You Can't Be A Christian And A Liberal (Or Was It Conservative?)
What do Ted Kennedy and I have in common? We're both self-professed Christians.
I think, thankfully, our similarities end there.
As a Christian, and I think any Christian would agree with this, I know my politics stem from my faith. So, in learning more about my faith I learn more about my views on political issues. That is, how I should frame particular political arguments. If you want to convince me that abortion is moral you have to do so legally, through the Constitution, and through the Bible. If you could show me the it was Constitutionally okay I'd still fight it from a Biblical position (a position Constitutionally protected).
Anyway, if the Bible is the unchanging Word of God then its message must be concrete. How, then, can self-professed Christians come to opposing opinions on so many political issues? How can Ted Kennedy and I disagree on the issue of abortion yet both keep our Christian membership card?
The easy answer is our faith in Yeshua. However, our love for Him should be evidenced by our actions. Our actions for Him should be enough alone to convict us for loving Him.
So, do our actions and our words bare this to be true?
Am I a poor Christian or is Ted Kennedy? Are conservative poor Christians or are liberals?
Personally I have no problem calling someone a "bad Christian." There's developed some kind of taboo against such a thing but when one claims to be a member of a particular faith, and uses that membership to establish some kind of moral high ground, they need to be shown reality from time to time. I use my faith as the foundation for my politics. I feel it is perfectly reasonable for someone to attack my position on issues using that as a weapon.
Why others don't see it this way is beyond me. Maybe I am a bad Christian.
I think, thankfully, our similarities end there.
As a Christian, and I think any Christian would agree with this, I know my politics stem from my faith. So, in learning more about my faith I learn more about my views on political issues. That is, how I should frame particular political arguments. If you want to convince me that abortion is moral you have to do so legally, through the Constitution, and through the Bible. If you could show me the it was Constitutionally okay I'd still fight it from a Biblical position (a position Constitutionally protected).
Anyway, if the Bible is the unchanging Word of God then its message must be concrete. How, then, can self-professed Christians come to opposing opinions on so many political issues? How can Ted Kennedy and I disagree on the issue of abortion yet both keep our Christian membership card?
The easy answer is our faith in Yeshua. However, our love for Him should be evidenced by our actions. Our actions for Him should be enough alone to convict us for loving Him.
So, do our actions and our words bare this to be true?
Am I a poor Christian or is Ted Kennedy? Are conservative poor Christians or are liberals?
Personally I have no problem calling someone a "bad Christian." There's developed some kind of taboo against such a thing but when one claims to be a member of a particular faith, and uses that membership to establish some kind of moral high ground, they need to be shown reality from time to time. I use my faith as the foundation for my politics. I feel it is perfectly reasonable for someone to attack my position on issues using that as a weapon.
Why others don't see it this way is beyond me. Maybe I am a bad Christian.
Posted by Kevin D. on
Monday January 30, 2006 at 10:28am
