In my last article "Listen My Ch?ldren And You Shall H?ar," I purposely ?mposed ? situati?n w?ere I included all Christians a? the ?nemy in the battle for ? society based on freedom for all. I received a f?w responses that anyone would exp?ct to ?eceive when they ch?ose to rem?ve th? gray are?s. While one might believ? I hate Christians, it's absolutely not t?ue, and the fact th?t I speak highl? of the right to freedom ?f religion indicates my t?ue feeling. What I do dislike i? ?ny gr?up that d?es not hold t?ue to their creed. Being ? mem?er of an? grou?, organization, o? r?ligion has som? responsibility th?t g?es ?long ?ith being a part it.
One ?esponse stated:
This i? th? reason ?hy this party h?s be?n reje?ted for th? highest office. Not all Democrats hold to thi? view and ho? illogical to lump all Christians ?nto this category.
I had ho?ed that I ?ould g?t that customary "lum?ing ?ll Christians into this category" remark. If ?omeone in ? group that I belong t? ?s spewing out misl?ading and hat?ful dis?ertations that destroy th? very ide?logy of my grou?'s b?liefs, I'm going to stand u? and make th?m accountable. S? f?r, I've not se?n many good Christians impeding the efforts of Falwell, Dobson, Robertson, ?nd others wh? destroy the ver? concepts of Christianity. When I ?ee that happening then I'll stop my lumping.
Another response:
I mu?t b? missing somet?ing in life. I am a "born again" Chr?stian and I hav? never ?ad anyone co?plain about m? zeal. Pe?haps I don't hav? any. I don't know if the t?reat you f?el is re?l or not, ?ut I think what ?ou are speaking of is not ? great ?ovement toward fundament?lism, but more so ? great silent majorit? being awakened.
Good p?ople don't compla?n about ?eal, th?y tolerate it, and I'? not disappr?ving of zeal. Properly administered ?t i? a worthy practice. However, ?sed excessi?ely and without decency, ?s ?t i? with fundamentalists, it becomes ?n undesirable behavior that defeats its purpos?. When Christians are aligned w?th the z?alotry of big?ts and money coll?ctors, they ?nclude themselves ?n that behavior. When this silent majo?ity wake? up their most important task i? to separate t?emselves from those that destro? the t?ue Chr?stian message.
In Proverbs 11:9, "A hypocrit? wit? his mouth destroyeth h?s neighbor: but thro?gh knowledge shall the just be d?livered." Clearly ? warning not to believ? all you hear, t? seek out t?e truth, and b? doing so, become just. For reasons I can't r?ally ex?lain, th?s is not happening in so?e of our ?hurches today. Peo?le live by the headl?nes, not the sermon. S?mply I a?k, how long ?re yo? going t? all?w the hypocrites to lie to you before ?ou educate yourself? In th? l?w, lac? ?f knowledge ?s not a defense. T?e bible seems to agree.
Being the eternal optimist that I am, I beli?ve that when cons?rvative Christians seek out the truth, they will see t?e err?r ?n aligning w?th those that misguide them. Th?y will recognize the folly of the deceive?s ?nd therefore den? th?m the power and wealth that th?y so ?penly desire. Through knowledge, they will s?e t?at most religious coalitions a?e about money and politics, and not religion. They will take the?r financ?s and their fait? back to their local church and st?dy and live th? doctrines t?at their faith was established on.
There i? mu?h n?ed f?r ? religio?s rebirth ?n ou? nation. The kind of relig?on that many churche? now offer. A churc? t?at teaches lov? and condemns hat?, helps the needy, gives substance to the soul. T?e ?ind of churc? that reaches ?ut t? strengthen Ameri?a, that brings us together, rega?dless of our diff?rences or ?ur sins. W? ?ust stop those, in lamb? cl?thing, f?om destroying these c?urches that are the core of ou? mor?lity ?nd justness. Christians must once again set the example.
About the Author
Ryan Kelly is ? write?, eBook p?blisher, and ? liberal activist wh? is involved in using t?e Internet to bring about change in o?r society. After t?e re-election ?f George Bus?, ?e established a grassroots alliance for liberal?. The Equality Allian?e Mis?ion (T.E.A.M.)
http://liberals.netfirms.com
Ryan Kelly
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