Why the Christian Right is Wrong

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Friends, I am currently reading a book that so eloquently expresses my feelings that I am not even going to wait until I am done before sharing. I normally don't pass on what I read because I devour books as meals, but I am so riled up in agreement that I slid to the floor next to where my laptop was resting and started typing without even waiting to move to a better location. I discovered this gem at the library and knew that I absolutely had to pick it up. Robin Meyers gives us "a minister's manifesto for taking back your faith, your flag, your future" in Why The Christian Right is Wrong.

I would like to note that this book is not written from a pro-Democrat stance. In fact, he says in the foreward that if he were to write a sequel, it would be to talk about how Democrats are clueless and impotent. Before I read the book I was expecting some sort of strongly worded diatribe about how awful Republicans were while extolling the Democratic views. I was extremely pleased to see that was not the case.

I have always been pretty anti-Republican for many reasons, one of them being that they have joined pious Christians on a high horse with a supercilious attitude and feel completely justified in condemning large amounts of people based on sexual orientation, choices they have made, or life circumstances. I mean for heaven's sake, they cut taxes for the rich and reduce the welfare for the poor. When will people wake up to the arrogance that displays?

As a Christian, I know that my views are in the minority. I know that they can be controversial. But I believe so much that the traditional ways of Christian thinking have put us in jeopardy of falling more and more away from having ministry like Jesus. This book rightly takes to task our President, the Religious Right, and many big name ministers of our time. And I personally love that in addition to others, he expresses frustration and disagreement with Focus on the Family and James Dobson. I have never been a fan of those and I do admit that it is with some glee that I read his thoughts. Don't get me wrong, this is not a book bashing any one entity in particular. It is a book that is thoughtfully laid out with general commentary on the Religious Right and all the "big ticket" political issues. Abortion, War, Debt, Homosexuality, Health Care.

I can't go into depth about everything but I will tell you that the chapter that made me race to the computer was the one on homosexuality. The general Christian attitude about gay people is full of condemnation, fear, and hate. What I have never understood is why we, as a Church, don't embrace them with open arms. Why the hell are churches barring them from attending, participating, and serving? Even if it is not explicitly said, there is still the unspoken agreement that they are not welcome. I can't even begin to tell you how much this makes me want to swear. I get that passionate about the subject. This book provides some great reasoning and thought behind embracing and accepting homosexuals.

Since I am only 2/3 of the way through, I most likely will post another commentary when I reach the end. I just couldn't keep it in any longer. I encourage each of you to find the book and read it before your next political vote. It may just shed some new light for you.