Evangelical Leaders Lose Their Minds

If you remember, I did a piece a while back that expressed my support for James Dobson. Dobson has received bad press, both on the right and on the left, both for being too hard on McCain and being too hard on Obama. Dobson had enough guts to publicly scoff at the idea that Obama purports Christianity. He also had enough guts earlier in this election cycle to express his intentions to neither endorse or vote for John McCain because of his stance on embryonic stem cell research. I said at the time that I applauded Dobson, because even though I hadn't made my mind up on how to vote, at least it appeared that there was one Christian leader ready to draw their line in the sand. After all, when is enough, enough?

We've had a crew of so-called evangelical leaders flat lose their stinking mind lately. Pat Robertson endorsed pro-choice, pro-gay marriage, pro-gun control Rudy Giuliani early on - snubbing Evangelical and Baptist preacher (and former president of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention), Mike Huckabee. Now I see Robertson in an advertisement to help stop global warming, sitting on a park bench loving up on Rev. Al Sharpton. I think it's time to put Robertson back in his cage and promote his son (as seems to be the strange trend in the evangelical movement) to political sage of the nation.

John Hagee, who's fun to hear preach, endorsed John McCain - even in the heat of his primary battle with Mike Huckabee. Hey, I've got an idea. Let's endorse someone who has opposed, currently opposes, and will continue to oppose a federal ban on gay marriage! What the H-E-double hockey-sticks are we thinking?

Furthermore, self-proclaimed evangelical leader Rick Warren has invited both Obama and McCain to speak at his church for an "Evangelical Public Policy and Compassion Forum." Warren self-righteously refuses to take side on this issue, playing the favorite card of moderator. He says, “Since I’m their friend, I’m not going to give them any gotcha questions,” adding that a typical query would be, “What’s the most difficult decision you’ve had to make, and how did you make it?” How's this for compassion...don't promote women killing their unborn infants, you homicidal maniac.

"Since I'm their friend?" What the heck is that? How about this...How about Rick Warren say, "I have an opportunity to ask the leading presidential candidates what many Christians - if not the vast majority of Christians - want to know. Like, 'how is it that you support abortion, the purposeful and wilful destruction of a human being, and still claim to hold to the values and teachings of Christ?"

Warren also said, "I want to ask questions from a Christian perspective that they're not getting from anywhere else. Like what are their views on climate, poverty, and AIDS." I swear, if I hear one more so-called evangelical leader act like climate change is a Christian issue I'm going to register as a Mormon down at the LDS church. It makes me want to puke. Why can these total idiots not see the climate change "crisis" for what it is? Are they really that naive? And furthermore, is it not totally asinine to claim that Obama and McCain don't get questions about poverty and AIDS? That's all they get. Those are Katie Couric soft-ball type questions. "Duh...do you like AIDS? Duh...what do you think about starving children?" Good grief, I bet they're fans of reading and puppies, too. I want them both asked questions about how they scientifically define life. And then I want them asked why they support embryonic stem cell research. I want them asked how they view the Bible's stance on homosexuality, and then I want them to confirm or deny whether or not they are indeed followers of the Book.

Rick Warren, in spite of his great work in such books as The Purpose Driven Church has totally squandered his awesome position of power. Instead of making these two heathens realize that they've stepped into God's House, he's making them feel as comfortable as they feel in the carnal halls of the Senate. Shameful. Absolutely shameful. I was upset when he invited Hillary to come preach at his church - and yes, that is what she did. Now he's doing this in the name of fairness and not being one-sided. But at a certain point, do we really want to hear satan's opinion? There is no possible, I repeat - NO POSSIBLE - excuse for a Christian voting for Barrack Obama for president. Shame on Rick Warren for giving them the idea that things like saving the whales transcends the importance of ending genocide and infanticide.

And now my homeboy, James Dobson, is caving in to the insanity that is public discourse. True, at least he isn't selling out to public popularity like Warren. At least he's caving to the right instead of the left. He now says, “There’s nothing dishonorable in a person rethinking his or her positions, especially in a constantly changing political context. Barack Obama contradicts and threatens everything I believe about the institution of the family and what is best for the nation. His radical positions on life, marriage and national security force me to reevaluate the candidacy of our only other choice, John McCain.”

No, Mr. Dobson. You were right the first time, at least for you. I applauded you for at least knowing where your line was. You've made a liar out of me. If it was wrong to vote for a pro-choice candidate before, it is now. There are other choices. If you live in a state where there is little chance for an Obama victory, write in Mike Huckabee. Go write in Jesus. Go write in "I am a bloody conservative and am not voting for John McCain." Go write in "I miss Ronald Reagan." There's also a little known party known as the Constitutionalist Party. Vote for those guys. Don't vote Libertarian because even though they're pretty solid conservatives, they take no stance on abortion and don't support Israel. There's another reason to not vote McCain. If there is no chance of McCain winning in your thoroughly blue state, write in a candidate. For Pete's sake, at least send the message that we won't tolerate being neglected by our own party.

And furthermore, perhaps we need new evangelical leadership. Leadership that unashamedly says, "how the crap can a Christian vote Democrat?" We're out here. I'm one evangelical not afraid to say it. I'll say it and I'm not afraid to. But then again, I don't have 20 thousand regular attenders that may vote me out of the pulpit or not buy my next book. Let's choose our next leaders, not just because they're not afraid to encounter our culture (that's only 1/2 the battle), but because they're not afraid to encounter our culture and subsequently penetrate it - no, inject it - with the unashamed and uncompromising banner of Christ... not with some snively, wishy-washy, reed blowing in the wind, bleeding-heart pansy Christianity like Rick Warren's. We need to differentiate between our ministry targets that we shower with love, understanding, and sympathy - the ignorant masses of people that wander aimlessly through life with good intentions - and those blatant and well-informed but meniacal enemies of Christ that need to be taken down and mercilessly neutralized. And yes, I'm talking about Barrack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and the Democratic Party leadership in general.