tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3352677.post112295350073928732..comments2024-03-11T05:57:18.030-04:00Comments on Sacraments Wholesale: Deacon Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14981953522017981083noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3352677.post-1153024124198591552006-07-16T00:28:00.000-04:002006-07-16T00:28:00.000-04:00Actually, "Judeo Christian values" are the whole p...Actually, "Judeo Christian values" are the whole problem. People like Falwell equate "Judeo Christian values" and the "Judeo Christian tradition" to Christianity. However, the Judeo Christian whatever you want to call it is the works-based antithesis of Christianity. <BR/><BR/>How can you equate those who believe that Jesus Christ is one person in the Truine God, those who believe that Jesus is not God at all, and those who believe that Donny Osmond will become a god someday? Only by promoting a works-based religion.<BR/><BR/>More of my thoughts <A HREF="http://oemperor.blogspot.com/2006/07/judeo-christian-tradition-or-how-to-go.html" REL="nofollow">here</A>.Ontario Emperorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00468229071024779982noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3352677.post-1125453954558946162005-08-30T22:05:00.000-04:002005-08-30T22:05:00.000-04:00I'm not sure that there is much out there that's n...I'm not sure that there is much out there that's neutral about Rev. Falwell. He is not the type of figure that tends to produce neutrality. But you can find his platform at http://www.faithandvalues.us/ .<BR/><BR/>An interesting comment by a prominent evangelical on the first incarnation of the Moral Majority appears here: http://www.philocrites.com/archives/001674.html (This is liberal site!)<BR/><BR/>Here is a site by a conservative that gives voice to some of my own misgivings about Falwell: http://www.brokenmasterpieces.com/archives/001270.html<BR/><BR/>Having said that, let me add in the interest of full disclosure: I was once a student at Liberty University and took a couple of graduate courses there. I just could not stand the constant attempts to wrap the Cross in the flag, so I left and went to a (conservative) Lutheran seminary. <BR/><BR/>Here's another interesting comment by Falwell on Ronald Reagan: http://www.beliefnet.com/story/147/story_14704_1.html . For the life of me, I cannot understand evangelical support for Reagan. He was a master of the rhetoric of the Pharisees: "This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me." Reagan did welcome evangelicals into the inner sanctum of Republicanism, but like Constantine, it was done to further his own power, not from a sincere desire to be identified as an evangelical. In fact, he defeated the first evangelical President, Jimmy Carter, who took great hits in the secular media for his unashamed declaration that he was "born again." <BR/><BR/>Most Americans, both liberal and conservative, believe that their country has a big moral problem. We are all concerned about the sexualization, violence and greed in our culture. But, to ascribe the virtue of Judeo-Christian values to a political party is to deny the power of the Gospel. <BR/><BR/>In an earlier post you asked if I thought the Democrats were more Christian than the GOP. The answer is, No. But I think the evangelical church is being taken over by a right-wing political agenda that has more in common with the godless secular humanism of Ayn Rand than with the values of Jesus, like caring for the poor and making peace. And as long as Christians go on making their deal with the devil to gain political power, the usurpation of the Kingship of God will continue.Deacon Timhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14981953522017981083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3352677.post-1125348850191933192005-08-29T16:54:00.000-04:002005-08-29T16:54:00.000-04:00Thanks for your response, rereading the section ab...Thanks for your response, rereading the section about voting Christian, I agree that he was wrong to even hint that might mean voting just Republican.<BR/>I'm not convinced that he is proclaiming salvation by works though. His reference to political events was probably not the best way to bring up moral issues in our country but he does raise a good point, that something needs to be done about the decay of morality in the US, and our vote can help do this. That is just how I read it, but I see what you're saying as well, it would help if I had the rest of the context. Do you know where I could find this or other neutral information about Falwell (I've honestly never even heard of him before)? Thanks for the information, I hope I'm not too far off in understanding what you're trying to say.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3352677.post-1125340579806035452005-08-29T14:36:00.000-04:002005-08-29T14:36:00.000-04:00Ryan, when Falwell "proudly" says "they voted Chri...Ryan, when Falwell "proudly" says "they voted Christian!!" he means "Republican." That's not out of context.<BR/><BR/>Falwell's assertion that the "faith of our fathers" should be equated with overturning Roe v. Wade or the defeat of Tom Daschle, was not taken out context. And he means it soteriologically, not just politically. He has chosen a secular, utopian political vision as a sorry substitute for the Kingdom of God. <BR/><BR/>That's not out of context. Foolish and false; but not out of context.Deacon Timhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14981953522017981083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3352677.post-1125330558052605022005-08-29T11:49:00.000-04:002005-08-29T11:49:00.000-04:00So, just out of curiousity, are you saying that th...So, just out of curiousity, are you saying that the Democratic party is more Christian? Honestly, I don't believe either entity is. Of course the GOP has its own agenda, don't all political parties?<BR/>Also, the evidences listed in this passage are out of context. When they are talking about Roe vs Wade, Presidential elections, etc., it has nothing to do with salvation. James said that faith without deeds was dead, he was not saying that we are saved by deeds but that if we believe in Christ by faith we will also act on faith. This includes voting in ways that reflect Christian ideals which I feel makes the quoted statement very applicable though it may not be accurate as it is an opinion. Any hoot, I certainly agree that it is foolish to vote for a party because it claims to be Christian, it would be better to vote for the candidate that best reflects your personal Christian values.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3352677.post-1122991087452095362005-08-02T09:58:00.000-04:002005-08-02T09:58:00.000-04:00When religion embraces politics, religion always g...When religion embraces politics, religion always gets corrupted. It's a rule. <BR/><BR/> And when a political party claims God is on its side, suddenly it can do no wrong. Anything is justified because it's ultimately sanctioned by God. People of faith and the party lose their moral bearings.<BR/><BR/> You can see it in the GOP when they give corporations and the ultra-rich all the tax breaks they could wish for, and then claim there's no money for programs to help poor people. And Christians are applauding this!<BR/><BR/> I often think of the parable of the rich man stepping over the beggar at his gate.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com