Obama works to mobilize 'Christian left'

Obama works to mobilize 'Christian left'

CNN.com

CNN) -- Democrats have usually conceded the evangelical vote during presidential elections, but Sen. Barack Obama is trying to change that by mobilizing what some call the "Christian left."

I know who the Christian right is--but WHO is the Christian Left? (I have never heard the MSM use the term before.)

How many times has Sherm told you that you don't own Jesus Terry?

Aaron wrote:How many times has Sherm told you that you don't own Jesus Terry?

Okay--that's one. Who is a big time Left Wing Religionist--besides Rev. Wright and Father Fleger?

Oh, I don't know Terry. As far as I'm concerned the religious whacko's on the right are just as bad as those on the left. I really don't see much difference. I don't think Jesus does either. Perhaps you can help us both see the difference.

Well I agree that Jesus would never blindly follow one party or the other.

I can say, however, as God in the flesh, that Jesus Christ can be known and so too can His preferences for how we live and many of the laws that we pass. My concern is that we follow Him [i]even when we wish He would want us to do something else[i] The trend is too often that we make our pronouncements and then seek to make God agree, as opposed to vice versa.

I fear that a great many care about the Bible when it suits their preferences and then ignore what they do not care for. If the Scriptures are authoritative on matters of poverty (and I certainly believe they are), then one cannot just decide they are not authoritative on marriage, sex, drunkenness, greed, killing innocents, what have you.

I get frustrated with the so-called Christian left (sometimes the phrase can be applied but other times I believe it to be a misnomer) because they can really speak out of both sides of their mouths. They want to end the Republican's hijacking of Jesus and then a paragraph later going about touting their policy preferences as something that Jesus would approve.

SheikBen wrote:Well I agree that Jesus would never blindly follow one party or the other.

I can say, however, as God in the flesh, that Jesus Christ can be known and so too can His preferences for how we live and many of the laws that we pass. My concern is that we follow Him [i]even when we wish He would want us to do something else[i] The trend is too often that we make our pronouncements and then seek to make God agree, as opposed to vice versa.

I fear that a great many care about the Bible when it suits their preferences and then ignore what they do not care for. If the Scriptures are authoritative on matters of poverty (and I certainly believe they are), then one cannot just decide they are not authoritative on marriage, sex, drunkenness, greed, killing innocents, what have you.

I get frustrated with the so-called Christian left (sometimes the phrase can be applied but other times I believe it to be a misnomer) because they can really speak out of both sides of their mouths. They want to end the Republican's hijacking of Jesus and then a paragraph later going about touting their policy preferences as something that Jesus would approve.

Amen.

Mike,

I'm not trying to argue with you but I do have a question for you. You said we could know what Jesus in the flesh preferences for how we live and many of the laws we pass. How can we know his preference on the laws we pass when Jesus in the flesh said to render unto Ceasar what is Ceasar's?

Aaron,

We're here to argue, are we not? Debate may be a nicer word, but bring it!

I believe He was talking about paying the taxes (and obeying the government in general). If memory serves, he was asked whether it was lawful for Jews to pay taxes or not. We are to respect our governments and in so doing "render unto Caesar." I don't see how that interplay requires that Jesus not to have a preference in policy that is knowable. In the Book of Amos, God prophesying through Amos condemns many the practices of the nations that surrounded Israel and Judah, as well as Israel and Judah. If such actions were state-ordained actions (and many surely were), we can know of God's condemnations of such.

Having said that, there is no doubt that an individual's relationship with God is of infinitely greater importance than what laws are passed.

According to the sacrifice made by Jesus Christ, how is it not the ONLY imporant part of the relationship?

I'm not sure I understand your meaning. I certainly agree that it is only by grace that someone is saved, and that through faith in Jesus Christ and not by works. However, that does not mean that we wash our hands of the rest. We are exhorted throughout the Scriptures to lead holy lives filled with good deeds so that people would glorify God. We are also told to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and to respect those in temporal authority over us. Lastly, the Scriptures are full of examples of nations that suffer due to their wicked practices, and people suffer within those nations whether they take part in the wicked practices or not.

None of that matters on iota though when it comes to entrance into heaven. Only by the blood of Jesus Christ is one admitted.

Of course it doesn't. We were talking about Christian responsibility, not salvation.

It was a trick question. Roman coinage was filthy lucre and putting Caesar's likeness on it was offensive to God (graven images). Consequently, Roman coinage was no good at the Temple, henceforth the money changers of lore.

Since the coinage bore the likeness of Caesar it was only fit to return to Caesar. It was a trick answer in that it satisfied the Temple's requirement for Jewish coin and in that it did not incite disobedience to Roman authority.

See, that's the problem Mike. I don't believe many on the political Christian right are being any more responsible then those on the Christian left.

Without pointing fingers, lets look at a falsehood that is being put out in regard to the faith of BO. How many times has material been posted that states that BO is a Muslim? There is no proof that BO is a Muslim or has ever been a Muslim but that lie is repeated time after time by those on the right to play on the Christian fears of the right.

Perhaps you can explain how that is the action of a responsible Christian or how that exemplifies a Christian’s good works.

I don't think the average member of the Christian right would vote for Obama due to his policies. I think his faith is a tertiary consideration for 98% of us. The other 2% spend too much time on the internet:)