It has been some time since I wrote. Like any journal of mine that frequently is abandoned, this is one more.

This morning, I read an article by Charles Colson, who I think that many conservatives agree with and like. It was in the Southern Baptist newsletter and I really hope that all of those people who would not ordain the reading of any other material, catch the message and the spirit of the article.

First let me say that as a Christian and a conservative (both theologically and politically), I appreciate the heritage that we have in this country. As I see the news over the past few days, I notice that there is more from the left that really stinks of complete nonsense. From the story about the teacher who cannot teach from the Declaration of Independence because there are references to God and the older argument that the phrases "In God We Trust" and "One nation Under God" should be revoked from any public viewing, there is an obvious thread to push not only God, but the person of Christ out of the American picture. This is something that Europe has faced for years.

So as one who has raised the banner of "conservative Christianity" please understand that I see what is happening and really believe that we are in a culture crisis and because of that, a moral crisis.

This past year more than ever, I was caught up in the politics of our nation. I watched both party (Democrat and Republican) conventions. I watched every debate or listened to them on my trusty XM radio. More that all of this, I even went to President Bush's rally in the Office Depot Center. So I was caught up in it. Halfway through however, I became increasingly disturbed by what I saw from the "Christian conservatives." That was the increasing desire to fight secular society on their terms. It was like the only hope for our faith was the re-election of President Bush. With that I disagreed. The fact is, throughout Europe, Africa and the middle/far east, there are remnants of the church that are thriving under persecution. To believe that America is the anointed institution and all of our efforts of the gospel must be through political means is complete nonsense. I see many believers who truly think that there is no other way to advance the gospel and it seems that they are not advancing the actual "gospel" at all.
It truly hurts my heart to see that many evangelicals tie their faith in Christ with a "republican" vote. To tell the truth, in my short years of ministry, I have heard many people in evangelical churches say that they are "moral conservatives" and yet they stand in public holding signs to push their aganda and never having a loving, earnest conversation with the lost people that they are trying to convince...did you catch that...lost people...people with a heart that is so depraved by sin that they make sinful decisions. I also have heard people say that they are "fiscal conservatives" who believe that social programs should be the church's responsibility and not the government. I agree with that...but where are they. Where are all the people who really believe that God calls us to care for the widow and the orphan. From my perspective, they are having the widow and the orphan kicked off the church property because we don't want "their kind" hanging around to damage our image of a "family church." Besides that, we have taken a biblical comment of "if a man doesn't work he doesn't eat" to such an extreme that we look down our cosmetically reconstructed noses at someone who is having a hard time financially.
By now, writing any more would just make me a cynic, so I will stop there.

My original point was actually to say that the article by Chuck Colson was right on. The re-election of George Bush, in my opinion, makes us safer, makes us stronger and will uphold a moral agenda that is consistent with our 200 years of history.

But where would we be if he didn't win and now that he did, why has the church settled back into complacency? If the people holding signs would enter a conversation with someone who doesn't know Jesus, would love win?

I think so.