sides
As the comments grow on this post, I’d like to add a couple of things. (By the way - Heg - thanks for the comment and when are you baking cookies next???)
I’d gently like to ask a couple of questions. 
Is the point of being in ministry to influence public policy? Should the driving force of a ministry be to basically function like a lobbyist on Capital Hill? Can heart change be legislated? Are our religious freedoms really at stake or just our political clout and power?
James Dobson’s integrity is not in question. He’s handled that well. My question is whether or not the political battles are worth losing the ‘ear’ of half the population right out of the gate? As a pastor, I think my calling is higher than that and my greatest example won the cultural battle by changing hearts before he changed governmental policy.
I’m okay with Jesus and his death, burial, and resurrection being the stumbling block. I’m not as okay with my position on stem cell research, the war on terror, or illegal immigrants being the stumbling block.
Just more questions for the discussion!
5 responses so far ↓
1 kris // Jul 18, 2006 at 9:25 am
i couldn’t agree with you more. you’ve asked - and answered the right question.
2 robert // Jul 18, 2006 at 12:30 pm
there’s a joke article in the field guide to evangelicals and their habitat about the republican national committee and the souther baptist convention merging because they realized they had the same members in each group. seems to fit with your first post.
3 Linda // Jul 18, 2006 at 2:42 pm
Don’t churches risk losing tax free status if they choose politcal sides?
I am pretty liberal and I don’t want anyone preaching to me about politics, whether I agree with them or not
4 H // Jul 19, 2006 at 2:15 pm
I love those bumperstickers! The first one I saw was in a McD’s parking lot. What was so funny is that the car looks more like a junk wagon than a compact. It was interwined with the evolution, ecology, wiccam and the anti-FBC “tolerance” sticker. Even tho I was for everything she was against, I found myself saying you tell ‘em girl! I really hit my “you can’t make this stuff up” button. So much so, it still brings a chuckle when I see one.
I believe that there is a place for Chrisitians in politics, just as there is a place for the Christian business man, the Christian doctor, scientist, etc. I think the current trend of Christians in government has been focused on morality and tbe issues within it. It leaves very little of the Christian virtue of love, or of sacrifice, and walking in the others shoes. It appears as tho the Christians in the political/ethical/moral majority arena has expected pagans to behave like Chirstians, which has left the Christians looking more like pagans than Jesus.
The knee jerk for the pagans are to be far less tolerance of the right/moral majority for their cruelty and lack of understanding/tolerance.
5 Heg // Jul 23, 2006 at 12:41 am
Cookies? : ) I have been thinking on this for several days and debating with myself – but in nature I love politics, so my opinion will always be skewed because of that, but this is what I came up with – sorry it is so long.
I agree that as Christians our focus should be showing Jesus, who is the only One who can change hearts, which in turn will be the only way to truly transform society. Bottom line no matter what side of politics you are on you will only go to Heaven by accepting Christ.
Politics seems to have a lot of gray areas that are based on opinion, such as the war on terror and the death penalty – you could probably take a poll within an evangelical church and find people from both sides of the issue and could possibly find somewhere in the Bible to support their view. I don’t think those issues should be preached about or made a public policy issue, mainly because there is not right or wrong. Even though I might have a strong opinion (I emphasize opinion on gray issues) one way or the other, I have to be careful not to alienate people because they have other opinions from me.
Having said that, I believe there are certain issues which the Bible speaks very clearly. As Christians how can we not stand up for issues, such as abortion, homosexuality, or marriage? I don’t think there is much guessing where Jesus stood on those issues and I don’t think as Christians we should be silent just because it is political/controversial issue. Homosexual marriage was a hot topic the past couple years. We should use that to speak the truth of Christ. When truth is spoken you are more than likely going to offend someone – aka Satan. There is a right and wrong in those issues and as individual Christians we should be very active in electing officials and being informed about legislation on those issues that will affect you.
I think in ministry taking a stand on certian issues is not trying to gain political power but giving moral absolutes. It should be about standing for that truth when the culture around says there is no truth. It should not be done out of the motivation for power. Will legislation change a person’s heart? Probably not, but speaking out and talking with others about those issues and most importantly calling Christians to take a stand and discuss truth with unbelievers will. Truth is a weapon to fight Satan. Christians need to make sure they are standing out against the actions, not the people that do them. The message of Christ is about changing us all and rescuing us in the midst of our sin. Part of that is speaking out against the sin, while embracing the person.
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