The Crazy is now the new normal in states where Republicans have complete control of legislatures.
And it has all been made possible by voters, specifically evangelical Christian voters.
The word “evangelical” once meant quite simply being “Christ centered.” Back then evangelical leaders stood for civil rights, championed compassion for the poor, worked for peace, and were among the world’s finest theologians and biblical scholars.
All that began to change in 1979 when conservative Christians co-opted the word and formed The Moral Majority. The evangelical base of the Republican Party is the by-product of the now defunct Moral Majority. Their goal is to use politics to shape America into their image.
One of their tactics is to claim their own religious freedom is under attack. That claim is false.
When you practice your religion in public in a way that violates the Constitution, it is illegal. It is not an infringement on your religious liberty.
More than that, though, Christianity is better than the judgmental, moralistic faith evangelicals have made it into.
It’s time to call them out for the pseudo Christianity they represent. This is no time “to make nice” with evangelicals, to borrow words from an old Dixie Chicks song. Instead, it is time to explain why there is a better Christianity than what they exemplify.
A better Christianity has one desire, to be an instrument of unconditional love rather than loving with conditions that limit its power and influence.
It seeks truth knowing that no human being is capable of knowing it absolutely.
It knows that the minute you say, “The Bible says…” you have already misunderstood it.
It uses reason as a guide in matters of faith and morals, willingly accepting ambiguity as a fact of life.
A better Christianity believes diversity comes from the heart God.
It refuses to exploit people’s fears to get its way.
It values compassion more than power…and is concerned about being just more than being right.
A better Christianity believes that claiming you love God can only be proven in real life by how you treat your neighbor.
There is no Christianity better than this. In fact, anything less is phony, fake, false, not to be trusted.
Today’s evangelicalism is definitely less, far less.
It’s time for those of us who believe in a better Christianity to say so.
linnposts.com 
As for me and my house, we’re going to stand on the side of the oppressed, the foreigner, the widow and the orphan. And that’s just OT. And then there is that passage from Matthew 25:31-46 where Jesus promises his followers that when he reappears it will be as the beggar, the stranger, the sick person or the prisoner. That’s my religion. I’m working on that. God forgive me for any tribalism and for judging the judgy.
So no calling out today’s evangelicalism for distorting the Christian message?
Only until we confess how we distort it too? There’s a time and place for it, and I think you’ve done it wonderfully in this post. However, in doing so, there’s a mea culpa cause none of us gots Jesus.
Another way of saying what are saying, Luke, is that none of knows the truth, only an approximation to it. That is what should keep us humble.
As a United Church of Christ retired minister, I want to approve of everything you proclaimed in this g-mail message. Thank you so much. Jesus was crucified because he was a radical (deeply rooted in God) – and that’s what Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter are all about. Jesus lives in all of us who proclaim and practice love, acceptance, reconciliation with all people in the world.
Amen, Rev. Rezash, Amen!
As usual Jan, you have outlined the simple truths of the Christian faith that won my devotion many years ago. Thank you again for your clarion voice of reason and clarity…BOB
Bob, we are kindred spirits, for sure.
I second Bob’s thanks for your clarion voice of reason and clarity. You described the situation well. I have about run out of patience with The Christian Right & evangelical Christians, both on a day to day basis and especially on a political basis. I think they and the Tea Party types are big factors in why our Congress’ approval and performance have sunk to nearly Zero.
“Run out of patience” is where a lot of us are, Wally. Both groups are doing much harm.