Political Parties and People of Faith
One of the issues that has troubled me the most over the past decade is the depth of the attachment between many well-meaning Christians and Christian-themed organization (e.g., Family Research Council, Focus on the Family, NAE...) and the Republican Party. Now, I am not bothered by Christians who vote Republican, work for conservative causes, and generally act out politically based on their religious principles.
I do the same.
What bothers me is the depth of the attachment not to causes, principles, and beliefs, but to personalities and the Republican Party. IMHO, the GOP has played the Christian vote as powerful voting bloc with no intentions of delivering the level of governmental, regulatory, and legislative renewal that many of these people desire. For example, isn't it interesting that over the past six years with a Republican control over all three branches of Federal government we have not seen any of the changes that these Christian groups lobby for?
So, I am encouraged by recent events that indicate that many other Christian people are beginning to realize this as well. They are recognizing that politics is politics...and that it is not the primary work of the Kingdom of God. Here's a good article by E.J. Dionne of the Washington Post on a few recent events.
Link to E. J. Dionne Jr. - Christians Who Won't Toe the Line - washingtonpost.com
I also recommend Christian, Evangelical & Democrat? by George Hunter, and Tempting Faith by David Kuo.
Labels: Books, Faith, Politics
You may know I'm not a huge fan of the current administration. However, today President Bush signed into law an act that will help to limit some of the out-of-control profits that Big Banks have been racking up with the privatization of student loans. I am especially interested in this topic because I will be paying of our student loans until well after my children start college.
