I really didn't want to start off my entry with a perceived attack, but the reality is, when attempting a discussion with most individuals as described above, they take an immediate defensive position and rarely give any real thought to the conversation, rather they just dig in and defend their position until the "firing" stops. So, that said, I apologize if you've already taken offense, I am desperately trying to engage in a discussion, not a bashing.
I am calling out for reason. I am pleading as Paul the Apostle pleaded for us to reason together. My worries began weeks before the election and have since turned into despair for my brothers and sister in Christ. Many of you feel the same as I, and many of you do not. It is under the banner of working together in unity as the body of Christ that I make my appeal to all of you reading this.
I voted for Barack Obama. Not because he was a lesser of two evils or anything like that. I voted for him because I truly believe he was the candidate best suited to lead our country. John McMain had many good attributes as well, but when I consulted my conscience I voted along those lines. We can bicker about whether we think Obama is a Marxist, a Socialist, a Muslim, or worse. We can label him a baby killer, pro-homosexual rights, tree hugger, etc. We can pick our two or three moral issues to stand on and make them our hills to die on. Unfortunately, this is where almost all Christians lose it. They view the issue of pro-choice as "pro-abortion" - literally meaning anyone voting for a "pro-choice" candidate is saying "I am in full support of abortion." Similarly, they view this same vote as saying "I am validating and endorsing the 'homosexual agenda' and am supporting homosexual marriages." I find it unfortunate that my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ have become so attached to the republican party that they are failing to see the bigger picture.
The Republican party is just as screwed up as the Democratic party.
That just needed to be said.
A very close friend and I had a discussion about faith and politics a few years ago. In the discussion I assumed many things about him and his views based on how he lived out his faith. Here was a man who was attending seminary, seeking God on a daily basis, in love with Christ, and yet was a Democrat.
I was shocked. I literally could not believe it. Everything I was ever taught to believe about the Democratic party was that they were evil, they wanted to destroy traditional morality and usher in a new world of drunken sex parties with abortions as morning after solutions. The Dems wanted to destroy my faith and make every whim of our flawed humanity not just permissible, but highly encouraged. They wanted to make it ok for homosexual heathens to have equal rights based specifically on the basis of their sexual preference. These heathens would then go on to adopt children and pass on the legacy of evil to the next generation.
Does this sound crazy? That's because it is. It is as far from the real truth as it can get.
During World War II, the German government used massive amounts of disinformation to smear all pho opposed them and their agenda. This is known as a propaganda campaign. This kind of disinformation id designed to build a nearly unbreakable sense of loyalty to the home team and build in a massive distrust and fearful hatred of the opposing side. The German's campaign worked. This is how the republicans and democrats treat each other. They each make massively oversimplified statements about the other's position meant to rile people up. Individuals like Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly and Ann Coulter are the GOP generals while the other side has their political spinsters. All of these individuals are responsible for manipulating information to better suit their own political agendas and personal platform.
On a personal side note - at the risk of biasing myself - If I hear one more person tell me about what Rush Limbaugh says I think I'll kill myself. There. Got that off my chest. . . Don't worry - I hate listening to democrat rhetoric too.
Republicans tend to over simplify the Democratic point of view and hammer the pro-choice and gay rights issues while Dems over emphasize GOPpers archaic "Puritan" values and biggotry. Both parties have some legitimate complaints with the other, but neither side is willing to play nice with the other long enough to work anything out.
This is where I am calling for reason - let us work out these differences. Let us discuss our reasons in a respectful manner. GOPpers are not all greedy, racist biggots (though, sadly, many are. . .) and Dems are not all aborting gay babies (though sadly, there could be an argument for this. . .) My hope is that Christians on any side of the political arena will set aside the polarizing aspects of their politics and follow John McCain's example of reaching across the aisle and work with those you do not 100% agree with - without condemnation. You might be surprised at what you might agree with them about.
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