A legacy of hypocrisy

Many people feel that politicians should keep their religion private. I personally heartily disagree. True religion is not something people do but rather is something they are. Take Christianity, for example...no, not the goofy version practiced by the whack-jobs on TBN. Not the rituals of Catholicism or of Methodism or Lutheranism. The names themselves should tell you something...namely, that they are about inclusion and ritual and following men. I could add Baptists and their name referencing a part of Christianity. When I say "Christian" I mean the narrow minded (in Matthew Jesus said, and I paraphrase, narrow is the gate that leads to salvation but wide is the path that leads to destruction. Religious people for whatever reason refuse to own this expression but the truth is the founder Himself claimed Christianity is narrow minded), exclusionist ("no man comes to the Father but by Me", "but I say to you that unless you repent you shall all likewise perish", "He who believes and is baptized shall be saved but he who disbelieves shall be condemned", holding tightly to the Bible realizing that altering it or changing it or ignoring it because it is not convenient or does not fall in line with majority ethics is a sure path to eternal damnation according to the pages of the Bible. I refer to Christianity as the people willing to die for their faith, to emulate the principles of Galations 5:22-23 (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self control) while avoiding the things from the prior few verses, of people who follow the thoughts in Peter where each succeeding effort produces a better person, of people who believe knowing the passages in I John that quote Jesus as saying "If you love Me you will keep My commandments". I do not refer to Christianity as being a social club or feel-good session more concerned with helping people hook up than in saving their souls.

Obviously I have a very narrow view of who is and who is not a Christian. Mine is, as near as I can tell, the concept established by the Bible.

Now, if a person is a Christian then they are regardless of what they are doing. They are a Christian first, then a baseball player. They are a Christian first, then a tourist. They are a Christian first, then an employee. Etc.

So for a politician to divest themselves of their Christianity, by definition, means they are not a Christian. It MUST be a consideration in whatever they do.

That is what makes sentences like this one so hysterically funny: "Of the three, Hillary Clinton, whose husband, Bill Clinton, held regular prayer meetings in the White House, was the most reticent about advertising her personal beliefs.

No, I don't find it hysterical that Hillary anything in that sentence. This Bill of whom they speak...you may remember him from such other mentions as multiple adulterous affairs, perjury, more adultery...while holding prayer meetings. Thanks, Bill...you are still good for a laugh. Too bad it does not call to mind any other very religious politicians noted for affairs in theWhite House, right John F. "First Catholic President" Kennedy? And the list goes on...and on....and on...

"...all three candidates resisted taking hellfire stances on issues such as..."

If all three candidates claim Bible-based faith then they have already lost any opportunity whatsoever for my vote. If you claim to believe something and then admit you will not stand for what you believe that should mean more to you than anything else then why on earth would I trust you to stand for things of less importance to you? By the way, just because I am not naming other candidates does not mean I do not despise them equally as much over this issue...it simply means I do not have the documentation in front of me to link to. I am watching them all and it is things like this that determine who does or does not get my vote. I can assure you Giuliani, McCain, Thompson all get low marks in this area as well.

My message should be clear. If you believe something then stand up for it whether it is popular or not. If you are not willing to stand for the very foundational aspects of your belief system then you can bet your bottom dollar I will not trust you any farther than I trust the crowd now in office.