It's tempting to get into mini-debates with people right now, especially given our overly charged political atmosphere.
In fact, that tends to be the source of the controversy, what with possibly the first ever African-American president, a unknown and arguably untested Alaskan governor as possibly the first female vice president (should the AA candidate lose), possibly the oldest ever man to be sworn in as president (should the AA candidate lose), and a highly charged media and electorate which will only get worse, in my opinion, should the AA candidate lose.
Yes, I'm voting for Sen. Barack Obama.
And I don't mind saying so.
What I do mind, which is occuring with greater frequency, is being challenged in my support of him because I'm a Christian.
Why not challenge me because I'm a woman? Should I have supported Hillary or should I now flip over to the McCain-Palin ticket?
Who says that all Christians are or should be Republicans? I'm sick to death of hearing about the religious right, the evangelical right, or whatever they're being called these days.
Don't get me started on Dr. James Dobson or a host of others who have offered so much invaluable information and comfort to believers...as long as they stay within their callings and out of the political arena. Again, just my humble opinion.
But wait! In many ways, I could be categorized as an evangelical Christian, although I am decidedly more center than most of the representatives of evangelical Christianity seen or heard regularly on the airwaves or Internet today.
Is that possible?
Well, yes it is. In my heart of hearts, I believe there are more Christians like me than like
them, the people who I would call not "evangelical" but "fundamentalist". We're just less vocal and we need to start speaking up!
See evangelical Christianity has to do with having a personal relationship with Christ that begins with being "born again". I believe in that. It also has to do with "going out into the highways and by-ways" to tell of the goodness of Jesus. I believe in that too. It has to do with believing the Bible is the infallible, inspired Word of God. I believe that. And finally, it has to do with believing in the death and resurrection of Christ, and that He will come again. I believe that.
These are the things that make someone an
evangelical Christian. After that, trust me, the waters get pretty muddy. Visit a Southern Baptist church vs. a Pentecostal one vs. a Lutheran vs. a non-denominational. The rest is either man-made church doctrine, which may or may not be Biblically-based, or personal interpretation of the Scriptures.
I think my pastor's wives card is about to be revoked.
Christianity has never been a religion about exclusion. Christ's grace is available to
all who believe on Him as the Savior of the world, who confess that belief with their mouths, and who repent of their sins. Don't believe me? Start with the popular John 3:16,
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Then read Romans 10:5-12 Here's a portion:
That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
I'm saddened by just how much foolishness is attributed to Christians and just how much some Christians try to hold their
chosen brand of Christianity up as
the Christian faith. The rest of us are supposedly non-believers or delusional, at best.
The Bible, that infallible source, warns us about judging others. This would include judging the faith of others.
It also says, in Romans 12:3,
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.
This admonishment causes me to pray for others who seem to feel they are the arbiters of the Christian faith.
I won't win any awards for this post and I may very alienate a lot of people who I would hope one day might purchase and read my Christian fiction novels, some of whom I've gotten to know and I on the many writing-related blogs I frequent.
Now I know why my mother used to admonish us to never talk about religion, politics, or money in "polite" company. Chances are the conversation will be anything but polite.
Peace & Blessings,
Patricia
Posts
