I recently read an op-ed piece in the NY Times from James Dobson, a conservative Christian Televangelists. While I have grave issues with televangelists period, the statements made in his piece further reinforces my already low opinion. Being a Christian, it is always hard for me to criticize another, but in the case of these guys something must be done about the hypocrisy that they exhibit.
After two hours of deliberation, we voted on a resolution that can be summarized as follows: If neither of the two major political parties nominates an individual who pledges himself or herself to the sanctity of human life, we will join others in voting for a minor-party candidate. Those agreeing with the proposition were invited to stand. The result was almost unanimous.
Speaking personally, and not for the organization I represent or the other leaders gathered in Salt Lake City, I firmly believe that the selection of a president should begin with a recommitment to traditional moral values and beliefs. Those include the sanctity of human life, the institution of marriage, and other inviolable pro-family principles. Only after that determination is made can the acceptability of a nominee be assessed.
The other approach, which I find problematic, is to choose a candidate according to the likelihood of electoral success or failure. Polls don’t measure right and wrong; voting according to the possibility of winning or losing can lead directly to the compromise of one’s principles. In the present political climate, it could result in the abandonment of cherished beliefs that conservative Christians have promoted and defended for decades. Winning the presidential election is vitally important, but not at the expense of what we hold most dear. NY Times
The piece was entitled, “The Value Test”. While Mr. Dobson you and your cohorts have failed the values test. In my humble opinion no group has done more to divide the Church as these evangelicals. Rather than rely on centuries of Church writing and doctrine, these yahoos have decided that God in His infinite wisdom has given them some new revelations for the Western Church and for His favorite country America. They have misinterpreted Scripture to justify everything from nuclear war to raping the environment, but the one thing they agree on is abortion.
Remember these are the same guys who framed the Iraq war in terms of good vs. evil and turned it into a crusade. While I am personally against abortion, I understand that it is a personal decision that some of us have to make. If it were up to me I would choose not to do it, but I am a man so what does that mean? These same people who want to reaffirm the sanctity of life have no trouble dropping nuclear bombs on Muslims or any other group that does not accept their religious teachings. They have no trouble with the lost to sanctity of life for people in other countries from other cultures. These are the same religious leaders who would have had no trouble justifying the genocide of Native Americans so we could accomplish our “Manifest Destiny”.
I will state this once more for those who were not paying attention; GOD DOES NOT HAVE A COUNTRY! He has people and these people live all over the world and God loves them just as much as He loves you even if they look and act differently than you. So I find it interesting that these “religious leaders” have not taken a stand against torture or war. I find it interesting that these same “religious leaders” have not spoken out against greed and gluttony of our corporations and the rich. So some sin is ok, while others are not ok. My understanding of the Bible states that when all is said and done we will stand before our Creator alone to answer for our deeds; there will be no witnesses Mr. Dobson so we will be responsible for our own sins.
As far as the institution of marriage is concerned the biggest threat to it appears to be from heterosexuals. Without help from gays they have managed to raise the divorce rate to about 50%, very good guys keep up the good work, this includes evangelicals by the way. These guys claim to worship God, but the only god they serve is themselves. Where is the unity that the Bible espouses? You shall be of one accord. Their unity is in dividing the people, not in uniting them. They speak of compromise as though it were against the Laws of God, but in fact the opposite is true. We are to bear the weaknesses of one another and lift up those who have fallen, not condemn them and throw stones.
Where were these guys when the country confronted the overt racism of Jena? They were probably in Salt Lake City protecting the civil rights of rich white men. Mr. Dobson there are many other issues confronting this nation and to ignore all the others for the one is failing the stewardship that you were granted. We live in a secular nation, it was designed that way by the framers and no matter what our personal likes or dislikes we must allow for others to express their beliefs, the final arbitrator will not be you and your “pro family” leaders it will be God. I pray that He will have mercy upon you.
Many of us believe that wrongs aren’t wrong if it’s done by nice people like ourselves. – Author Unknown
