Traces of B.O.

First, I have been asked why I spend so much time on politics in my blog, especially considering the titular theme.  What is compassionate about politics?

The answer is fairly straight forward.  Christianity has been the greatest force for compassion the world has ever seen.  Revisionist historians will disagree with this. They love to bandy about the Crusades which were, in fact, a reaction against relentless muslim violence and military expansion.  But I've dealt with pseudo-intellectuals elsewhere on this site and will do so again.  The fact that "Doesn't Get Said" is that right-wing, conservative Christians were the spearhead of Abolition in our country and worldwide.  In all the history of the WORLD, slavery had never been an issue of morality until WESTERN CONSERVATIVE CHRISTIANS made it one.  It is Western civilization that virtually abolished slavery around the globe, with a few current muslim exceptions.  Yes, muslims still practice slavery today behind their political cloaks.  (So how bizarre is it that the religion embraced by militant blacks is the very one responsible for enslaving their race long before America was a glimmer, and which continues to do so in modern times?)

Why politics?  Because Christians are under direct and immediate political attack.  Worldwide.  And they are under attack by liberals.  These "pretenders of compassion" lie bold-faced while, as a distraction, they deafeningly accuse their opposition of their own sins (a tactic I see on the playground daily at the elementary school where I teach.  You can always tell which kid is really lying by the volume with which he is accusing everybody else).

And, therefore, that's why I join the opposition voices in response to Pastor Rick Warren having Barack Obama speak at his church.  I can understand Warren's desire to be "open" and "accepting" on certain issues in which he agrees with the senator.  The problem is most people don't comb through those fine points.  Most people will simply conclude that, "Hey, Rick Warren supports Barack Obama.  He even had him speak at his church."  Finis.

The fact that the Illinois senator is on the fast track to the White House is not insignificant.  Neither is the fact that he claims the mantel of Christianity himself.  Well, out of one side of his mouth, that is.  The other side is quite the antithesis.

Partial-birth abortion is the practice of delivering a baby feet first up to the neck (so that we don't have to say it was actually "born"), crushing and suctioning his/her brain matter, and then completing the delivery.  "Oh, look at that, it didn't make it.  Oh well, guess it wasn't meant to be.  NEXT!"

Politically Barack Obama supports this practice by opposing all bans against it.  That alone should keep him out of any Christian pulpit.  But it doesn't end there.  JIll Stanek was a nurse at a hospital in Chicago where such abortions were fairly routine.  She noticed that some babies were still alive after the procedure, squirming on the trash heap.  They were being allowed to lie there and starve to death.  Somehow this just didn't ring as "compassionate" to Jill and she made a stink.

Mr. Obama was one of the liberal politicians who opposed her and shut her up.

I don't know if Obama will forward his own ticket in bidding for the spot as Leader of the Free World, or whether he'll attach himself as V.P. to Hillary Clinton.  But he is on a feverish campaign to curry favor with Christian voters by pretending to support a few of their causes.  I hope Christians will have the acuity of spiritual vision to recognize the wolf beneath the wool.

I wish Rick Warren had been wiser.  I'm fairly comfortable that I won't go to church at Sandals one Sunday morning and be greeted with, "Let's give a warm welcome to our guest from Illinois, Senator Barack Obama!"

Right, Matt?

Right?

Matt?

Comments

[Matt Brown]

I feel your pain Les- Politics is tricky no matter how you slice it- No you don't have to worry about any politician Republican or Democrat speaking at Church on Sunday- But in fairness to Rick I don't think it was a Sunday at hhis church either- Blessings Matt-

[matt]

I'm right there with you Les.

matt

[Les]

Thank you to both Matts for your comments. I am humbled that you would take time to respond to my rhetorical question. Pastor Matt, I have always appreciated and respected the way you have dealt with political issues from the pulpit. There are issues that strike at our spiritual core and issues that don't. You have never, in my hearing, GIVEN offense to anyone. Not that offense hasn't been TAKEN, but then we all choose what offends us and what doesn't. You lead the staff in a way that makes Sandals unique in its dogged pursuit of Truth without regard to personal "loss."

S'why we love you.

[Tony]

IMMO (that's "myopic" rather than "humble" opinion)...

I tend to prefer when the pulpit is reserved for teaching the Word, and is off limits to politicians. ALL politicians.

[west]

dude....bring it...push on my older brother from another mother..push on

[West]

Les,

I've given this some thought and study. While I love your editorials, I have to say....this one might be best left alone. Hopefully, our party will pay attention to these Republican acting Dems and they will remember they are the Republicans. They need to stop acting like Dems.

I disagree with a lot of what he said, but sometimes we have to get a "world view" to remember our "Christ-view".

It's too bad our party cannot just stand up and be accountable for the deplorable things some of their members of government got involved with. (of course, I'm sure it was all outted by the Dems for our demise)

But is just like the whole, "if you're not doing anything wrong, then you don't have to hide" thing. If you get busted, admit it and move on.

I love your spirit and look forward to the next post.

[mrs. bear]

Les I love reading your blog. I learn things that I, myself, don't take the time to look into but I know you and know your heart and I can trust that if I did research these things I would agree with a lot of what you are saying. Thanks for bringing up the things many people are afraid to.

[Kristiapplesauce]

Thank you for making me smarter on this one. If you don't mind...I will be re-posting it on my site.

[Les]

Thank-you West for your replies. I appreciate the thought you put into this. It enhances my perspective. And thank-you, Stephanie for your encouraging and kind words.

Kristi, I am flattered and honored that you would include my words on your blog. Yours is a favorite of mine, and, of course, we share Africa... God is awesome.

[brian]

thanks for the insight. It's actually me commenting this time...

[Denise C.]

That was deep, brother. Thanks for the enlightenment. Political awareness is not my strong suit. Whenever it comes up I'd like to hide my head in the sand. But I know I can't, for my children's sake.

[Crystal Renaud]

amen.

[Kristiapplesauce]

I am so thankful for you.

[Tim]

Les, again I don't want to argue here. I am not about proving my side of an issue is correct.
As I am just trying to seek for truth in this debate. It is obvious that you know much more about this, and are much more versed in politics than myself.My understanding of politics is somewhat limited and could never suppose to make a statments of what were factors and not factors in someone winning office. Could you speak specifically about times when Obama has spoke from both sides of his mouth? That would be much more beneficial then speaking with general accusations.
Also,
what is your belief on Mathew 5:9" Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God", and how does that line up with your beliefs on the Bush's Policy on No Tolerance, from a Christian Perspective.

There is one thing that I don't think has been mentioned. I strongly disagree with you that "Christianity has been the greatest force for compassion the world has ever seen." I would have to state that Jesus Christ dying on the cross for you and I would no doubt be the greatest force of compassion the world has ever seen, not a religion.

[Les]

Tim: Thank you for commenting here. I appreciate your time in responding to my post.

First, I don’t consider it obvious that I am any more “versed in politics” than the average person. I respond to what I read in the news. If what I read is wrong or inaccurate, my response will be inaccurate. I try to avoid that as much as I can, but I don’t claim inerrancy. Second, my post WAS specific about what you call “both sides of his mouth.” He claims to be a Christian, yet politically opposes banning partial birth abortion. In my opinion, those are diametrically opposing stances. You may disagree.

On Matthew 5:9, I agree that the peacemakers are blessed.

I know of no Bush policy specifically entitled, “No Tolerance.” He used the phrase in an interview expressing no tolerance for torture by his administration. I have no opinion on that specific statement. I would guess that most Christians are against torture. That’s just a guess. I don’t personally know most Christians. If you are talking about the war, I have written about that more extensively in earlier posts. I probably will do so again. It is not the issue here.

Yes, Christ is the“greatest force of compassion the world has ever seen.” That’s probably why Christianity — as a movement, and IN THE CONTEXT of my blog — has also been the greatest force of compassion the world has ever seen. I would think that would be obvious to anyone who was not purposely trying to find points of minutia on which to initiate an argument. However, I also would not contend that my statement is not somewhat hyperbolic. My post is editorial, and that is my opinion. I used the issue of slavery as supporting evidence.

You may disagree.

[Tim]

I am sorry if my tone implied that I was trying to find "A minor detail, often of negligible importance"(minutia) in order to "inniate argument". It would probably be best if I kept my differing opinions/questions off this blog, as I don't want to come across as arguing for no sake at all, as I really don't have any concrete answers or beliefs except my salvation in Christ. I am just a guy in his mid twenties trying to figure things out. It doesn't seems as if that really fits in a blog focused on editorial comment as I don't really have any formulate argument or opinion. I do thank you for this blog, and I will continue to read, as I enjoy reading views differing from mine.

[Les]

Tim;
Then please accept my apology. I would prefer that you expressed your differing opinions as they were important perspectives and added to the debate on Anne's blog as well. I do get "into it" when debating a topic and often go over the top. I certainly don't expect to be unchallenged. God is working on my sarcasm and He's having a rough time of it.

I am a just guy in his mid-fifties trying to figure people out, so I hope your journey ends up more productive than mine.

At any rate, I feel it's important that we go head to head from time to time on important stuff without losing our love for each other in Christ. I believe it can be done because I have had friends on that level. Many of my deep friends are far more liberal than I and we can debate perspectives, and then go out for coffee. We sharpen our own understandings and, in the end, learn more than we knew before. I certainly did not expect this post to raise so much controversy.

I don't know. I'm still looking.

[matthewjohn]

"Christianity has been the greatest force for compassion the world has ever seen."...and the ERA of horrific deaths and torture of innocent women and men by the SPANISH Inquisition were just a barely noticed speed bump in the grand PROGRESSION of this so-called "compassion"??? It was perhaps CHRISTIANITY's ugliest HOUR, orchestrated by the POWER brokers of that religious compassion. IT was a BLOOD bath, just like BUSH in IRAQ, over 300,000 civilians dead--- just see the documented reports by leading world-wide organizations that truly are people-first. TALK is so CHEAP.

[Les]

Criticism is just as cheap, and equally ignorant. By that I mean that each side ignores the other. My statement still stands in spite of the extremes you accurately mention. There are many who claim the name of Christ who will not be claimed by Him in Matthew 25. Not all who call themselves Christian are. You know His true followers by their compassion. That's the I.D. He Himself gives them; "By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:35.

Those groups you mention are obviously not carrying their ID with them.

However, comparing those events to Iraq is abysmally misguided and historically inaccurate. The analogy doesn't just break down, it never even stands up.