DON'T BE INTIMIDATED BY CRITICS OF "POLITICS AND RELIGION!"

Recently a friend noticed the political sticker on my car and asked, ''Why are you voting for him?''

I answered, ''I don't trust people who don't! If your religion doesn't affect the important choices of your life, it's not worth much. And if your politics are opposed to your religious values, something is wrong with one or the other--maybe both.''

Far too long have Christians allowed the voices of the liquor industry, organized gambling humanist education, loose morals, sexual perversion, pornography, criminals' rights, and those who see no difference between the value of human life and that of an animal to go virtually unchallenged in their bid for the support of the Christian voter, simply because they are intimidated by the hackneyed cry of ''politics and religion.''

Right now, as never before your children's morality, the stability of their homes, and freedom of their church to function scripturally without great hardship or outright persecution are being threatened by the very government that was originally designed to protect them. Policies calculated to destroy these values are already in operation, and are even spelled out and endorses in the part platforms on which most of this year's candidates ran!

When I stand before the throne of judgment I rather doubt that the Righteous Judge will be much concerned about what stand I took regarding taxes, foreign trade, Social Security, or farm subsidies. But I tremble to think how He might react to my claim that I considered myself a conscientious following of Jesus Christ even though I cast my vote for an advocate of abortion on demand, legal approval of homosexual lifestyles, the stifling of religious freedom, the repression of parental rights, and the mockery of those who cherish the traditional values of faith, morality, and the Bible as ''bigoted'' and ''fanatical.'' I doubt that it will help my case very much to explain that I did it because the candidate said he was my friend and promised me the greater good of an extra 20 pieces of silver in my pocket. All I had to do for this handsome reward was stultify my conscience, betray by my Lord's values, and help my chosen candidate make American safe for the criminal, the pervert, and the moral reprobate.

These are just a few of the issues that make a Christian's support of most of this year's candidates inconsistent with a biblical faith. Their parties have caved in to the demands of the lawless and godless; and whether or not they agree with all their party's line, they have chosen to seek my vote in its name. Therefore they have left the person of faith and conscience very little choice.

But what if you don't like any of the candidates? Sometimes we find ourselves in the uncomfortable position of having to choose between the lesser of two evils--at least, as we regard them. If you can't find anything you care to vote for, there is surely plenty to vote against! And if you have the opportunity to choose but elect not to choose at all, you may be certain the forces of the greater evil will be glad you left it up to them!

The right to choose their rulers of this world is a freedom most of the people of this world would gladly die for. We have it. Let's use it to build a better nation. Don't be intimidated by the enemy's cry of ''Politics and Religion!''

I resent being lumped in with "the Christian right". Just because I'm a devout Southern fundamentalist Christian and a social/fiscal/military/foreign policy conservative doesn't mean I'm part of any "Christian right."

I was active in conservative Republican politics long before there was a Jerry Falwell, James Dobson or whats-his-name Reed.

There's no reason why a Christian who happens to be a conservative has to be part of "the Christian right."

If the godless knew what was awaiting them, they wouldn't act the way they do.
If I were them, I would try everything to stay "alive" as long as they could.
This is the time of the culling of humanity.
Those on the side of life will have their names written in the book of life. Those that do not, will be put in "hot storage" for a period to allow the lifers to continue on the path to God.
As we pass out of this school, the failures in "hot storage" will be given another chance, so gracious is our Lord!
This is the time of the last days...

While the author is basically correct, there is one point of legitimate disagreement.

Premise:

"When I stand before the throne of judgment I rather doubt that the Righteous Judge will be much concerned about what stand I took regarding taxes, foreign trade, Social Security, or farm subsidies."

Rebuttal:

1) "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.." (2 Timothy 3:16)

2) "You shall not steal." (Exodus 20:15)

3) Programs like social security and farm subsidies are fundamentally redistribution of wealth, as are medicare and welfare in general. As they are confiscation of property against the wishes of the owner, they are theft, regardless of the wishes of the majority. If the 51% poorest people in a room vote to steal the money in the wallets of the 49% richest, it is theft regardless of the vote. Ask a judge. The most perverse aspect of the process is that it is motivated by a desire for power on the part of the socialist politician, who is willing to buy votes with stolen money to acquire it.

4) (Acts 5:1-5) 1Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2With his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet.
3Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God."
5When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died.

The reason Ananias was killed was not because he didn't give all, but because he lied about it. The key phrase is "Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal?" Charity is NEVER to be coercive.

6) "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7)

7) "For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." (2 Thessalonians 3:10)

Redistribution of wealth a la Marx is absolutely contradictory to Biblical principles.

In that context, the Righteous Judge will MOST DEFINITELY "be much concerned about what stand I took regarding taxes, foreign trade, Social Security, or farm subsidies."

Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. (John 14:23)

One of the problems we had when we first started trying to convert the "Christian Right" to the Republican party is that most of them were still liberal Democrats who were crossing over to vote for Reagan solely for life/family issues.

On many non-life/family issues they were still buying the Democrat propaganda. I'm talking about taxes, foreign policy, outlawing guns, supply side economics, socialized medicine, right to work, admitting China to the UN, giving away the Panama canal, conservation, minimum wage, tort reform, death penalty...

Now, 30 years later it's hard to distinguish people who are part of "the Christian Right" from conservative Republicans who also happen to be devout Christians.

But I don't take marching orders from any televangelist and am not part of any organization that could be called part of the Christian right.

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