Saturday, August 28, 2004

God Dwells Only in the Garden?

Just saw Sojourners new video about the anticipated message emanating from Madison Square Garden next week;

Heavenly Convention

Go watch it. Then sign the petition;

These leaders of the Religious Right mistakenly claim that God has taken a side in this election, and that Christians should only vote for George W. Bush.

We believe that claims of divine appointment for the President, uncritical affirmation of his policies, and assertions that all Christians must vote for his re-election constitute bad theology and dangerous religion...

... By signing this statement, we call Christians and other people of faith to a more thoughtful involvement in this election, rather than claiming God's endorsement of any candidate.

This is the meaning of responsible Christian citizenship.
In case the video didn't make it clear, here's a couple of examples of the kind of message being put out by the Religious Right;

"It is the responsibility of every political conservative, every evangelical Christian, every pro-life Catholic, every traditional Jew...to get serious about re-electing President Bush."
- Jerry Falwell, The New York Times, July 16, 2004

"I think George Bush is going to win in a walk. I really believe I'm hearing from the Lord it's going to be like a blowout election in 2004. The Lord has just blessed him.... It doesn't make any difference what he does, good or bad."
- Pat Robertson, AP/Fox News, January 2, 2004
It doesn't make any difference what he does? Crazy stuff.

Does this mean that as a Christian I must not only vote for Bush, but support the homophobic platform of the Republican Party, even when I believe that it is contrary to the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

Maybe claiming the authority of Christ is too grandiose; how about claiming the authority of the message of the Vice President?

Watch out, Mr. Cheney, or you'll get kicked out of the Garden, and have to throw your lot in with the rest of us sinners out on the street peacefully protesting this attempted theocratic coup.


J.

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