Ask Me Help Desk - Christianity and politics

We... we're a part of your circle of friends
And we've... noticed you don't come around anymore
-Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians

Oh I think this subject was best summed up in that movie that had Jay and Silent bob, fighting with the two rouge Angels played by Ben Aflack and Matt Damon. Well I can't think of the name right now, but it was very informative.

Dogma

Let me start this off by telling everyone that I am one of those wild eyed shouting fundamentalist Christians that no one wants to move in next door. Not only that but I am also a preacher who generally is pretty hard to offend.

Should Christianity influence politics? Unequivocally yes!

This nation was founded upon Judeo-Christian principles by men who were, despite what some say about deists, primarily Christian. It could almost be argued that at the time there was a “State Religion”… Christianity. But I won't really try to go into that here.

Over the years my colleagues in the “fundamentalist and evangelical” Christian denominations have done their congregations and this nation a very severe disservice. They have told their people to stay out of politics because it was too dirty a game and God had it under control anyhow. The result of this action is that we have people in public office who would not know the truth if it came up and bit them on the backside. People whose integrity is nonexistent with the morals of an alley cat (I apologize to the alley cats of the world)

Pastors should be involved in politics in this way. They should be encouraging their people across the pulpit, not supporting specific candidates but telling them to go to the polls and cast their vote for the person who most represents their own values.
Now, I think I've settled down enough to address the person who said that the NRA is a group of people who want to go out and kill people.

Quote: To compare Christians to gun toters and the tobacco lobby is plain wrong. The NRA is a group of people who believe they have the right to kill people, and to have weapons that could obliterate dozens in seconds (surely not to be used for hunting I imagine).

I take exception to and offense at your statement I am a NRA member and I hope and pray that I never have to use my ability with firearms to take the life of another.

As a Law Enforcement Chaplain I “ride along” with the officers of my own department and because the Chaplaincy I serve provides services to ALL first responders in our county, I also ride with Deputies from the County and officers of the CHP. When I am riding with these fine men and women situations sometimes can become “hairy”. I go out on these rides unarmed but know the location of the releases for the rifle and shotgun in the car. If I am the only “back-up” on scene and my officer is down and in danger I will use the training that I have had in the use of firearms to protect him. Again I say I hope and pray that I am never put into that position.

It seems that you lack facts about the NRA and what it stands for or you may be one of those people who don't want to be confused by facts because their mind is made up. I would rather give you the doubt and assume that it is the former.

The tobacco industry is made up of people who also have rights whether the industry is good or bad has no bearing upon those rights.

BTW When I went through school (which was before a lot of the rewriting that has taken place) the text books spoke of the “Founding Fathers” as Christians.

Quote:

Originally Posted by chaplain john

Pastors should be involved in politics in this way. They should be encouraging their people across the pulpit, not supporting specific candidates but telling them to go to the polls and cast their vote for the person who most represents their own values.

This is my view as well. It would concern me if I heard from the pulpit "you should vote for candidate..." What I do hear are the values which we should stand for, and so then vote for.