Friday and the end of the work week. I’ve never been one to say “TGIF” because I’ve been fortunate to (mostly) do work I enjoy. But that doesn’t mean I don’t look forward to weekends. I hope you’re looking forward to yours.
If you spend much time with me, you’ll quickly learn that I have no use for the politics of today’s Democrats. In fact, calling their politics “garbage” is not strong enough to describe my scorn for them. Because of that, I’ve found that I have to make two disclaimers when writing about their politics:
- When I say “Democrats” I’m referring to elected officials at the state and federal levels. I’m talking about those who make policy, not the rank and file Democrats who make up their base. Not every citizen who votes Democrat is happy with their representation in office, just as not every citizen who votes Republican is happy with their representation in office (including me).
While it’s easy for an unthinking critic to infer that my contempt must extend to the voters who put the elected official in office, it’s really not the public I’m concerned about. They’re more or less irrelevant to the decisions made in our capitols. I do wonder how they rationalize their support for the party, but I’m referring to those who make policy. - As an evangelical Christian, I’m hyper-aware of Christ’s commands to love your neighbor and to obey the authorities and to keep in mind that I’m just passing through this world on my way to a better one. I am not in the better one yet, so it takes a conscious effort for me to separate politics from person.
Separating a policy position from the person who takes it is like separating fabric from linen. It’s hard, and it isn’t possible for me to prevent a reader from conflating the two (“If you hate the policies, you hate the person!”) but I try to build my arguments on facts and not on personal attacks.
Nevertheless, it’s inevitable that to some readers, it will look like I’m attacking a person. But I can’t let that keep me from speaking up, even though I do occasionally take jabs at certain politicians. I do have a viewpoint, my viewpoint counts, and I’m happy to receive any corrective input along the way.
I issue this disclaimer because political opinions can get heated on both sides of an argument. It becomes even more tricky when biblical Christian conviction is added to the mix. I’ve had readers wonder if I’m really a “Christian” when I’ve responded firmly or without humor to arguments I find fatuous, disingenuous or false. To be sure, I’ve leveled some harsh replies online occasionally and have had to remove my comments later.
An example is when friends argue that “not all Democrats” are in favor of, say, abortion. So when I issue a blistering critique of progressive Democrat abortion laws that provide for killing a child up to the moment of birth and then light up an iconic skyline in pink—well, I’ve been told that not every Democrat supports it and that I shouldn’t condemn them all or paint them all with the same brush.
Sure. Tell that to the 2,000+ babies slaughtered every day in the U.S. It’s the Democrat Party behind such legislation in every case and—see #1 above—they deserve to be hammered for it. Believers in particular should think carefully about what they’re enabling with their support of the Jackass Party. (Hey, I didn’t pick their mascot.) But when I comment, I’m primarily talking about those in power.
What I’m trying to do is help you, gentle reader, get to know me and how I operate. I’m an evangelical Christian (in the classic sense of the term), and I observe developments in U.S. politics and culture through that lens. I enjoy the challenge of integrating those three streams of thought—faith, culture and politics—into commentary that tries to thoughtfully engage with the dynamics of a largely secular population.
I’m obviously still developing that skill.
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A Personal Note
I write five days a week on personal time because it’s one way I can contribute to strengthening the resolve of Christians, conservatives and other like-minded compatriots in the face of unprecedented division in our country. I would like to eventually do more. If you like what you’re reading and think others would benefit from it, please consider regularly sharing and commenting on my posts. Also invite your friends to subscribe. They can do that right on the home page. Thanks for reading! — Dave
Saying “I don’t support abortion but I’m going to keep voting for the party and candidates that do” is like saying “I don’t approve of my ADULT child’s drug use but I’m going to continue to let them live at home, rent free, and help them with their finances when they run short”. You are ENABLING the very activity you claim you don’t support. YOU are supporting it. Dave, don’t ever apologize for pointing people in the direction of God and what His Word clearly tells us is His Heart.
Thanks for the encouragement, Ken. I always scratch my head when someone like, say, Joe Biden, says they’re a solid Catholic but they don’t let their personal beliefs interfere with their role as a politician. I could never partition my belief that way. If it’s true that God doesn’t condone abortion, then it’s true both inside and outside of politics. Blessings.
As someone who is 90% with you on politics, but 100% apart from you on religion, I can attest to the fact that even when YOU are writing under duress… that is, when you’re trying to maintain a genteel demeanor when your head must be ready to explode from someone’s impertinent remarks, or hare-brained ideas, or the like. I think you really DO do a good job of maintaining your cool and keeping your replies Christologically pure. This is only based on the interactions in threads to which which I’ve been witness or stumbled upon, obviously, but that is still quite a few threads comprising many, many replies.
The advantages of a non-religious outlook is that there is no hesitation or equivocation trying to figure out what Jesus would do in some situation. You CAN let the sun go down on your anger, and you’re free to say THOU FOOL, or RACA, to whomever it applies. One does not have to go through mental contortions to “love” Taliban scumbags who would throw acid in some poor girl’s eyes. RIDICULE is a wonderful tool if used effectively and sparingly. Even HATE is a perfectly good emotion when it is properly directed and administered. Why should the gazelle love the lion? From such a philosophical perch, one can “pay respect to who respect is due, and honor to who honor is due,” yet eviscerate those to whom evisceration is due.
My conscience is usually clear, though, sometimes in retrospect, I too, feel discomfort with the intensity of a particular reply. (Thank “god” for emoticons which, with just a hint of a smile, wink, or ponderous demeanor, can completely alter the thrust of the words.) I can’t say that I recall deleting comments, but often leave another one, “In retrospect, after reviewing more facts presented by User123, I now see that my comments may have been hasty, blah, blah, blah…” That way people get a better sense of action and reaction. I’m miffed, sometimes, when comments are completely removed because when you’re following a thread you see a lot of interesting dialog interspersed with blanks. Or some moderator locks the thread, and then you can’t comment on the trolls, OR the o.p., etc.
Argh!
Jim, sincere thanks for the compliment. I enjoy our frequent interactions!