The idea the Dominionists and New Apostolic Reconstructionists (so closely linked as to be twins, I think) want a total theocracy and will not stop until they have it. Once they do, the next steps will be executing gays and pagans, and enslaving the rest.

While I appreciate the sentiment and agree with the overall point here I would be remiss if I didn't point out that "In the beginning" God did not in fact create us - the heavens and earth came first and will likely be here long after us as well. [Genesis 1:1]

We don't appear on the scene until verse 26 and are merely stewards of creation. The sooner we remember that, and all the implications that stewardship brings, the sooner we will learn to live together and respect our God given environment.

Thank you for expressing the truth! Im so glad to know that Im not the only Christian who believes this way. I have always felt that the Christian right wing have missed the boat completely. Jesus commanded us to care for people who have less than we do. He commanded us no to worry about "what ye shall wear and what ye shall eat." So where did all of this "my money is mine" attitude come from? It's almost to the point that Im waiting for someone to pop off with "let them eat cake!" Im a hospice nurse. One of my elderly patients loved to talk religion and politics. He looked at me one day and said "dont tell anyone I said this but Jesus preached Communism" And you know what....he's right. Or at the very least, He preached socialism. We are supposed to love ALL of God's children and care for the "least of these" without regard as to how we are going to care for ourselves. Jesus tells us to do that. If you ask me, taking care of the poor seems to be a Democrat ideal, not a Republican ideal. So the Christian right wing folks need to re-evaluate their political stance and their actions. thank you.

Exactly. Christians side with the Republican party because we cannot condone some of the viewpoints of the Democratic such as abortion. But then we advocate the termination of food, medicine, and shelter to the unfortunate because they "need to get a job like I did" and quote the often misused and misinterpreted 'If a man won't work then he shall not eat'. That proverb was directed to young, able men. Not the disabled or to mothers of children who have been used and abandoned by the men who father the children. The men should be kept from food who can work and do not but children and old people who are not able to work should be taken care of by the young. It is biblical to honor older people and protect children. It is disgraceful that politicians pray to the God of the Universe who always had mercy towards the poor, and then justify tax breaks and subsidies for the rich while robbing the elderly of medicare and social security. Disgraceful.

Let's make sure we don't fall victim to believing this is only true about far-right Republicans. This me-first sin thing is in all of us. All people (and all political parties) get it right sometimes and wrong other times. Let us use our Christian filters to move beyond "us and them" and do what God is calling us to do.

"If my kingdom was of this world, my servants would fight."

Like the father of the prodigal son, Jesus was quick to let people follow him or not, as the could, and as they pleased. When they "walked with him no more", he watched them go. And they were always free to go. Free to choose.

Jesus' teachings were fundamentally self-oriented, other-directed. "The kingdom of God is within you." Each. Individually. He did not teach how we should perceive that others ought to be, and to behave. He taught his followers, those who say "Lord, Lord", and actually did as he said, which sayings they should follow.

Now comes a few fundamental questions I have: Is there any cause, any view - political or religious - that is so wonderful, so great, that we would impose it onto everyone, without the ability to opt out? Is "goodness" an impossibility without unanimous participation?

Also, is there such a thing a "Compulsory Charity"? I believe that I am "my brother's keeper". I also believe that my "neighbor" is everyone in my path, and that they are my charge. But is a choice, based on the sayings of the One I follow, and call Lord. And furthermore, I recognize that EVERY SINGLE SAYING that I live, which He gave me to live, cannot be enforced. They cannot be imposed on others.

For me, it is not a question of left or right (both of which I despise for being so half-baked in their desire to decide whether a private or a public oligarchy will wreak havoc on people's lives). Jesus' sayings DO influence my politics. My personal politics. My self-government. And His example taught me what can and cannot/should not be inflicted or imposed onto others. Not in the name of 'goodness', or Him, or anything else.

Mary Ellen has it right. With all due respect, I believe the honorable reverend is looking at the Scripture through a very liberal filter. We need to pray and then listen for "the still small voice" May God's will be done.

Also, when the government paycheck or food stamp comes in the mail, does it come with a tract telling them about God's love for them and the supreme sacrifice his son made to wash away their sins? I'm pretty sure it doesn't.

I don't recall the teaching where Jesus said to only provide the material needs and not spiritual to those in need. Yes that is sarcasm, because love isn't JUST providing a fish or a loaf, or better yet, asking your neighbor to give a fish or a loaf. Love involves attending to their spiritual needs, EVEN MORE SO than their physical. Because we are all going to die, yet our spirits will have a much longer existence, for good or bad, ahead of us. I challenge any minister to show that Jesus treated the physical as more important than the spiritual.

It says, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit..."

It doesn't say, "Go vote for food stamps for the poor," or "Go vote for drug counseling to addicts." It doesn't even say feed the poor, much less vote to feed the poor. I get so tired of the Christian left's need to one-up the right. Don't you see, you haven't even come close to fulfilling the commission set for you, no closer than you claim the right is to fulfilling it from their vantage point.

In other passages, it does say secondarily to loving the Lord, to love others as myself. If I look back over my life and consider the big picture, I rank my moment of salvation and those who loved me enough to be instrumental in that process far higher than another who gave me something to eat when I was hungry. And I have been homeless before, so I can directly compare the two.

Those that think we need to vote for more government programs for the poor in the name of Christian charity...well, I don't see them asking for the government to pass out tracts to those same people. So who is more "Christian" in their actions? I can't tell, to be honest. I don't see the Christian left furthering the kingdom with these government programs. Or is the logic that we help them live a little longer so my other neighbor can get around to witnessing to them some day. All because we pressed the "D" button in the booth. Yay for me, another crown in heaven for my obedience to the mandate "to love others."

I am not really sure if best practices have emerged around things like that, but I am sure that your great job is clearly identified. I was wondering if you offer any subscription to your RSS feeds as I would be very interested and can?t find any link to subscribe here.

From Brazil: I do not know how this world will end, but until then Christians have no right to claim for the exclusive love and goodness of God.