I've been saying it for years: that which today's Republican party represents is not christain by any strech of the imagination in fact if you look at it objectivly they more represent Satan.!

Very well said.I couldn't agree more.

They have a lot of the same ideas that were being thrown around be the Right Wing Radicals and Anarchists in the 60's
How is it possible to be conservative and radical at the same time?? Am I the only one to see an inherent contradiction to this?

AMEN!

“The Christian Left?” Where did he go? For me, there is no Christian left. “Left” and “Right” is fine for politics, but in my belief a Christian is a Christian, and there is only one direction that matters, and that is up. The writer’s comment about “red herring” issues is either extremely naive, or intentionally belittling of what many of us hold as a core value and Christian belief. I don’t agree with all positions of any political party, but if I were to vote for a Republican, it might simply be for the reason that I can not, and will not support a Democratic party that condones killing unborn babies. Even if I don’t agree with the notion of same sex marriage, I am not likely to be as adamant about that as I am about murdering an innocent fetus, so spare me the condescending attitude that your point of view is somehow enlightened - because it is not.

I think it is ironically poignant when you say “There’s far more to life than abortion….” Talk about insensitive ignorance. Tell that to the dead child whose life is snuffed out because someone else didn’t think the infant’s life was important or valid. By the way, if your going to take a Christian stance on issues, and use the teachings of Jesus to support your point of view - - try getting it right. You claim that the most important of Christian values as stated by Jesus is “to care for your fellow brothers and sisters.” That is actually the 2nd most important. Mathew 22:37-38 “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.” If you put loving God first, then you know that obeying ALL of his Commandments is essential to being a Christian.

Killing babies is not an option in my Christian belief, and for those who lust and commit adultery…. it is a sin whether among politicians or prostitutes, heterosexuals or homosexuals. This sin is not exclusive among either political party, so naming Republicans who have claimed to be Christian, yet sinned is not a reason to switch to a political ideology that is clearly anti-Christian. I have no intention of going “left” as a Christian and compromise my core values and ethics just to jump on a political bandwagon.

To Shepherdess64, I have no intention of getting into a debate here over what amounts to religious beliefs, political agendas, and personal opinion. However, since you addressed some comments directly to me, I will respond with clarification. You began by suggesting that I end Matthew 22:37-38 “correctly.” Actually, I did. The quote I presented was correct, and ended with Matthew 22:38. What you added was Matthew 22:39-40 to suit whatever point you wanted to make. The author stated in his article in support of Christians moving left (and letting go of abortion and gay marriage issues), that to care for your fellow brothers and sisters is “the most important” of Christian values and claims this is according to Jesus.

While I believe this is VERY important, my correction stands, and is stated in the passage that I quoted, which is the reason I ended the quote there - because it proved what Jesus said. I did reference the next part of Matthew without actually writing it by clarifying that loving your neighbor as yourself is “the second” great commandment, as you wrote above when quoting Jesus in Matthew 22:39. While the two should work in unison to guide our actions, the second is not greater than the first, and does not take precedence over the first.

Also, the part I stated after the quote of Matthew 22:38, I said “If you put loving God first, then you know that obeying ALL of his Commandments is essential to being a Christian.” This was my own commentary and interpretation. I did not end the quote wrong to “suit” myself. I merely pointed out that Jesus did not state that caring for others was the “most important” as it falls second to Loving God with all your heart, soul, and mind. If you believe I am wrong on that point, then please offer proof. If your interpretation is different than mine, then I respect your opinion, and your right to disagree. You see, free speech, and freedom of expression are important to me, but even those come with some restrictions and responsibility.

Your emphasis on “YOU” in your comment “…should influence how YOU obey scriptural laws as a Christian but it gives YOU no right to demand that other Americans….” indicates to me that YOU misunderstood ME, and think that I was attempting to “demand” something of others. I suggested no such thing. Loving fellow humans does influence my conduct, but loving and obeying God ALWAYS takes precedence in my belief. I could list numerous references in the Bible (of which I’m sure you are already aware) that cite examples directing men (humans) to ignore the wants and needs of fellow men and their own families to follow Jesus or obey God.

My argument in response to this article is not to “demand” anything of anyone, but to simply state MY opposing point of view that I have no intention of abandoning what I believe is a core Christian value, and vote in elections for a political party that supports murdering babies. If there is an election choice between a candidate that represents a party that will cut programs to “help” fellow humans in need (not a good thing), or a candidate that will keep programs to “help” others, but would support killing a live fetus, then I will chose the “great commandment” over the second commandment every time. In an ideal world, it would be nice to have political candidates that support all of the good and wonderful commandments, but this article seems to suggest that “Christians” let go of the “red herring” abortion issue in favor of helping to “care for fellow humans” stating “there is more to life than abortion.” Using the author’s own words, that is “completely asinine” in my opinion.

You stated “I am a mainstream Christian Pastor…” I am not sure what being “mainstream” has to do with being a Christian, or a Pastor. Mainstream is defined as “the ideas, actions, and values that are most widely accepted by a group or society, e.g. … in politics.” My view of being a Christian has nothing to do with what others “accept” as a group, but what Jesus taught - popular or not - - politically correct or not.

You also commented “it saddens me greatly to see woman using abortion as a means of birth control, but I stand by every woman's right to choose.” Woman’s “right to choose” what? Murder? Killing a living human being within the womb? This can be legislated by laws of man to be a “right,” but I believe this is no right by any logical standard of moral or ethical behavior, and is downright inhumane. It lacks the compassion for the feelings, rights, and life of the unborn child. While there are medical emergencies that result in the d

Thank you.
How about the Conservative-not controlled Supreme Court deciding its OK for children to be able to buy and watch senseless violence and murder via video games...it took a LIBERAL who showed he valued life to make the lone dissenting comment about the recent ruling. Christian=Conservative-NOT