Politics and True Christianity

First of all notice the title of this article is Politics and True Christianity not Politics and Religion or even Politics and Christianity. That was not an accident because true Christianity is more than religion and more than an affirmation in a belief that Jesus was a great man or even a great prophet. True Christianity by definition is to be a follow of Christ and an adherent to His teachings.

That said, the motivation for this article was an article on the blackamericaweb.com website in which Bishop T.D. Jakes takes Franklin Graham to tasks for comments he made concerning President Obama. Bishop Jakes said he was insulted by comments that Franklin Graham made. My question to Bishop Jakes would be, "Did Franklin Graham's comments conflict with scripture?" It is immaterial whether or not we are insulted by Scriptural teachings. Scripture should never be compromised by our personal or political biases. If we are offended by Scripture we should repent for our wrong thinking not attack the messenger.

Bishop Jakes' beef with Franklin Graham was not the interpretation of a specific passage of Scripture however, but with Franklin Grahams comment concerning President Obama's insistence that he is Christian. Some would say that Franklin Graham was being judgemental and Scripture definitely forbids that, but I contend that calling an apple an apple is not judgemental. The apple has judged itself by coming from an apple tree, looking like an apple, smelling like an apple and tasting like an apple. True Christianity requires stewardship of that association with Christ. President Obama has made it clear on several issues that he takes a stand that is contrary to Scripture.

Bishop Jakes made a lame comment that "“We didn’t question the Christianity of President Bush when he said he accepted Christ." I don't know who he is including in the "we" because I have to question President Bush's Christianity, or anyone else's for that matter, when they believe there are "many ways to God".

In an exclusive interview with ABC News' Charles Gibson, Bush said he believes that both Christians and Muslims worship the same God.

"I think we do. We have different routes of getting to the Almighty," Bush said. "But I want you to understand, I want your listeners to understand, I don't get to get decide who goes to heaven. The Almighty God decides who goes to heaven and I am on my personal walk," he said.

SOURCE: ABC News, October 26, 2004 (Quote take from here.)

That is in direct conflict with Jesus own words in John 14:6. "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." How do you reconcile that conflict? You can't. Anyone who believes that is not a true Christian. Scripture calls them a heretic.

That is blunt, but Christians for far too long have tried to be politically correct when we should in fact strive for being Scripturally correct. I try to steer clear of politics on this blog but there are issues and times when I must breech that to counter Scriptural compromise.