Politik

I know I've already posted today, but I couldn't wait to post this tomorrow given that I'd probably forget anything that I want to talk about.

I was reading earlier today about Cameron Strang, editor of Relevant Magazine, backing out of the closing benediction of the Democratic National Convention last night. I love Relevant Magazine. They are will to put things in that magazine that kind of blur the lines between what is Christian and what is secular. Including "secular" music talents and other things. It's really the only magazine I find appealing to read on a regular basis.

People are bashing him because he didn't put himself up there and give a little prayer. People say he's weak because he didn't pray in public. There are so many pharisees out there! All they care about is seeing their faith on national television! Jesus Himself spoke out against these kinds of people. Strang kindly declined because in order to fulfill his goal of keeping a bridge-building dialogue between the two parties, he did not want to be equivocally supporting a specific candidate. If he had given the benediction it would have made him look as if he supports Obama. Strang is a registered independent and I believe his decision was a wise one journalistically.

His replacement for the benediction was author Donald Miller.

Now people are attacking Miller because of his interview with Christianity Today. It's all so ridiculous to me because people have forgotten that not everyone has the same viewpoints. People disagree and it's going to happen for the rest of the time the earth is still in existence. I love Miller's book Blue Like Jazz. It is an incredible approach to reach an audience who need a different approach to Christian living. What people don't realize is that he has another book which dives deeper into his Christian beliefs. If these accusers would only pick that up and read it, they would find that Miller is very much a believer.

I'm sick of the religious right parading around talking about two things. Abortion and Gay Marriage. Let's get off that horse because it's been beaten so hard. When your party is known for two things, you're failing. All the Right uses these issues for is to get the evangelical vote. I am personally anti-abortion. I am anti-preemptive war. You cannot be PRO-LIFE if you are PRO-WAR. The conservatives wear their pro-life stickers and bracelets like trophies, but then go off and support the slaughter of millions of people. Jesus didn't say only love your neighbor if he's not a terrorist. Only love your neighbor if they've had babies in wedlock. Only love your neighbor if they haven't had an abortion. Only love your neighbor if they're straight. He says love your neighbor as yourself. He also says love your enemies.

Church and state are two completely different things. The government is not the body that should be telling women what they can and cannot do with their bodies. That is a moral decision. A personal decision. The church should be the ones educating women about abortion, not the government. However, half the people in this country see the crazy extremists of the faith and turn away, so how can the church be taken seriously?

Can we talk about education for a second because it seems like abortion and gay marriage are the only issues that get media attention. I really don't want to hear anyone complain about how horrid schools are and then complain that the taxes are too high. Taxes are what make our schools. People forget that public schooling is a government institution. Higher taxes mean better government institutions, if the money goes to the right place. Republicans for the past eight years have gone off the deep end in spending on stupid things. I'm all for lowering taxes, but the government has to lower the spending. If it's not getting income, it can't spend what it doesn't have. Well it can, just look at the deficit. Anyway, schools need an overhaul and the Republicans shot everything to hell with the No Child Left Behind act. There needs to be drastic change in the way this country is run and I'm not sure that another Republican president can provide that.

I'm still not sure who I'll be voting for, but I can guarantee that come November this will be a historically different election.