Definition: A member of the Democratic party who receives their inspiration and ideological foundation from Jesus Christ's teachings found in the New Testament.
Advantages: Framing the terms of the debate, narrowing the God Gap, stating our principles in a clear, concise way that the large majority of Americans will understand.
New Testament Democrats draw on the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John for their political philosophy. We believe that we must help the poor, sick, and hungry. We believe that we must lead peaceful lives, but at the same time not tolerate those who want to destroy our peace. We must work for peace in the world. We hunger and thirst for justice, and are willing to suffer persecution for justice's sake. We reject the greed prevalent in today's culture and understand that we cannot serve both God and money. We believe that we must love our brothers and sisters as we love ourselves.
New Testament Democrats aim to change the terms of the debate surrounding the role of God and religion in politics. We believe in tolerance for other religions and other interpretations of Christianity, and feel that the Church is a more powerful force in society when it is separate from the Government.
New Testament Democrats believe in a loving God, a God that wants us to help the poor, the sick and the less fortunate, a God that believes in peace and the defense of peace, and a God that rejects the values of greed. New Testament Democrats aim to provide an alternative model of Christian participation in politics, a form of participation that is distinctly different from that of the Old Testament Republicans.
New Testament Democrats and Old Testament Republicans are different in many ways. On the issue of abortion, OTR's want to make all abortions illegal and imprison doctors and mothers. NTD's also believe that abortion is at odds with the teachings of Jesus Christ, but we also do not think that it is necessary to put doctors and mothers in jail for making a moral mistake. Instead we believe in truly reating a culture of life through sex education, birth control and making adoptions more affordable and easier.
NTD's also believe in a strong military presence in the world in order to make the world more peaceful and free. We oppose pre-emptive unilateral war and believe that war should always be a last result. We also think that the principles of just war should be considered when waging war.
The government should take a proactive approach to reducing poverty and sickness. Unlike OTR's we believe the government should feed the hungry, clothe the naked, house the homeless, and help the poor. We do not believe in government handouts, but instead in the creation of good jobs that will enable the poor, black, white, yellow, brown or red, to feed, house and clothe their families.
We believe that a health care system run by greed will not work and call on the government to fulfill its duty to the sick. We believe that we should do our best to cure the sick and that a greed-driven system will always fail in this goal.
Some relevant New Testament Bible verses:
The Beatitudes:
· Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
· Blessed are the meek: for they shall posses the land.
· Blessed are they who mourn: for they shall be comforted.
· Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill.
· Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
· Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God.
· Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
· Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Greed:
"If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Truly, I say unto you, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. I repeat what I said: it is easier for a camel to pass through a needle's eye than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. You cannot serve both God and Money."
The Greatest Commandment:
One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."