The Lion, the Dems, and the Church

I've spent some time visiting my county's Democrat Blog Site (no, I don't feel all that welcome there) over an issue involving The Peter Heck Show , and the issue has rapidly turned into a discussion on the Church and its attitude towards the Democrat Party. There was a comment posted suggesting that some Democrats had stopped attending Church because they no longer felt welcome.

Most ministers and Church officials that I'm familiar with stick with preaching and teaching what they believe are truths from the Bible... and comment on cultural concerns when these truths relate to them. But I've never seen any arm twisting from the pulpit when it comes to party affiliation. It wouldn't be polite and it would jeopardize their tax-exempt status. It may happen among members, and in Sunday school classes but I haven't seen it.

From what I've witnessed you have to be an African-American church to legally endorse candidates.

I think the source of discomfort for loyal church-going Democrats is when their national leaders embrace issues that conflict with traditional moral statutes from the Bible, and the Church speaks out against those issues. Because of Party loyalty these Christians may try to restructure their core beliefs to accommodate non-Biblical views... or question the importance of the issues... or somehow justify their vote through other issues voiced by their party.

Now I will admit that there is a new line thats been drawn in the sand out there, but it wasn't drawn by the Church. The Democrat Party has gone through some very dynamic changes in the past 4o years and its a little unreasonable to expect Christians to go against their "Play Book" and follow along.

It bothers me a little that a family might stop attending a church because of politics, but maybe its just as well. In this country there is a church for every belief and every philosophy. There are all sorts and degrees of liberal churches out there... and I contend that liberal religious beliefs and liberal politics pretty much go hand-in-hand. Liberal churches as a rule are not dynamic... in fact they're generally dying, but they are available.

But in every church, both liberal and fundamental, there are people who are moving towards God... people that are moving away from God... and people who merely fill a pew. (just in case there is really something "up there") But we should relax. When the Lion of Judah returns... He'll sort us all out.