ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS: THE CHRISTIAN RIGHT
It has become common place in the Christian Right: the violent rhetoric and actions of the pro-life movement, the virtual marriage of politics and religion, and the attempted reconstruction of American society upon the Old Testament legal code. We lie at a major crossroads in American life. Will we take the wide, more traveled road of hatred, distrust, and fear, or will we take the narrow, less traveled road of love, trust, and hope?
The Christian Right and the Pro-life movement are but two sides of the same coin. "Pro-life!" is the Christian Right's battle cry and banner under which it marches. In light of recent actions (i.e. the murder of an abortion doctor), I do not doubt their opposition to abortion, but I do question whether they are truly pro-life. These people are willing to picket abortion clinics while only a few blocks away children and elderly people are going without meals and medical care. The issue, ultimately, is not abortion; rather, it is responding holistically to the issues surrounding the sanctity of human life.
Just listen to the rhetoric of Randall Terry of Operation Rescue, "I want you to just let a wave of intolerance wash over you. I want you to let a wave of hatred wash over you. Yes, hate is good.... Our goal is a Christian nation. We have a biblical duty, we are called by God to conquer this country." Now listen to the words of Jesus, "But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get any thing back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful" (Luke 6:35-36).
The Christian Right is also actively seeking the destruction of the historic wall of separation between Church and State in the United States of America. The Republican Party in many areas is becoming more and more the puppet of the Christian Right. Moreover, if any one dare speak up against this "takeover," they are called liberal and against "family values." Michael Kinsley, of the Democratic National Committee, aptly states, "if the religious voices want to be welcome in the debate, they must accept vigorous dissent without identifying it as anti-religious prejudice."
Finally, the issue of Reconstruction and its relation to the Christian Right is most startling. Reconstructionists seek to abolish the Constitution and adopt the Bible, and more specifically the Old Testament, as the direct instrument of government. They set forth an abolishment of democracy and intend to replace it with a rule by the elite. They reject religious freedom as liberal and the American system of separation of church and state as unacceptable. The reality of this occurring is even greater when one realizes that W.A. Criswell, Jerry Falwell, and Pat Robertson are deeply tied to this thought. Listen to W.A. Criswell, "there is no such thing as separation of church and state. It is merely a figment of the imagination of infidels." (Thus, Roger Williams, John Leland, and even Criswell's predecessor, George Truett, are all "infidels.")
The Christian Right is neither right nor Christian. Throughout history people have done unspeakable things in the name of Christ, and so it continues today. The Christian Right has sold its soul, abandoning the powerful message of Christ for the illusion of secular power. Jesus warns us even today, "do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces" (Matthew 7:6).
I strongly believe in Christian participation in government, but I do not support the Church running the government nor the government running the Church. I wholeheartedly stand against abortion on the basis of the sanctity of human life, but I consider God's sanctification of life to exist outside the womb as well as inside. I stand with firm conviction for living with values, morals, and ethics, but I flee from the Reconstructionists yoke of slavery which nullifies the work of Christ and the grace of God for the re-establishment of the Law. As Christians we are called by Jesus to be Salt and Light in this savorless and dark world, but we must do this according to the standard set forth by Christ, not the methods of the world. "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very form God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very form of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death -- even death on a cross!" (Philippians 2:5-8).
It has become common place in the Christian Right: the violent rhetoric and actions of the pro-life movement, the virtual marriage of politics and religion, and the attempted reconstruction of American society upon the Old Testament legal code. We lie at a major crossroads in American life. Will we take the wide, more traveled road of hatred, distrust, and fear, or will we take the narrow, less traveled road of love, trust, and hope?
The Christian Right and the Pro-life movement are but two sides of the same coin. "Pro-life!" is the Christian Right's battle cry and banner under which it marches. In light of recent actions (i.e. the murder of an abortion doctor), I do not doubt their opposition to abortion, but I do question whether they are truly pro-life. These people are willing to picket abortion clinics while only a few blocks away children and elderly people are going without meals and medical care. The issue, ultimately, is not abortion; rather, it is responding holistically to the issues surrounding the sanctity of human life.
Just listen to the rhetoric of Randall Terry of Operation Rescue, "I want you to just let a wave of intolerance wash over you. I want you to let a wave of hatred wash over you. Yes, hate is good.... Our goal is a Christian nation. We have a biblical duty, we are called by God to conquer this country." Now listen to the words of Jesus, "But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get any thing back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful" (Luke 6:35-36).
The Christian Right is also actively seeking the destruction of the historic wall of separation between Church and State in the United States of America. The Republican Party in many areas is becoming more and more the puppet of the Christian Right. Moreover, if any one dare speak up against this "takeover," they are called liberal and against "family values." Michael Kinsley, of the Democratic National Committee, aptly states, "if the religious voices want to be welcome in the debate, they must accept vigorous dissent without identifying it as anti-religious prejudice."
Finally, the issue of Reconstruction and its relation to the Christian Right is most startling. Reconstructionists seek to abolish the Constitution and adopt the Bible, and more specifically the Old Testament, as the direct instrument of government. They set forth an abolishment of democracy and intend to replace it with a rule by the elite. They reject religious freedom as liberal and the American system of separation of church and state as unacceptable. The reality of this occurring is even greater when one realizes that W.A. Criswell, Jerry Falwell, and Pat Robertson are deeply tied to this thought. Listen to W.A. Criswell, "there is no such thing as separation of church and state. It is merely a figment of the imagination of infidels." (Thus, Roger Williams, John Leland, and even Criswell's predecessor, George Truett, are all "infidels.")
The Christian Right is neither right nor Christian. Throughout history people have done unspeakable things in the name of Christ, and so it continues today. The Christian Right has sold its soul, abandoning the powerful message of Christ for the illusion of secular power. Jesus warns us even today, "do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces" (Matthew 7:6).
I strongly believe in Christian participation in government, but I do not support the Church running the government nor the government running the Church. I wholeheartedly stand against abortion on the basis of the sanctity of human life, but I consider God's sanctification of life to exist outside the womb as well as inside. I stand with firm conviction for living with values, morals, and ethics, but I flee from the Reconstructionists yoke of slavery which nullifies the work of Christ and the grace of God for the re-establishment of the Law. As Christians we are called by Jesus to be Salt and Light in this savorless and dark world, but we must do this according to the standard set forth by Christ, not the methods of the world. "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very form God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very form of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death -- even death on a cross!" (Philippians 2:5-8).
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