The Republican candidate for President of the United States is unabashedly pro-life and pro-family. He comes from and has always had a solid family life with not even a hint of scandal. He attends religious services regularly and tithes consistently.
Yet, according to one poll, 18 percent of evangelical Christians said that they wouldn't vote for him.
We're of course talking about Mitt Romney, the former governor of the state of Massachusetts who is not only a lifelong member of but also a bishop in the Church of Jesus Christ of Letter-day Saints, more popularly known as the Mormon Church.
Frankly, because we live in a secular republic and we're not electing a pastor-in-chief, I personally don't have a problem with his membership in what most orthodox Christians, myself included, consider a cult.
I do, however, had a problem with how he's made his money, which is where the theological problems come in.
I say that because too many Christians worship business leaders as the epitome of cultural virtue, fitting into the American myth of the "self-made man." In Romney's case, however, it doesn't consistently apply.
For openers, he was reared with that some of that money, his late father George an executive at American Motors and a former GOP presidential candidate in his own right. Later on his former firm Bain Capital practiced what has been derided as "vulture capitalism," tearing firms apart and making huge profit but at the expense of their workers and supporting his numerous homes and foreign tax shelters (That's why his tax returns, more accurately his refusal to release them, have become such a hot topic in the campaign, especially considering the last Republican in the White House, George W. Bush, whose absolutely insane economic policies helped to wreck the economy, constantly cut taxes for the super-wealthy -- including Romney.)
So where's the "theology" in all this?
Well, consider what the Bible says about the rich, in too many passages to mention here. There's nothing wrong in itself with having that kind of wealth; however, folks can become so attached to it that they forget that God gives it for specific reasons, to be a blessing to the community. (One of the lessons of the parable of the rich fool, not mentioned in the text but understood in that culture, was that he never consulted with his neighbors as to what he should do with his bounty.) Moreover, those of us who "have it" too often lord that privileged status over everyone else and develop an "entitlement" mentality, assuming that, "if we can get it, you can too," not understanding the opportunities that we were given that others may not have had (and we also don't talk about how to expand such opportunities). One reason the Pharisees hated Jesus was that they subscribed to such a "health-and-wealth gospel" which He exposed as fraudulent.
Please understand that I'm not talking about "welfare handouts" or "economic redistribution"; doing so just muddies the waters More to the point, because virtually everyone wants to work, folks need to know where jobs are and how to get them, an important issue these days because of the unstable economy. Oh, one other thing: Simply giving more leeway to "job creators" hasn't done the trick for some 30 years now because all they do, and will continue to do so, is pocket that money and spend it on lobbyists to maintain their status. (Virtually all employers are rich people; however, most rich people are not employers.)
I will not tell you whom to vote for -- that's between you and the LORD. I will say, however, that the consequences of your vote are not just political; they're ultimately theological in nature and say something about your relationship with Him.
Frankly, because we live in a secular republic and we're not electing a pastor-in-chief, I personally don't have a problem with his membership in what most orthodox Christians, myself included, consider a cult.
I do, however, had a problem with how he's made his money, which is where the theological problems come in.
I say that because too many Christians worship business leaders as the epitome of cultural virtue, fitting into the American myth of the "self-made man." In Romney's case, however, it doesn't consistently apply.
For openers, he was reared with that some of that money, his late father George an executive at American Motors and a former GOP presidential candidate in his own right. Later on his former firm Bain Capital practiced what has been derided as "vulture capitalism," tearing firms apart and making huge profit but at the expense of their workers and supporting his numerous homes and foreign tax shelters (That's why his tax returns, more accurately his refusal to release them, have become such a hot topic in the campaign, especially considering the last Republican in the White House, George W. Bush, whose absolutely insane economic policies helped to wreck the economy, constantly cut taxes for the super-wealthy -- including Romney.)
So where's the "theology" in all this?
Well, consider what the Bible says about the rich, in too many passages to mention here. There's nothing wrong in itself with having that kind of wealth; however, folks can become so attached to it that they forget that God gives it for specific reasons, to be a blessing to the community. (One of the lessons of the parable of the rich fool, not mentioned in the text but understood in that culture, was that he never consulted with his neighbors as to what he should do with his bounty.) Moreover, those of us who "have it" too often lord that privileged status over everyone else and develop an "entitlement" mentality, assuming that, "if we can get it, you can too," not understanding the opportunities that we were given that others may not have had (and we also don't talk about how to expand such opportunities). One reason the Pharisees hated Jesus was that they subscribed to such a "health-and-wealth gospel" which He exposed as fraudulent.
Please understand that I'm not talking about "welfare handouts" or "economic redistribution"; doing so just muddies the waters More to the point, because virtually everyone wants to work, folks need to know where jobs are and how to get them, an important issue these days because of the unstable economy. Oh, one other thing: Simply giving more leeway to "job creators" hasn't done the trick for some 30 years now because all they do, and will continue to do so, is pocket that money and spend it on lobbyists to maintain their status. (Virtually all employers are rich people; however, most rich people are not employers.)
I will not tell you whom to vote for -- that's between you and the LORD. I will say, however, that the consequences of your vote are not just political; they're ultimately theological in nature and say something about your relationship with Him.
1 comment:
We are in the same postion .now , that Daniel , Joseph , Esther , and Peter ,Paul and John were in . And yet, we are given a choice . Pharoah or Nebuchanezer. Consequently , in Daniel , Nebuchanezer gave his Repentant testimony. Christians can not stay home and not vote, . One candidate is proving what he beleives ; Government should tell American's what to eat, who's sex lives they should pay for and wants to increase the number of totally dependant people in the country. Follow the" pen strokes " instead of the media. The other who's church branded ME the "Anti- Mormon bias in the GOP " (of which I am no longer a member in the GOP ): he wants to retore the GOOD parts of America. Neither are Christians by BIBLICAL definitions ;" For by their FRUITS you will know them." and Apostle Paul said " We do not judge those outside the church ; but, We judge, test , and appraise tose inside the Church to see if they are false." we are not voting for Pastor in cheif : But, we are voting for the America we want for the next 50 years, for our children ... We will be gone in less time . What legacy, and oportunity do you want for them??? If you can't support a candidate , then vote the party Ticket of your beleifs ; Don't Stay Home.
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