I know we have folks here from many religious and non-religious persuasions. I totally respect that. I myself am a Christian, but I've long ago realized no religion has all the answers, including Christianity. To me, the mystery of faith is knowing I will never have the answers, and realizing that is what it is to be human.
Anyway, I've had several folks, Republican and Democrat, ask me how I can be a Democrat and be a Christian. My answer to them is much like Senator Durbin's - that Republicans do not have a monopoly on the "Christian" God.
But I have a message for Republicans who are busily working themselves into a lather pointing out that GOD is not mentioned in the Democratic Party's Platform. Guess what...you may think GOD has a prominent place in the Republican platform....but the GOD you speak of is sure not the GOD I read about in the, what is the name of that book? Oh yeah - the Bible. Follow me below the fold....
I am the assisting minister at my Lutheran (ELCA) church this Sunday. As assisting minister, I read the week's Lectionary verses to the congregation during the service. I just got around to opening the bible to get ready for this Sunday. Please take a minute to see for yourself this Sunday's message:
From James 2:1-7
My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favoritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ? For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say "Have a seat here, please," while to the one who is poor you say, "Stand there," or, "Sit at my feet," have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts
Ouch! But wait, there's more:
Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into court? Is it not they who blaspheme the excellent name that was invoked over you?
Why, I think these folks must have been writing from an Occupy Wall Street camp. And the final piece of scripture:
James 2: 14-17
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill," and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So by faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.
Now I'm no theologian, but it seems to me, that even though the Democratic Platform does not actually use the word GOD, it probably more closely resembles the teachings of Jesus than anything the Republicans have managed to etch upon their stones, I mean, platform.
5:05 PM PT: Oh come on DNC! Must you always capitulate?