I remember a debate erupting one day before history class in high school about whether God was a Republican or not. Of course the question is completely backwards, but it was pretty amusing at the time (picture a big old red and blue elephant on the front lawn of heaven). Sadly many adult Christians seem to be confused about this and miss the real issue entirely. Christians must recognize that political parties aren’t concerned about pleasing God, but concerned with their own agendas and ideals. That’s why its important for Christians not to unquestioningly accept whatever Sean Hannity or Rush Limbaugh says is the conservative answer (or even what Dr. Dobson or Pat Robertson says is the “Christian” answer), but to critically evaluate any issue through the lens of their faith. I’ll be the first to admit that this is a more challenging task and one that I am not very good at, but I want live my life in a way that shows that I care about being a follower of Jesus infinitely more than I care about being conservative, American, female or anything else.

Wow! Thanks for your thoughts I really appreciate them. This is the kind of discussions followers of Jesus should be having, and many are not. I don’t know about you but I am so excited that I am in the church that I am in because I truly feel that the Christ followers I attend church with are open to this kind of discussion. That is ok that I don’t agree with you, but I hear a heart full of love and devotion for the Savior coming through in you words and I believe that along with respect belong in this kind of conversation. I love the writings of Anne Lamont but I don’t agree with most of her politics or theology but that makes no difference when you have the connection of mutual love and respect through a common bond in Jesus. Keep up hope in recovering Republicans and talk radio listeners like me and I will keep hope in flaming liberals. Fair enough?

In Him,

Cole Chambers

I have led a fairly self absorbed life politically, until the 2000 election when I became very concerned with the Supreme Court picking our President. I spent months trying to understand the core principals of both parties, although will confess I have always recoiled at the race baiting/class warfare the right engages in and sadly believe people like Rush and Hannity speak to the worst in us and have made personal fortunes fostering distrust and hatred toward fellow human beings.

As a Christian myself, I have never understood how anyone with similar faith could subscribe to the Republican principals. It is as if when it comes to the Bible, they stopped at Leviticus and was never introduced to the New Testament, nor the teachings of Jesus Christ. Love thy neighbor seems to be the antipathy to the GOP.

I consider myself a staunch Democrat these days, although I do not subscribe to everything under that “tent”. When it comes to the moral issue of abortion, I have found no one, NO ONE in the Democratic party who views abortion through the prism of the right to kill the unborn. That, like so much that has been twisted to paint a demonic picture of the left by the right for political gain and manipulation is pure fantasy. The reason Democrats, and many Independents alike, are for choice is because of the Constitution. It is about keeping the government out of our private decisions. As personal gun ownership, our ability to speak freely is protected, so should the body of a woman be hers to control without government or political interference. The argument is NOT about life or death- it is about maintaining and preserving control of your own body. Now, I know that creates a very thorny issue. No one with any moral fiber would support abortion as a means for birth control- so that argument is legitimate on both sides and it is an issue that both political sides should be anxious to come together to solve. What we have seen, instead, is a systemic push from the religious right to make birth control more difficult to obtain and taking sex education out of our schools so young girls enter puberty completely ignorant and unprepared insuring more unwanted pregnancies! (as an aside, this same group has no issue with insurance companies refusing to cover birth control while at the same time covering the cost of ED drugs like Viagra!) There is no willingness from the right to address the issues that create unwanted pregnancy, thus reducing abortions procedures to something that is rare and the exception- not the rule.

Tragically, the issue is purely political, as it’s been used by the right as a lighting rod to drum up support from Christians for a party that aside from “saying” they are about protecting the life of the unborn, everything else they stand for is in direct contradiction to the teaching of Jesus Christ.

The Partial Birth Abortion Ban law that the right loves to use to illustrate Dems as intentional baby killers is a prime example. The bill had unanimous support from both sides until the GOP insisted that no exceptions to the health of the mother could be included. Knowing Democrats, concerned about Constitutional rights to personal privacy would see this as a dangerous slippery slope, would have no choice but to vote against it, thus strengthening the perception Dems are unborn baby killers. Dems could not say the life of the mother was less important than the child she carries and if her life was threatened, as deemed by a licensed, medical Doctor, that had to be taken into consideration. Women, Dems argue, are more than vessels for reproduction and deserve consideration and respect. The government has no right to tell her her life is not important. So the bill was blocked. Although I am against abortion, it was the right thing to do. There could be a ban right now against this horrific procedure that everyone agrees is immoral, but political calculation was inserted and this practice is still legal.

What I really appreciate in your blog is your willingness to look beyond what is being said and measure it against your Christian faith and the teachings of Jesus Christ. I hope that you are not alone.

Obama 08!

Cole are you familiar with Jim Wallis’ books? I think you would relate to “God’s Politics, Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn’t Get It”. He is a refreshing critic of the abuses and the neglect of biblical application of Christian Faith in politics.

I am an independent politically that has always voted Republican in the past. This election my vote will be going to Obama who although I do not agree with on every issue…I do believe he is correct on the essential commission to take care of the poor and marginalized through a more fair tax structure and universal health care system. After a thorough study of him I am also convinced that at the core he is searching for biblical truth in policy.