Posted on 10/20/2004 3:18:18 AM PDT by ShelleyAa
What is a Christian to do?
To some, faith dictates one’s politics. To others, politics most certainly dictates their faith.
During a recent church service at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Miami, the Rev. Gaston E. Smith introduced Democrat, presidential nominee Mr. Kerry as “the next president of the United States” telling his parishioners, “For every Goliath, God has a David. For every Calvary’s cross, God has a Christ Jesus. ... to bring our country out of despair, discouragement, despondency and disgust, God has John Kerry.”
One may wonder how it is that John F. Kerry is able to have a political rally in a church without consequence. The fact is, for those on the left, many cross the line without effect, all the time. Examples are numerous. Liberal, anti-war religious organization, Sojourners, informs America this election season; God is Not a Republican or a Democrat, emphasizing, the “Religious Right” does not speak for God when it comes to our national interest. Where does Sojourners get authority to decide who speaks for God?
A key part of the Democrat base for over 100 years, Catholics are now trending toward the GOP. With dilemma for Democrats, implementation of counter-measures to arrest trend became necessary. Establishing a new secular paradigm inside Catholicism, redefining what it means to be a good Catholic by creating a “Catholic Voting Scorecard,” was their way to muddy the water, making it easier to rationalize voting for a Democrat. With new agenda, will Catholics see contradictions between central teachings, or place principles aside?
Not a new phenomenon, nevertheless, editorials are placed in newspapers throughout the nation by liberal clergy, in hopes of persuading many to hear the gospel of the liberal left. No longer a need for pretense, when Democrat nominees speak, liberal clergy appear to be more than happy to get politicians uncorroborated, error-ridden message to their community. Why would a “man of the cloth” not delight in promoting the socialist gospel of Democrat, John F. Kerry? Does not the end justify the means?
Questionable church/state tax-exempt examples from the Kerry/Bush comparison chart by Democrat Party for church distribution, “John Kerry Shares Our values,” to the ever-so innocent showings of movies such as radical left’s, Fahrenheit 11, in basements of churches, this year Democrats have pushed the church/state separation envelop.
So what is a Christian to do? With such boldness from the left in promoting their socialist values, will we be as courageous in regards to our faith?
One of the most important elections of our lifetime, so much is at stake in terms of direction America will go. Will it tread further from our Judio-Christian foundational values, engulfed in socialism?
As Christian citizens, should we not become educated concerning issues and candidate stances, not co-opted to vote denominational affiliation, pocketbook, or party? Instead, we as people of faith must vote with boldness our convictions, our beliefs and our values. This election is all about a vote of values. Make your vote count.
I vote my beliefs. If a candidate is pro-life he'll get my vote every time over the pro-choice candidate. I will not be a party to murder.
I was recently excused from a jury for telling the judge that I held the law of God higher than the law of that court. I told him that I could be on the panel if the laws we were asked to judge by did not contradict scripture, but since I felt they did and could show him how they did, I could not set there fairly. He dismissed me. Christians have to live as they believe, but not use their "religion" as a crutch.
I cannot understand how the Kerry side can have a man during his convention, claim to be the pastor of ?? church and proclaim that he and his congregation....that church....support Kerry.
How Kerry can campaign IN churches the same as he does in a gymnasium and the church does not get in trouble, nor does he.
YET, one on our side do that and the IRS is knockin on their door the next day.
Why do we allow this? When this election is over, we need to get our collective act together and start making some changes.
My hat is off to you.
Jesus is not an archetype.
Except maybe to a nonbeliever, which is exactly the impression I get from the above words by Gaston Smith.
To go after a Black church would be harmful I fear. They have much more power, than one would think.
I believe that he honestly believes what he says. I also believe he is wrong.
Which is not the same as believing what God said.
"A" Jesus for "every" Calvary's cross? This is just not something a genuine Christian could say. It takes the central tenet of the faith and reduces it to the level of the mundane. And for temporal purposes, at that.
I am not sure if he is a believer or not. I am sure of one thing, I do not believe what he said to be of truth.
I don't care if its a purple church.....its illegal. Boy talk about intimidation. This is one of the major problems. Oh Oh, its a black church so we better not yell. How insane is that? How is it that the majority of people in this Country have been so intimidated by such a thing. Gosh, what "color" the people that attend that church happen to be is totally irrelevant. It is just that if that church can do politics then so can others. If it is illegal, then none should be able to. No wonder our nation is in the condition that it is in.
No wonder our nation is in the condition that it is in.
..And another reason Bush is needed!
I am with you. Black churches have no right to do what other churches are not able to do. However, reality tells me that the liberal media and those in power would destroy anyone trying to take away one of their goodies.
You would only have to take the tax break away from one church to make the point.
And I wonder what brave soul would be willing to do that?
You see Hanna willingly raising her hand. For some strange reason I still have this very definite idea about the difference between right and wrong.
So far-- no one.
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