Sorry, Joel, but the GOP routinely speaks on behalf of the Christian God. It’s pretty much their whole deal.

Christians (the nice ones) have tacitly (if not actively) ceded their representation to folks like Marshall & his backers, the Family Research Council. They’ve successfully co-opted the public face of your faith and have gone unchallenged by any significant group of Christians.

Unpleasant, perhaps, but true.

Sorry, Joel, but the GOP routinely speaks on behalf of the Christian God. It’s pretty much their whole deal.

Christians (the nice ones) have tacitly (if not actively) ceded their representation to folks like Marshall & his backers, the Family Research Council. They’ve successfully co-opted the public face of your faith and have gone unchallenged by any significant group of Christians.

Unpleasant, perhaps, but true.

Not true, Robert. There are plenty of Christians who have nothing to do with the GOP, or politics. What you see are those with the loudest voice – not because of decibel level of the speaker but because others hand him or them a microphone.

Around the world, this does not happen. In mainstream churches, this does not happen. What you see is that the most politically active get the pulpit – why? Because the others are doing what they are supposed to be doing and that is helping people.

Not true, Robert. There are plenty of Christians who have nothing to do with the GOP, or politics. What you see are those with the loudest voice – not because of decibel level of the speaker but because others hand him or them a microphone.

Around the world, this does not happen. In mainstream churches, this does not happen. What you see is that the most politically active get the pulpit – why? Because the others are doing what they are supposed to be doing and that is helping people.

Think about it from a purely marketing/PR standpoint: The brand identity that a ton of people associate with (at least American) Christianity is shaped almost entirely by what may well be the worst possible representatives of your faith.

This is a crisis of epic proportions, alienating millions from ever giving Christianity a second look.

Allowing your “Great Commission” to be usurped by the likes of Focus On the Family & Family Research Council destroys the witness of the silent masses & renders your deeper message inert.

Think about it from a purely marketing/PR standpoint: The brand identity that a ton of people associate with (at least American) Christianity is shaped almost entirely by what may well be the worst possible representatives of your faith.

This is a crisis of epic proportions, alienating millions from ever giving Christianity a second look.

Allowing your “Great Commission” to be usurped by the likes of Focus On the Family & Family Research Council destroys the witness of the silent masses & renders your deeper message inert.

Robert, I don’t disagree with you there, but for some reason, many more Christians feel the need to keep the Gospel instead of engaging in politics. I’ve worked with them from St. Louis to D.C and they are passionate, seeing them only when needed.

Yes, it hurts us, no doubt, and maybe a few us will change it. I hope.

Robert, I don’t disagree with you there, but for some reason, many more Christians feel the need to keep the Gospel instead of engaging in politics. I’ve worked with them from St. Louis to D.C and they are passionate, seeing them only when needed.

Yes, it hurts us, no doubt, and maybe a few us will change it. I hope.

A few can not change it…

A few can not change it…

Yeah, because a few never changed anything. Got Milk? Oh, wait. MLK? Oh, not good either.

Um…yeah, a few people never started change.

Yeah, because a few never changed anything. Got Milk? Oh, wait. MLK? Oh, not good either.

Um…yeah, a few people never started change.

I’m not saying that one or a few people can’t inspire change. I’m saying that it takes the fortitude of many to implement the dreams of the few.

BTW: Harvey Milk’s not really a good example. It was 30 years before another openly gay public servant was elected, and the gay rights movement remains largely in disarray. MLK is a much more relevant model.

I’m not saying that one or a few people can’t inspire change. I’m saying that it takes the fortitude of many to implement the dreams of the few.

BTW: Harvey Milk’s not really a good example. It was 30 years before another openly gay public servant was elected, and the gay rights movement remains largely in disarray. MLK is a much more relevant model.

So, it takes time. I’ve got it, as far as I know. I believe that we can take our faith back, Robert, and I intend to do it. Others are doing so as well. http://tankstotractors.blogspot.com

One voice here, another voice there, soon, those who believe that the life of a Christian is about spreading the Gospel not by laws or might, but about living and loving will be heard.

So, it takes time. I’ve got it, as far as I know. I believe that we can take our faith back, Robert, and I intend to do it. Others are doing so as well. http://tankstotractors.blogspot.com

One voice here, another voice there, soon, those who believe that the life of a Christian is about spreading the Gospel not by laws or might, but about living and loving will be heard.

Meh.

Meh.

[...] Polycarp:- The GOP does not speak for God or THIS Christian The number of children who are born subsequent [...]

Amen! Thank you for that timely encouragement.

Amen! Thank you for that timely encouragement.

Joel,

Why I am no longer a Republican. The Taliban have taken over. The FRC and the rest of these extremist groups have driven out anyone who actually cares about the integrity of Scripture or for that matter the actual witness of the Church, These people are no different than the Taliban. After the election of 2008 my wife (who did not vote for President Obama) made a comment on her facebook page that “Judy wonders if the religious right realizes that a Christian dictatorship would mirror an Islamic one.” She was shredded by people tat we had counted as friends and her comment to me was that what scared her was that nobody thought that the idea of a Christian dictatorship was a bad thing. The got upset at being compared to Moslem fundamentalists but not at the idea of a Christian dictatorship, which is what we will get should the GOP not only get back in power in Congress but take the White House.

Peace, Steve+

Joel,

Why I am no longer a Republican. The Taliban have taken over. The FRC and the rest of these extremist groups have driven out anyone who actually cares about the integrity of Scripture or for that matter the actual witness of the Church, These people are no different than the Taliban. After the election of 2008 my wife (who did not vote for President Obama) made a comment on her facebook page that “Judy wonders if the religious right realizes that a Christian dictatorship would mirror an Islamic one.” She was shredded by people tat we had counted as friends and her comment to me was that what scared her was that nobody thought that the idea of a Christian dictatorship was a bad thing. The got upset at being compared to Moslem fundamentalists but not at the idea of a Christian dictatorship, which is what we will get should the GOP not only get back in power in Congress but take the White House.

Peace, Steve+

+1

+1

This crap makes me so angry that I actually feel like swearing.

I’m right there with Padresteve. I have no patience for the use of God by Republicans, especially when they’re making up words that He didn’t say or using Him to support evil — the defense of greed, for example. The casual throwing away of life, as long as it’s not good American lives.

Well, not wealthy American lives. People who are lazy and so uninsured, their lives aren’t sacred after they’re born. Only before.

You get the idea. And I’m venting.

This crap makes me so angry that I actually feel like swearing.

I’m right there with Padresteve. I have no patience for the use of God by Republicans, especially when they’re making up words that He didn’t say or using Him to support evil — the defense of greed, for example. The casual throwing away of life, as long as it’s not good American lives.

Well, not wealthy American lives. People who are lazy and so uninsured, their lives aren’t sacred after they’re born. Only before.

You get the idea. And I’m venting.

Fr. Steve, I myself have been accosted on FB, by a pastor no less on his page. Dare I say this? He associated me with a friend who happens to be gay. Once this happened, I was a ‘tool of the devil’ for my statements against Tony Perkins, et al.

I don’t think that most people are like the loudest voices. Rather, perhaps, I hope and pray that while we may have our opinions and hold strongly to our believes, or unbeliefs, we all understand the dignity of a fellow traveler on this sod and the value of another’s freedom.

Fr. Steve, I myself have been accosted on FB, by a pastor no less on his page. Dare I say this? He associated me with a friend who happens to be gay. Once this happened, I was a ‘tool of the devil’ for my statements against Tony Perkins, et al.

I don’t think that most people are like the loudest voices. Rather, perhaps, I hope and pray that while we may have our opinions and hold strongly to our believes, or unbeliefs, we all understand the dignity of a fellow traveler on this sod and the value of another’s freedom.

WKen, vent away. And if you ever feel the need to write something controversial….

WKen, vent away. And if you ever feel the need to write something controversial….

Guys

I do think that both parties have been taken by the extremes and that the bulk of people are still somewhere in the middle. Unfortunately the middle, like in Nazi Germany is being squeezed from both sides. I fear that we are now in a political situation similar to the last few years of the Weimar Republic. I just pray that we do not end as badly.

Blessings,

Steve+

Guys

I do think that both parties have been taken by the extremes and that the bulk of people are still somewhere in the middle. Unfortunately the middle, like in Nazi Germany is being squeezed from both sides. I fear that we are now in a political situation similar to the last few years of the Weimar Republic. I just pray that we do not end as badly.

Blessings,

Steve+