CHRISTIANITY VS. CONSERVATISM
CHRISTIANITY VS. CONSERVATISM
In my caucasian Christian church, I am often scorned for my Barack Obama bumper sticker. It is quite possible that a Christian who goes to a white conservative, traditional type church can be made to feel like they are not even saved if they were to support a progressive liberal democrat like Barack Hussein Obama. They say things like, Obama?, he is pro-choice, thats big government, he thinks the constitution can be reinterpreted with the times. Funny thing, I don't see any of these so-called Christian values addressed specifically in my Bible, so I choose to call this "Conservatism" rather than Christianity.
I
used to consider myself a Conservative Christian though and believed that I
should vote accordingly. I guess I can be counted as one of the evangelicals
who turned the last two elections by reluctantly voting for George W. Bush
which is why I hold myself partially accountable for the FRUIT (Matt
7:16) of the past 8 years. During this Conservative
administration we suffered the worst attack ever on American soil, accumulated
a death toll of 4,176
Americans and nearly 100,000 Iraqis in a war that was lead
on the pretense of 935 false statements, we violated the Geneva
convention (torturing alleged war criminals), lost 585,000+ jobs, charged a 4
trillion dollar deficit and have just administered a $700 billion
dollar bailout plan to cover Wall Street after its worst single day drop in
history which ironically ended with the number 777.
I
think my conversion away from Conservatism however, actually materialized when
I saw our own people in New Orleans dying on the streets because our government
had failed to drop food or water to them for five days. It was in that moment
that I realized, I did not have to be a Conservative to be a Christian because
God had to care just as much for these people in Katrina as he did the unborn
babies which by the way, have not reduced in numbers since Bush took office.
It was then that I began to question the brainwashing that this Conservative right wing government was somehow supposably, the Christian ticket. Mainly, how can Christians who are so overwhelming pro-life, also support a party who promotes war, the right to bear arms and capital punishment so they can get the, "bad guys". How can they not see that one of the reasons women might be aborting babies at such high rates is because they do not have proper healthcare or a job.
Furthurmore,
I think its safe to say that in his time, Jesus was hardly conservative, but
rather quite radical, you might even say liberal? He drank wine(Matt 11:19), healed on the
Sabbath (Matt 12:10 mingled with sinners, tax collectors,(Luke 5:30) women & Samaritans ,(John 4:9) healed with unorthodox methods (John 9:6). and he turned the
tables of merchandisers in the temple (Mark 11:15). If Jesus came back today,he might have to engage in some type of "Turn Over the Table Tour" to clear the church of its money changers. In fact, he might even find a few politicians who would be willing to trade Christian values for votes.
I can't help to think that some of our Christain leaders are ready to pack the pocketbooks of politicians, the moment they say the word Pro-Life and am frustrated that the same Christian leaders who are quick endorse the Conservative right during elections are nowhere to be found when they need to be held accountable for their actions. I was disappointed that James Dobson was one of the first people I saw endorse the Republican ticket when Sarah Paylin was nominated VP. Isn't this guys life ministry called, "FOCUS ON THE FAMILY"? I highly doubt Dobson would have encouraged any woman who stepped into his office with 5 young kids including a newborn with special needs and a pregnant teen, to furthur pursue any career much less put them all in the spotlight so MOM could be Vice President. Its even more amusing to me that conservatives who still believe women in the 21st century should remain silent in church(1Corn 14:34)) are happy to support the "Hot VP" to lead our whole country. It unsurprizingly shows what Republicans view is the most important attribute of a women.
Jesus
certainly challenged the leaders and chief priests in his time. He warned of
their hypocrisy(Luke 12:1), greed, wickedness((Luke 11:39 and injustice(Luke 11:42) In Mark 7:8A he said "You have let go of the
commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men" and in Luke 11:48 he questioned the approval of their forefathers. May I remind you that they killed them in turn, killed him.
Christians!!!!!!
Our faith is not rooted in Conservative Values, our forefathers, or the
American Constitution, but in Christ.
God tells us "Do not add to his words"(Prov 30:6) (Duet 4:2), so why do we lead our fellow Christians to a Conservative American agenda and a man-made Bibical worldview instead of straight to the scriptures themselves? Personally, I do not believe that a God who made us all so different, expected us to think exactly the same or even vote for the same presidential candidate. Its quite possible that God could use Christians on all sides of the political spectrum to cover the broad scope of Christian values.
In
this upcoming election, I refuse to reduce my 2,335 page Bible to one issue
because while the word abortion is never once mentioned in the scriptures, our
need to help the poor and love our neighbor is a common theme throughout. Not
only do I feel that Obama best represents some of these Christian themes, but
that he has actually already proven that he can bring us together and inspire
us as a leader.
Jesus said "any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste" (Matt 12:25) I hope that each and every Christain will carefully consider their own personal Christian values in this election and when they try to scare you off with a funny name, just remember, Barack Hussein Obama still sounds more like Jesus, than John McCain.
Aloha,
Lane
Davey
Matthew
7:15-20 (New American Standard Bible) 15
"Beware
of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are
ravenous wolves.16"You
will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor
figs from thistles, are they? 17"So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad
tree bears bad fruit.18"A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce
good fruit.19"Every
tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20"So
then, you will know them by their fruits.
Matthew 11:19 (New King James Version19
The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, "Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners! "But wisdom is justified by her children."
Matthew
12:10 (New King James Version10 And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?" that they might accuse Him.
Luke
5:30 (New International Version)30
But the
Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to
his disciples, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and
'sinners'?"
John 4:9 (New American Standard Bible)
Therefore the Samaritan woman said to Him, "How is it that You, being a Jew, ask me for a drink since I am a Samaritan woman?" (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)
John 9:6 (New King James Version)6
When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay.
Mark
11:15 (New King James Version)
So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves.
1
Corinthians 14:34 (New King James Version)34 Let your women keep silent in the
churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also
says. 35 And
if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for
it is shameful for women to speak in church.
Luke 12:1 (New King James Version) Beware of Hypocrisy 1
In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy."
Luke 11:37-42 (New American Standard Bible)Woes upon the Pharisees37
Now when He had spoken, a Pharisee
asked Him to have lunch with him; and He went in, and reclined at the table.38When the Pharisee saw it, he was
surprised that He had not first ceremonially washed before the meal. 39But the Lord said to him,
"Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the platter; but
inside of you, you are full of robbery and wickedness. 40"You foolish ones, did not He
who made the outside make the inside also? 41"But give that which is within as
charity, and then all things are clean for you.42"But woe to you Pharisees!
For you pay tithe of mint and rue and every kind of garden herb, and yet
disregard justice and the love of God; but these are the things you should have
done without neglecting the others.43"Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the chief seats
in the synagogues and the respectful greetings in the market places.44"Woe to you! For you are like
concealed tombs, and the people who walk over them are unaware of it."45
One of the
lawyers said to Him in reply, "Teacher, when You say this, You insult us
too."
46But He said, "Woe to you
lawyers as well! For you weigh men down with burdens hard to bear, while you
yourselves will not even touch the burdens with one of your fingers.47"Woe to you! For you build
the tombs of the prophets, and it was your fathers who killed them.
48"So you are witnesses and
approve the deeds of your fathers; because it was they who killed them, and you
build their tombs.49"For this reason also the wisdom of God said, I will send to them
prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and some they will
persecute,50so
that the blood of all the prophets, shed since the foundation of the world, may
be charged against this generation,51from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was
killed between the altar and the house of God; yes, I tell you, it shall be
charged against this generation.'52"Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key
of knowledge; you yourselves did not enter, and you hindered those who were
entering."
53When He left there, the scribes
and the Pharisees began to be very hostile and to question Him closely on many
subjects,54plotting
against Him to catch Him in something He might say.
Luke 12:1 (New American Standard Bible)God Knows and Cares1
Under these circumstances, after
so many thousands of people had gathered together that they were stepping on
one another, He began saying to His disciples first of all, "Beware of the
leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
Mark
7:8 (New American Standard Bible) 8"Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the
tradition of men."
Proverbs
30:6 (New American Standard Bible) 6Do not add to His words Or He will reprove you, and you
will be proved a liar.
Deuteronomy
4:2
2"You shall not add to the
word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the
commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.
Matthew 12:25 (New King James Version)25
But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand."