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 