As many of you have probably heard, Obama and Dobson have been sparring quite a bit lately in the media. You can read more about that here. I stumbled across this post though that looked at it from the a different standpoint. I may not agree with anyone of these folks politics but I certainly can agree that the rhetorical devices employed lately are harsh, demeaning and a horrible reflection of Christ. Obama and Dobson have both accused the other one of lies, deceit and slander (all in the name of God, of course) simply over political differences (and only slight differences at that...
obama: I want to regulate a, b and c because thats what god would want.
dobson: you lying heretic!!! god want us to regulate x, y and z.)
Anyway, while Christian Obama supporters are an oxymoron in Dobson's eyes, here is one prominent one calling on all of us to raise the level of discourse among Christ's Church.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
I like your vibe, man.
Good point.
Neither of these guys is the third coming of Christ; but neither of them is the anti-Christ, either.
Resist hysteria; embrace realism!
Yeah, its not the best for bringing in web traffic taking the approach that we are not all enemies. Enemies are good for publicity. Its how many of the political/religious organizations stay keep the cash flow rolling in. Whether left of right.
And realistically we can trace the most of the largest increases in gov't to wartime powergrabs as well. As long as there is an enemy whether in politics, the Church or life a leader can whip up his followers to do just about anything. And after awhile they overplay their hand. It is sad when that happens in the church because it is a horrible reflection of Christ (think Pat Robertson calling for Hugo Chavez assassination or Jerry Falwell blaming 9-11 on the "gays and secular humanists).
Good call, Scott.
The real power in a republic like ours only exists when we can whip people up into religious ferver and create hysteria.
It's always "us" against "the other." We are fighting God's fight. The other is mistaken at best and evil at worst.
Very true. Its sad because it exists everywhere. Arminians vs. Calvinists, Emergents vs. Traditionals, Republicans vs. Democrats, Gays vs. Straights, Husbands vs. Wives. surfers vs. bodyboarders.
We just love to hate. And its sad but the church and world don't look that different.
Your comment makes me think of the Johannine literature. Of all the dichotomies to create (gay v. straight; liberal v. conservative; etc.), the only dichotomy that John insists on is love v. hate! There are those who love and there are those who hate. But to be someone who loves is to immediately embrace the other and effectively extinguish all dichotomies!
And yet, as you say, everywhere we go we see dichotomies that divide. The one dichotomy that matters (love/hate) is the one that no one seems to care about.
Post a Comment