Friday, September 26, 2008

Evangelical Strategies

The other day I participated in an impromptu-blog-response-section-debate on Proposition 8 on. Here are a few of my thoughts...

The issue of homosexuality has become so political that it is almost impossible to speak to the morality of the issue without becoming entangled in rhetorical he-said-she-said.

Homosexuality is a sin, just like any other sin, and should be treated as such. The Church’s strategy for evangelization of homosexuals should be the same as those we ought to employ for sins such as lawlessness, rebellion, murder, immorality, liars, and perjurers; in other words, “The goal of our instruction,” should be “love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”

Notice that some of the sins on previous list are moral issues punishable by state (murder, perjury, etc) but others are simply moral (immorality and telling lies)–but the Christian’s response is the same regardless. We simply do not care about State sanctioned distinctions, because we have one law (Christ’s) which calls us to love.

Christians should not attempt to legislate morality simply because it is a bad conversion strategy. Politics are wonderfully energizing, exciting, and inspiring (as long as you are firmly planted inside one party), but those on the other side of the issue are separated purposely by divisive language and political hyperbole.

The loser of a political debate, campaign, etc. is hardly likely to suddenly see the world through the other lens; they will merely be scarred and bitter about the overstatements and unnecessary insults that fly in the heat of the moment.

The question becomes, what the role of the church is in society? I believe that the overwhelming message of Jesus is for the church to be an agent of transformation and redemption in the world. Once that point is established, it is left to us to figure out the best ways for us, as the church, to achieve those goals.

So then, what is more effective in bringing homosexuals to Christ? Honest, humble, discourse with actual gays and lesbians, or Proposition 8? Respectful dialogue, or poling booths?

Colbert is a word twisting genius

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Reasons for monarchy

Republicans and Democrats.

I am so sick of each side being unable to cooperate for even ten minutes.

McCain suspends his presidential campaign to go back to Washington and address the economic issues. Now the flurry of pundit hypothesizing...

Democrat punditry:

"This is obviously a thinly veiled political ploy?"
"Cancel the debate? What, can McCain not multitask? Because Presidents are never called upon to handle multiple things at once!"

Republican punditry:

"Oh this is noble. McCain is being a leader. He is showing this country what kind of President he would be!"
"He really stuck Obama here. McCain requests bi-partisanship, and Barack is forced to either follow a Republican's lead, or show himself unwilling to work with the other side."
"MaverickMaverickMaverickMaverickMaverickMaverick..."

Good Lord help us. We are staring down the barrel of the most serious economic catastrophes in the past half-century, and cannot stop posturing for one second. Really?

The fact is that both McCain and Obama are the de facto leaders of their parties. It seems almost overwhelmingly obvious that they both need to be in Washington right now. And working together. And making sure everyone else is working together.

At the moment I don't want to hear anything from an elected official but "we've all locked ourselves indoors and for the past 72 hours and survived on nothing but coffee and donuts. We banged our partisan heads together until we found a solution to this economic crisis that we believe will work. Thank you for your patience."


Tuesday, September 23, 2008

MoneyMoneyMoneyMoneyMoneyMoneyMoney...

$700,000,000,000. That is too much

The bailout amount should be $360,000,000,000, that way the national debt would be an even $10 Trillion. That folks, would be symmetry, and I feel that symmetry of very, very large quantities of money should be what we shoot for at this point.

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Rudy?

Has anyone else noticed how they keep playing the theme song from Rudy at the Republican National Convention?