Great op-ed in the NY Times by John Danforth:
In the decade since I left the Senate, American politics has been characterized by two phenomena: the increased activism of the Christian right, especially in the Republican Party, and the collapse of bipartisan collegiality. I do not think it is a stretch to suggest a relationship between the two. To assert that I am on God’s side and you are not, that I know God’s will and you do not, and that I will use the power of government to advance my understanding of God’s kingdom is certain to produce hostility.
By contrast, moderate Christians see ourselves, literally, as moderators. Far from claiming to possess God’s truth, we claim only to be imperfect seekers of the truth. We reject the notion that religion should present a series of wedge issues useful at election time for energizing a political base. We believe it is God’s work to practice humility, to wear tolerance on our sleeves, to reach out to those with whom we disagree, and to overcome the meanness we see in today’s politics.
For us, religion should be inclusive, and it should seek to bridge the differences that separate people. We do not exclude from worship those whose opinions differ from ours. Following a Lord who sat at the table with tax collectors and sinners, we welcome to the Lord’s table all who would come. Following a Lord who cited love of God and love of neighbor as encompassing all the commandments, we reject a political agenda that displaces that love. Christians who hold these convictions ought to add their clear voice of moderation to the debate on religion in politics.
Good for him.
Guipo
Thank goodness someone finally articulated that. I’ve felt like this since the last election. I’ve felt targeted as a christian because of the far far right. While I might hold some of the same values that the real far right have(abortion, etc), I belive that changes come through the heart, with love. Not yelling at people with activism, etc. Yea, that works real good people.
YOUR MAKING US GOOD CHRISTIANS LOOK LIKE JACKASSES! HOW ARE WE EVER GOING TO BRING PEOPLE TO CHRIST IF THEY THINK WE’RE A BUNCH OF LOONIES~! Sheese.
Stormy70
This is a good article, and I agree with most of it. People who call other people anti-anything, are usually guilty of the very behavior they are railing against. Noone likes to be told what they must do, it gets their backs up.
docG
The Senator is too nice. Determining political positions based on a belief that you know God’s wishes frequently leads to much more than hostility. It is impossible to negotiate from such a position and leads to intractable fighting and death. See Northern Ireland, Iran, India/Pakistan, ad nauseum. Another civil war in this country is not impossible and using (any particular interpretation of) God’s will as a political platform is a strong gateway for such a catastrophe. Conservative Christians are wanted and needed in the national discourse, but please make political arguments, not “God says . . .” The freedoms that allow anyone to espouse a particular religious viewpoint MUST protect viewpoints we disagree with, or some positions and religions will inevitably face regulatory elimination.
ppgaz
I used to think Danforth was one of Them … the loonies.
Clearly, I was quite wrong. His piece is one of the best things I’ve read in a long, long time.
Sojourner
ppgaz: Actually, this is just another example of how far to the right the Repubs have moved. Danforth used to be on the more conservative side of the party. Now he’s considered a moderate. He hasn’t changed, the party has.
ppgaz
You are right about the party. The piece, though, is … well, I just don’t think it could be said better.
I have no beef with responsible and honest conservatism. I think it makes for a constructive minority ;-)
Sojourner
“I have no beef with responsible and honest conservatism. I think it makes for a constructive minority ;-) ”
I agree completely!