but I wanted to know how you react when these people make the news, have rallies in your hometowns, speak publicly about their views, etc...?
Religion and politics do not mix. They never have and they never will. Jesus told us to render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's and to God that which is God's. Scripture warns us that the world is headed in the wrong direction and to stay away from worldly things.
The Christian right, particularly in the U.S., has tried to become politically active with devastating consequences. Fortunately, they are almost as financially bankrupt as they are morally bankrupt.
I believe in the separation of church and state for our own protection. Politics by definition is about power. Christianity is about submission to God and is the exact opposite in values. As the saying goes, power corrupts. Politics is also about money and who controls the purse strings. We know that money is also corrupting.
All politics is corrupting and for the church to get involved politically we taint ourselves. When we back a candidate or party we get tainted with their scandals, money grabbing and power brokering. Politics requires compromise and as Christians we cannot compromise what we believe in.
In the case of the U.S., the political right openly courted the Christian right and it is common knowledge that the Christian right made the difference in securing the election of Mr. Bush and the Republicans. Now that scandals and back room dirty tricks are coming out into the open, the Christian right has to accept its responsibility in propping up the administration.
The war in Iraq is proving to be unpopular and the reasons for it were fabricated. The horrors of Abu Ghraib and the illegal detention of prisoners without due process are immoral and anti-democratic. The policies of the administration which allow this go against International law and treaties that America signed and has agreed to abide by. Yet, we stand by a complacently allow it to happen.
Shouldn't we, as Christians push for justice, democracy, freedom, and moral supremacy instead of allowing ourselves to be reduced to the lowest common denomicator?
That is the price that we pay for political involvement. We attach our names to politicians and then we have to watch as the name of Jesus is dragged through the mud time after time.
It does not help either that Mr. Bush openly says that he talks with God and that God told him to go to war.
We should never give endorsements of political parties and individuals on behalf of Christ. The word Christian has to mean what Jesus stood for. It should not be something that is traded around for political favors and compromised in its meaning.
I say shame on the Christian right and those who allowed themselves to be duped by lies and innuendo.
Sure we oppose abortion and stand up for the family, but political action is not our role. We are called to proclaim the Gospel and to bring people to Christ. Our battle is spiritual and not political. Our place to take a stand is in the church and not at the ballot box.
We need to stand up to people who use the name of Christ for their own partisan purposes. If we fail, we are letting down Jesus. We are turning people off and are erecting barriers that should not be there.
We do not need any bad press. We already have Satan deceiving the world and making it miserable. I think that is more than enough to contend with.
We need to confess our sins and apologize for damage done. Then we have to get back to winning souls and enlarging the Kingdom of God, instead of trying to make one on earth.
Personally, I cannot stand to hear of these groups - especially when they start spouting scriptures or 'religious' beliefs. When I hear of those kinds of things happening, they really make me sad because I fear the damage that will be done to the cause of Christ. Jesus didn't come into the world to bomb abortion clinics, attack people of different races, etc....He came to seek and to save that which was lost.
