Posted by
rider237 on Wednesday, October 18, 2006 7:10:27 PM
back in the day, christianity and politics didn't mix. my father was very active in the reagan campaign for govenor in california. he also was very active in our church. i remember the day the pastor took dad to task for his political activities. it wasn't like he was mixing the two. the pastor just thought it wasn't very cool for a member of the board of deacons to be so political active. i don't know exactly what dad told the pastor, but given that he was a rather salty CWO it's no wonder mom was afraid to show her face in church for a couple of weeks.
the reluctance by christians to enter politics openly started to change in the early 70's. jerry falwell established liberty university. if you didn't live in virginia, it would be years before you'd hear of falwell, the moral majority, or the university. i remember when they started. the church was growing fast, but the school started with few students, not much room, and not a lot of money. even so, they had a goal. it was to teach the usual subjects from a christian and conservative point of view. they especially concentrated on things like political science, teaching, sciences, etc. subjects that usually are taught from a humanist, liberal, point of view in major universities. meanwhile, on the west coast, there was tim lahaye and christian high and christian u. these schools also started out with a hope and a prayer, but soon began to grow like crazy. they have since changed their names and moved campus.
turned out there was a big desire in the christian community for education from the christian point of view. seems not everyone thought christianity and politics didn't mesh. these schools produced local, state, and national level activists. they taught the kids that it was ok to be christian, conservative, and vocal. it was ok to run for office. it was ok to win.
today i hear that because one congressman may have electronically diddled a page, christians are discouraged. they may not vote. they have lost faith in the morality of their leaders.
well heck guys, you might as well pack it in. you are led my men. now that you know that, all hope is gone! stay home. don't vote.
while you are sitting home feeling sorry for yourself on election day, consider the failures of the bible that god choose as leaders. how about david and bathsheba. that wasn't to cool, yet from the line of david came christ. Moses was always doubting or getting into some fix. sampson was led astray by a woman......so many stories of mortal men. men with flaws. men that god still managed to use to lead and accomplish great things. they are also stories of forgiveness and redemption. they are not stories of surrender!