The Theory Behind the Rhetoric

I must confess, with the completion of the presidential campaign my viewpoint of Christian Republicans have changed...and not for the better.

Let me back track a bit, when George Bush was running for president in 2000 and 2004. The general consensus of white Evangelists (the backers of GWB and John McCain) was this,

1. GWB was a praying president and a born-again Christian

2. GWB was against abortion

Therefore, GWB was the Christian's president.

Because of this, I was told it was my "Christian duty" to vote (for GWB). I was also told, or... I should say, it was implied that those who voted democratic were not Christian.

"How can anyone who calls themselves Christian vote for someone who is for abortion?" is the rhetorical question of this group.

They claim to fear, or concern themselves with the "moral" direction that America is heading. They pride themselves on the American history, the fact that it was founded by "Christian" forefathers. They ask this question with "righteousness" with the perspective of  "preservation" of the old time American ideals. What they fail miserably to consider is that their frame of thinking applies only to whites who have that strong American familial ties in past generations. Take John McCain for an example. When profiling the presidential nominee a few months ago, NNBD complied this profile of McCain. Here is a snippet of it:

"A bit further up the family tree, McCain's great-great grandfather William Alexander McCain owned a Mississippi plantation and 52 slaves, until his death fighting for the Confederacy in the US Civil War." -- NNBD

Christian Republicans who wag their finger and wrinkle their brows in disapproval, promote the theory behind that rhetorical question that embraces and defends, without shame, the American history they love... fail to recognize that their stance behind this theory sends chills up every African -American (as well as other minorities), because they seek to defend and preserve a "Christianity" that has destroyed and killed so many.

Those three words that define the history of so many blacks: Mississippi plantation and Confederacy are spoken, quickly, lightly and briefly by the white Christian Republican are the same three words that gives a black Believer or Christian serious pause.

Thus lies the problem behind the theory of the rhetoric... it seeks to be exclusive as opposed to inclusive.  Not only that, by the theory of the rhetoric, Christianity is now redefined by who you vote for.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A South Carolina Roman Catholic priest has told his parishioners that they should refrain from receiving Holy Communion if they voted for Barack Obama because the Democratic president-elect supports abortion, and supporting him "constitutes material cooperation with intrinsic evil."

Additionally, the theory behind the rhetoric implies America can become moralistically "good" through specific persons and legislation. Consider this question to me by a Christian blogger in an interview:

"In your mind what event has had the greatest effect upon the moral degradation of America?"

Upon reading this question, I have to admit, I was a bit turned off by it, simply because it is a very common sentiment. The sentiment that America was once a "Golden" country which is now hurtling towards moralistic impurity. And by this sentiment many seek to "purify" America by human and legislative means. I answered the question as follows:

To answer this with an answer or two is to imply that America was once in a state of moral purity, which no human-governed, country is. Many believe in the greatness of America because of its “Christian” heritage. However, I believe America’s decline started the moment she was created. Stolen land that resulted in a near genocide of its native inhabitants and stolen people enslaved to enrich America in the face of hypocrisy (The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution), do not make for moral righteousness no matter how many “Christians” were on hand upon her existence.

However, God uses all things, good and evil according to His purpose, for His glory. It would do us well as Believers to remember with humility our very immoral beginnings. It is by our own self-righteousness as a country, that we face moral decay and not by any particular event in history. Any form of self-government, human government over other humans, is temporal and lacking in Spiritual perfection that only Christ Jesus can govern with. Christ WILL return to govern His people!!

This theory, behind the common sentiment of the Republican Christian is packaged neatly and camouflaged with a very real and serious issue...abortion. Here lies an additional problem. What is obviously wrong does not mean the theory behind the rhetoric is obviously right. Because the theory seeks include humanistic measures, limited by humanistic world views that do not incorporate the Gospel, by which they call themselves Christian. For the very basis of the Gospel is the love of Christ for sinners.

This is a faithful saying, and worthy of ALL acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. - 1 Timothy 1:15-16

What about innocent, unborn babies dying daily? As a mother of 6 children, no one understands the new life that can grow so strong more than I can. But these newborn babies reside in the bodies of women who live and eat as they choose. Do you mean to control these women? Do you mean to tell these women what they can and cannot do? By what authority do you tell them that? For if you are right in your theory, then God is wrong in His Authority to allow free will! For God himself does not interfere with free will. And Christ was wrong when He said:

He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. - Revelation 22:11

What about the innocent souls of these unborn babies? Anyone asking that question does not understand their TRUE Christian duty. If you want to save the souls of innocent babies, you must first minister to the souls of soiled adults, starting first and foremost with yourself!

The time is now and is at hand when true Believers must worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth! Never has true Christianity been so redefined, packaged to fit the itchy ears of many. Too many in ignorance consume redefined Christianity. If  you follow the consensus of the majority, remember this basic principle of Christ.

"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:" --Matthew 7:13

NOW is the day and age where you MUST question everything you consider and know "Christian". This can only be done through blind, heartfelt FAITH that God will reveal His truth. This can ONLY be received through the HOLY SPIRIT, not by man, church, pastor or Google(!!). You MUST understand that God is a God that moves according to HIS own pace, if you accept this, you also understand how vital it is to wait upon Him for clarity in this day and age of doctrines.

To all those who have said it was my "Christian" duty to vote (Republican). To them I say, your "duty" may now be over, but my duty will continue on until, He calls me home. LET HIS WILL BE DONE !

"But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.

He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.

And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.

Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

For John (the Baptist) came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him" -- Matthew 21:28-32

Author's note:

All formatting, parentheses in scripture are mine.