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"I'm going to talk about the un-biblical stands that Barack Obama takes. Nobody who follows the Bible can vote for him. We may not be politically correct, but we are going to be biblically correct. We are going to vote for those who follow the Bible." That's Rev. Wiley S. Drake of First Southern Baptist Church of Buena Park in the LA Times speaking about the "pulpit initiative," which has churches in California and 21 other states illegally delivering political sermons or giving endorsements to presidential candidates.
The problem is that there is a federal ban campaigning by nonprofit groups, something All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena got in trouble for--but was later cleared--in 2004. All Saints' rector and 179 other church leaders have signed a pledge against the initiative. "Political activity and political expressions are very important, but partisan politics are . . . . a death knell to the prophetic freedom that any religious organization must protect," Rev. Ed Bacon of All Saints said.
According to radio ads, the "pulpit initiative" says there's nothing in the Constitution prohibiting such actions of endorsing candidates, or as they say, "scriptural truths."
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Most people go to churches where they agree with the political views of their pastors, but I don't think that makes it okay to preach politics in church. Isn't it "unbiblical" to conduct business or talk about anything other than God in church anyway?
It is sad to see people trying to kill the seperation of church and state that has allowed our country to prosper. Politics and religion should not mix.
Wonder what kind of massive skeletons he has in that "biblical" closet of his.
Joke's on them. Barack Obama is more devoutly Christian than John McCain is. Do they not know that a lot of his speeches reference scripture?
I sincerely hope the pastor warns his flock about the abomination of eating shrimp and wearing clothes that are a mix of natural and synthetic fabrics.
Those laws were also in the bible that the pick-and-choose bigots on the right seem to forget.
and if the pastor really wants to follow the bible, he and all his flock should emulate the apostles and give away all they own and minister to the sick and poor.
that was the example of Jesus and his apostles. I never once read in the bible any place where Jesus praised supply-side economics or any political party, for that matter.
If you look at the life of Jesus, he was a communist, in modern "ism" explanation. Jesus thought the worst people on this earth were the entitled rich and the fake preachers at the temple who took money to advance the work of the empire.
So, who in this nation would Jesus think follows his way? None of the assholes who claim they speak for him on the right, that's for sure.
The proto-fascist right loves the fundies, of course, because they're so willfully stupid. Just give them some money and they'll do anything. When I was growing up we had a word for a person like that, and it wasn't Christian.
I am a Christian and I don not approve of this at all. I have been interested in politics for more years than I care to admit and this insistance by some in the church that the pulpit beomc a soapbox has never made me feel comfortable. I'm especially uneasy with this notion that in order to be right with God one must embrace a political philosophy so extreme it would scare a Nazi to death.
God is not a right-wing Republican. He is not a liberal Democrat either, but I don't think as many liberal Democrats are trying to say otherwise.
There was a church in Peoria, Il (where I was born and raised) which had a sign outside reading "The Church is a hospital for sinners, not a memorial for saints."
Must it be a union hall for Republicans?
There is also at least anecdotal evidence that this partisan politicking is driving people away from the gGospel message.
Hopefully someone can also point out that tax-exempt status is also not guaranteed by the Constitution.
I used to consider my self Christian in high school, and went to Church fairly regularly. Than I became interested in politics and when everyone was Bush Bush Bush in 2000 and I wasn't, well they gave me dirty looks and I never felt welcome again.
I realize there are plenty of devout Christians who are not right wing nuts, but enough are that I'd prefer to not be involved with it.
Gary:
I believe there are many more liberal Christians than you're aware of.
The right wingers though are the ones who are the most vocal about being Christian, as if it makes them moreso.
I'm glad I go to a church that doesn't presume to tell me how to vote. We have a mix of Republican and Democrat pastors, but I only know that because I know them well. Most people have no idea. They concentrate on God's love, and helping people understand the Bible so they can decide whom to vote for.
Jesus wasn't a Republican or a Democrat. Let's not presume otherwise.
Making political statements from the pulpit is grounds for income tax protection removal. e.g. the church is now a taxable entity.
#4, In all fairness though, shrimp IS discusting.
Someone should run on that platform; no more shrimp.