Our today's paper carried an op-ed piece by E. J. Dionne Jr entitled: "The Whole Bird - Evangelicals win by engaging the nation's left and right wings"
Since I did not agree with Mr. Dionne's conclusions I posted the following reply:
I enjoyed reading E. J. Dionne Jr’s opinion "The Whole Bird" – Evangelicals win by engaging the nation’s left and right wings. My question is: Do they really? I guess it depends on the answer to the question: Who are Evangelicals and how do they perceive their role on earth. I can only speak for myself, because I am not responsible for anyone else, but Rick Warren as pastor of a major church is not only responsible for himself, but also for his congregation, and to some extent for Christianity at large. As the Bible puts it: Let not many of you be teachers, because their’s will be a stricter judgment. But I am sure, he is familiar with that scripture and has given it due consideration. I believe, Senator Obama put his finger on the crux of the matter, when he said: "Abstinence and fidelity, although the ideal, may not always be the reality. " and "We are dealing with flesh- and blood men and women, and not abstractions… " I consider myself a follower of Jesus, and in light of this comment I have to ask myself the question: "Is that what my Master teaches?" And unless I misunderstand the Bible, which for me personally is the revealed Word of God, it teaches Truth and Absolutes, Right or Wrong. Mr. Obama admitted that abstinence and fidelity are the ideal, and I believe that my God does not settle for second best. There is forgiveness, when we blow it, but never an excuse for behavior that God calls sin. So the questions remains: Who wins, when an Evangelical leader offers a platform to someone who clearly promotes values inconsistent with the Truth of God? In a political sense Senator Obama clearly wins, because he does not have to defend his views before his liberal constituents, and through Pastor Rick’s invitation he becomes acceptable to some conservative Christians. Pastor Rick’s church wins in the natural, because it may become acceptable to some people that do not live according to strict biblical standards and may use this as an excuse to continue in their behavior, but does the Body of Christ at large win? That is the question.
