Comments on: Christian Right Looks to Rebound

By: Phil Hoover-Chicago

Phil Hoover-Chicago — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 17:22:06 +0000

Read Cal Thomas’ book, “Blinded by Might”

By: Jeff

Jeff — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 19:59:58 +0000

Great comments Kevin.
I know several of the folks involved there and they are good people, but I wish they could just take a breath and see the drain this has had not only on the reputation of Christians, but on the effectiveness of our churches.

Monk-in-training–great insight.

By: onelittleman

onelittleman — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 18:16:16 +0000

I’m uncertain about the earlier comment about appointed federal judges. I don’t know what it means that they have no obligation to the constitution.

Otherwise, I agree. Local churches have been political tools for the republicans since Reagan. It certainly seems like we’ve been sold a bill of goods.

By: osipov

osipov — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 18:02:12 +0000

“as a minister I would never tell someone who to vote for”

then you definitely don’t live in North Alabama. It has gotten so bad that we don’t attend services anywhere. Something is terribly wrong when names are mentioned from the pulpit.

By: Lee

Lee — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 17:08:10 +0000

I wish we were as concerned about the fact that we are losing 80% of our active youth before they graduate from college as we are about making sure that the “right person” is elected to office.

It seems obvious to me that electing someone whose record of church involvement is a clear indication they are not interested in the issues or causes of conservative Christians would take a back seat to the fact that the children of our church members are abandoning the church at record rates, and that most of them never return.

It also seems obvious that the way to change this country and move it toward acceptance and adoption of the social issues that the evangelical Religious Right promotes would be to simply do evangelism and convert more people to Christ.

By: Debbie Kaufman

Debbie Kaufman — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:59:01 +0000

I most definitely agree Kevin. In fact I believe the emphasis on politics has taken the focus off of Christ. It seems there is no area in the Baptist life that someone is not directing others in what to do and how to think. Even vote.

By: bloginafogpastor

bloginafogpastor — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 15:56:01 +0000

I don’t remember ever telling church members who to vote for and never intend to do so. I have supported pro-life stands in our church. My dissapointment has been with those politicians who claim to support a “culture of life” but have continued to appoint judges who feel no obligation to the Constitution of the United States.

Rather than being linked with any party we should be a force of influence in any party in which we participate . (Disclosure: I have been a supporter of a particular party most of the time since 1984.) The same goes for government in general. We don’t have to be “in” government or the “grime” that sometimes marks politics but we sure better be a voice for good to influence whoever is in power.

I had a history professor tell me that the birth of Political Action Commitees occurred when James Madison was “forced” by the Baptists of Virginia to hold out on ratification of the Constitution until the Bill of Rights was added. If this is indeed true than maybe we have a model for influencing politics through entities not aligned with a particular party.

Still, Kevin’s main point is well taken. The moment “politics” takes us away from Great Commission activity is the moment we have drifted away from the will of The Father.

That comment and $4.87 will get you a triple venti breve, half an equal, no foam latte at the local place of coffehouse ministry.

By: martyraj

martyraj — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 15:53:49 +0000

It seems that Christaians(or it is Church ?) seek secular power rather than the spiritual power that comes from Prayer.
There are certain things Christians should always strive to seek . First of them would be Kingdom of God and His Justice .
This truth my Mother used to remind me often and I gained a lot by following it and I wish I should have more thought to it .

By: Monk-in-Training

Monk-in-Training — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 13:46:46 +0000

that second sentence in the first paragraph should be:

It seems to me that the more wedded it becomes with wielding secular power (no matter what the “good” it would entail) the more it forgets the One they should be focused on.

By: Monk-in-Training

Monk-in-Training — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 13:44:49 +0000

Since at least Constantine, the Church as been involved with political power issues. It seems to me that the more wedded it becomes with wielding secular power (no matter what the “good” it would entail.

For sometime this unholy union with Right Wing politics has been making me more and more uneasy. I keep thinking about putting some truth in the lie to tickle itching ears, and how our ears have itched for the last few years.

I think left wing politics are just as unholy, but they have only recently drank from the baptismal font, so to speak.

I don’t think we have advanced the Kingdom. In fact, I think we have damaged the cause of Christ. We use our spirituality to clobber the weakest, blame the destitute, and condemn the confused. Not a pretty picture, in my opinion.