The Political Christian
Topic: Responding as Christians




Legislating Christian Morality

by A.S.A Jones



During the third debate between Senator John Kerry and President Bush, moderator Bob Schieffer raised the issue of abortion. In explaining how he ‘personally’ opposes abortion but supports a woman’s right to choose it, Kerry made the following statement:

“I believe that I can't legislate or transfer to another American citizen my article of faith. What is an article of faith for me is not something that I can legislate on somebody who doesn't share that article of faith.”

What exactly is an ‘article of faith’? An article of faith, used in this context, is a belief concerning morality – an opinion of what one believes to be morally right or wrong. According to secularists, morality is relative; in other words, secularists recognize that what one culture or individual sees as being right, another culture or individual may see as being wrong. From this secular viewpoint, it does not matter if an opinion of morality results from faith in God, the lack of faith in God, personal experience, humanism, or existentialism. From the secular viewpoint, morality is merely equal opinion.

What is law, then, if not the legislation of moral opinions? Every time a law is made, it becomes an imposition of one group’s opinion upon another’s. A lot of Americans smoke pot. They believe that there is nothing wrong with selling it or using it, but I doubt that Kerry would suggest dismantling the laws that prohibit drug activity for fear of offending drug users by ‘legislating’ his opinion. Kerry certainly doesn’t have any qualms about legislating increased taxes on those who don’t share his views. Many Americans disagree with the opinion that women should be given the option of aborting their babies, yet Kerry has no problem legislating provisions for that option on those who would disagree with it.

Why, then, would Senator Kerry make such a stupid and absurd statement? If Senator Kerry truly believed that it was wrong to legislate his beliefs upon those who don’t agree, he wouldn’t be a legislator. If Kerry truly believes that abortion is morally wrong, why would he give women the right to choose it? Why not grant citizens the right to choose to murder another citizen? After all, we may personally believe that murder is wrong, but who are we to legislate our morality upon others?

Do you see the load of crap that Senator Kerry is attempting to feed the non-thinking public? Senator Kerry does not believe that abortion is wrong and that is why he feels no need to curtail it in any way. He is entitled to believe that, but he doesn’t have the integrity to say it. Instead, he panders to the Christian majority, telling them from one side of his mouth that he shares their pro-life belief, while simultaneously reinforcing the secular attitude that any attempt to legislate a belief supported by Christians is an attempt to force religion down the collective throat of America. Never mind that secular beliefs and anti-Christian beliefs are legislated and forced down our throats with impunity. In effect, Senator Kerry is telling his fellow Christians that it’s okay to think that abortion is wrong, but that it is not okay for Christians to voice their opinions in the legislature. Isn’t it rather disturbing that Kerry, allegedly an upstanding Catholic, would suggest the ultimate disenfranchisement of Christians?

Promoting a pro-life candidate is not the equivalent of forcing your religion on others who don’t want it. No one is proposing that the United States should become a theocracy. Many atheists are in agreement with Christians when it comes to enacting legislation that limits access to abortion. Arguments for a pro-life position can be made without reference to God. If you believe that killing the unborn is an action that is wrong, then you are obligated, and have every right, to work to establish laws to curtail that action. Don’t let the secular world tell you that Christians have no business being active in the political arena. That misconception is the work of secularists who want silence from their opposition.

Don’t be a silent Christian! This is a very important election that will influence American law for the next hundred years. Supreme Court positions are on the line. Vote your conscience, vote your heart, and vote for those candidates who have demonstrated their integrity and whose opinions reflect God's morality.

chips'comment:

Even though the election is over with until 2006 and 2008 you can bet you will hear this a lot to come.

Responding as Christians
Topic: Responding as Christians
by Face on July 19, 2005


There are people who hate Christians out there.
Notice the Justices with Horns


I heard a recent (and typical) conversation on Air America's "The Randi Rhoads Show" where Rhodes was discussing Christians with callers. After a caller explained to Rhodes that "the reason we're seeing so many abuses in the [military] prisons is because so many Christians are involved with the war," they continued the discussion with the following (please keep in mind that this was said seriously and with concern, and not as a joke; nobody was screaming and yelling or flippantly trying to get a laugh--they were speaking gravely):



CALLER: Do they [Christians] still want to continue with a democracy?



RHODES: No. They want a theocracy where they control everything people do.



CALLER: I know how normal or sane people pick a leader, but how would evangelicals pick a leader under a theocracy?



RHODES: You're assuming it would still look like a democracy. Once it's a theocracy, it will no longer resemble a democracy…It has to be someone who hates women.



CALLER: Yes, they think women are evil because they're tainted with original sin from Eve...[then, with worry] I'm scared.



How should we respond to words like these as Christians? I have to admit I often fall short of the ideal, and I was greatly challenged (not to mention, convicted) when I read the following passage from 1 Corithians 4:11-13:



To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless; and we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; when we are slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now.



Somehow, I have to do the above in conjunction with this from 2 Corinthians 10:3-5:



For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh,for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ….



It's right for me to defend the truth and tear down false ideas, but where is my heart? What does it mean to bless those who revile me? Two things I know for sure: first, I should not be surprised when people think I'm the scum of the world; and second, I need have the attitude of Jesus "who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame."



Os Guinness summed this up perfectly in a talk he gave earlier tonight (more about that later). He simply said, "Expect prejudice, but bear it as a real follower of Christ and not as a whiner."

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