When we ordain those called to ministry outside the parish walls we embolden people to imagine how the redemptive work of God can be done in every corner of our hurting world ... The Church has a story to tell, a story that shatters the sword and drives out fear, a story that can change our world and even our politics. Read more
I adapted the more famous version of this poem for a sermon a few years back, and it seemed like a good (and hopefully fun) anchor for a post on the role of Church and Government and factors Christians should weigh when voting and picking political sides: One night I had a wondrous dream Two sets of footprints there were seen, My Lord and I walked hand and hand And left our footprints in the sand. But as I watched... Read more
Our nation has always been well-served when people of faith carry their convictions with them into the public square for the common good. For President Obama, civic engagement – one motivated not by a pursuit of power, but by the values we hold as beneficial for individuals, family and society – is more than a call for citizenship. It’s a requirement of a fully-lived faith. Read more
Last week at the University of Virginia, the Virginia Center for the Study of Religion held a religion and politics panel, “Religion and the Presidential Election.” From the Left, we had Burns Strider visiting from Washington DC. Burns is the founder and principal of Eleison LLC, the nation’s leading consulting firm committed to finding and creating common ground between America’s diverse values-based communities. A native of Mississippi, Burns was born and raised a Southern Baptist, but can speak broadly about... Read more
I’m not surprised by the recent revelation that out spoken defender of family values and hardcore “Pro-Life” Tennessee Congressman Scott DesJarlais was taped encouraging one of his four mistresses to abort their unborn child... The problem with the Right’s Pharisaical approach isn’t just the hypocrisy and harm to the Christian witness. It’s that it blinds them to people’s struggle, and you can’t show people God’s love when you’re yelling at them. Read more
Voting these days is an act of faith. We take the time to go to a polling station and cast a ballot even though we know our vote won’t affect the outcome of the election. And even if it did, our political system is so broken that fundamental change often seems unlikely anyway. We Americans have, after all, become profoundly cynical about our institutions. About 22% of us trust the financial system while 76% say the nation’s economic structure “favors... Read more
without Jesus this progressive narrative can become self-defeating because it perpetuates the argument that we should judge people based on the value of their work and not their value as the image of Christ. An appeal to fairness is a good argument to make in a pluralistic or secular setting. It's a good standard for determining public policy, and it'll win elections. But for Christians it can be the be-all-and-end-all. Read more
Romney wanted to show he wasn't heartless--that he was one of us and understood kids--by saying he loved Big Bird. But the fact that he made that statement at the same time that he said he planned to cut all funding to PBS and the programs that allow Big Bird to exist communicated the complete opposite. in an effort to show he was human, he's smiled as he's said he'd end Big Bird. And it matters because Romney's biggest liability is that he can't relate. Voters don't trust him or believe he will care about them. Read more
Wondering how to talk about last night’s debate? We’ve already had some great discussion about it over on FD’s facebook wall. Message Matters has also now put out these great talking point. FD’s own Eric Sapp (@SappEric) is one of the lead editors on this daily messaging memo. Debate Debrief: Romney vs. The Truth We watched the debate, heard the pundits react, and read the fact-checkers. Here’s what’s next. Share: http://bit.ly/PAscle | Facebook | Twitter STRATEGY We have these tasks at hand: Answer the... Read more
Faithful Democrats did an interview with, Rev. Derrick Harkins, Director for Faith Outreach for the Democratic Nation Committee. Read what he has to say about the challenges of being a person of faith in politics, the opportunities facing Democrats with religious communities, and more. Read more
Faithful Democrats
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