Politics need [sic] to stay out of the pulpit

Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^ | 10/5/08 | C. Joshua Villines

[madprof98]

Last weekend, a few pastors of large, evangelical congregations chose to convert their pulpits into planks for the Republican Party platform. These participants in “Pulpit Freedom Sunday” sought to challenge IRS regulations that maintain a wall between tax-exempt religious activities and taxable political ones. Citing controversial issues like reproductive freedom and same-sex marriage, they claimed that a biblical mandate required them to take a more activist role in instructing their congregants to choose the candidate who matched their political beliefs.

Their actions are yet one more indicator of the degree to which purveyors of a reactionary political agenda have continued to shield their propaganda behind the presumably sacrosanct rhetoric of the church. The decision by these pastors to endorse a particular presidential candidate also demonstrates that the IRS’ distinction, which affirms the right of faith communities to discuss current events in the light of their traditions while denying them tax-exempt status when they move beyond that realm into partisanship, is a wise one. Simply put, stumping for a political candidate is not a religious activity.

This becomes obvious when the particular agenda items cited by these pastors and the lobbyists who guide them are held up against the Scriptures and traditions of the Christian faith that they claim to be preserving. In this election cycle, three of the largest issues among socially conservative evangelicals are elimination of access to abortion, prevention of equal rights for gay and lesbian couples, and the teaching of intelligent design in schools.

None of these issues holds up to even a cursory attempt to identify it with a consensus understanding of Christianity. Abortion is not addressed in the Bible, and Christian denominations in the United States hold a variety of positions on the ethics around reproductive freedom. Likewise, biblical arguments for and against same-sex marriage are sufficiently ambiguous that Christians and the denominations that represent them are divided on the issue, with the trend being toward more inclusion of clergy in same-sex relationships and blessings of same-sex marriages. As for a “biblical” understanding of how the universe was made, Christians who wish to hold with their tradition and a literal reading of the Bible must accept the biblical writers’ assumption of a flat Earth, and they must also agree with both Martin Luther and Pope Urban the VIII that, despite the data, the sun goes around the Earth.

In other words, the socially and scientifically regressive arguments trumpeted by these pastors are not specifically or essentially “Christian” views. They are a last stand by social conservatives who, having lost ground in every other arena, attempt to hide their worldview behind the language of belief. In so doing, they are trying to safeguard their agenda from the scrutiny of logic and ethics on the assumption that faith claims are beyond those critiques.

They are not. But most of us are content to recognize that it is not the government’s role to evaluate the degree to which faith communities are honest about their own tradition. Consequently, churches are free to make remarkably bigoted and intransigent statements without challenge. For years, political activists have abused this freedom to produce single-issue voters whose decisions are forged, not in the thoughtful debate of the public arena, but behind the closed doors of sanctuaries and chapels.

This process has remained unchecked for so long that some pastors are now crossing the only remaining, clearly delineated line between their churches and the state. They have reneged on their obligation to nurture houses of worship where Christians of all political persuasions can find a home. Instead, they are selling out the entire depth and breadth of the Christian tradition to the Machiavellian desires of a narrow political faction, one that will go back to ignoring those pastors and their churches as soon as the election is over.

The only remaining question will be what those churches will do after they pay the taxes on their 30 pieces of silver.

> The Rev. C. Joshua Villines is a Decatur resident and a Ph.D. candidate at Vanderbilt University.

[madprof98]

This guy is the pastor of a small church in one of Atlanta's gay areas. It is affiliated with the same denomination as Rev. Wright's church.

[Unam Sanctam]

So I guess Rev. Wright, Father Pfleger, Louis Farrakhan, Rev. Jackson and Rev. Sharpton should shut up then.

[chippewaman]

It’s funny to read this headline ... hey, didn’t John Kerry hold 3 or 4 DEMOCRAT POLITICAL RALLIES at predominately black churches in the Sundays leading up to the 2004 Election? Please correct me, someone, if my memory escapes me. Just an observation there.

[VR-21]

IIRC there were a lot of people saying that Jesus would have been a leftist very recently.

[Natural Law]

The constitution does not require churches and clerics to remain silent on political issues. The constitution only requires that the government stay out of religion.

This is a perfect example, though, of how the tax code is more about rewarding and punishing behavior than it is about revenue and financing the government.

[Jeff Head]

Stay out of everyone's pulpit but you're own?

Apparently the Black Lib Theologists, like all true Marxists want to make rules for everyone but themselves.

Luckily, it looks like McCain is not going to play their game anymore.

Sen McCain's statement they just released from his campaign defending Sarah’s comments on Ayers:

“The last four weeks of this election will be about whether the American people are willing to turn our economy and national security over to Barack Obama, a man with little record, questionable judgment, and ties to radical figures like unrepentant domestic terrorist William Ayers. Americans need to ask themselves if they’ve ever befriended an unrepentant terrorist, or had a convicted felon help them buy their house — because those aren’t smears, those are true facts about Barack Obama.” —Tucker Bounds, spokesman McCain-Palin 2008

http://hotair.com/archives/2008/10/05/ap-palins-a-racist-for-bringing-up-ayers-or-something/

SARAH PALIN SPOTTED "HIDING" FROM THE PRESS IN VA, CA, & NV


I'M VOTING FOR SARAH...AND SO ARE A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER EPOPLE

[FES0844]

AND WHAT ABOUT HILLARY??

[narses]

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Please ping me to note-worthy Pro-Life or Catholic threads, or other threads of interest.

Obama Says A Baby Is A Punishment

Obama: “If they make a mistake, I don’t want them punished with a baby.”

Obama Says A Baby Is A Punishment

Obama: “If they make a mistake, I don’t want them punished with a baby.”

[Need4Truth]

So how did Rev. Wright’s church get grant money from the Federal government?

[chippewaman]

Oh yeah. Forgot about Hillary.

[OKIEDOC]

Want to make a bet this guy is...err..black..and in the tank for Obama.

This guy speaks of an agenda, yet 100’s of black churches preach hatred for whitey and God forbid Socialist Democrat Black Liberation Theology, yet see no harm.

It's time to shutter all those churches that are in the tank for Obama.

BTW: if this guy believes in abortion he is no Christian, in my opinion.

[onevoter]

Dem creed - “Do as I say, not as I do.” The irony of Dems wanting to keep politics out of the pulpit is laughable when you consider the way the boast about taking busloads of voters from the church to the voting booth. The next thing they’ll be insisting on will be showing some form of ID before voting - not!

[narses]

[brytlea]

Amen, preach it brother!

[TXBlair]

Correct! And not just Kerry. I certainly remember Gore’s face showing up behind the pulpits of black churches any number of Sundays before the 2000 election. Just another campaign rally, I guess. Gotta love the hypocrisy.

[RedRedRose]

They said that same thing back in the sixties. There was a “Wanted” poster with Jesus on it describing him as an anti-government, anti-establishment radical. In their wildest fantasies! SOS. Different decade.

[Twinkie]

“Black”, like the word, “Democrat” speaks to a different standard. Black churches do as they please, Democrats do as they please, with no consequences. - “Right wingers”, “White”, “Conservative Christians” are coming under repression the likes of which we have never before seen.. and all legal like, don’t ya know?

[bitterdfwrepub]

But the pulpit does not need to stay out of politics.

[OKIEDOC]

OK I apologize, the perp is not black.

However, he looks like he writes and I make no apology for calling him out on not being a Christian.

Actually he looks like the child molester the police caught over by the grade school offering candy to kindergartners.

[narses]

He does have that, well, ‘special’ look about him, doesn’t he?

[TXBlair]

Super. A face to go with my rising bile.

[skeeter]

Good idea. And all those inner city churches who bus their flock from one poll to the next & pass out cigarettes to winos in exchange for their votes will have to refrain from participating in the process as well.

[narses]

A very happy face at least.

[Political Junkie Too]

An oldie, but goodie, from November 7, 2000.

Jesse Jackson Jr. Says Church Politicking 'Supersedes the Law'

Tuesday November 7, 2000; 9:37 AM ET

Jesse Jackson Jr. Says Church Politicking 'Supersedes the Law'

It may be against federal election law to campaign in church. But for Democrats seeking to get out the vote in minority districts, politicking from the pulpit has become indispensable.

In the last days of this year's campaign, Vice President Al Gore, Senate candidate Hillary Clinton and her husband have all made regular appearances at African-American and Hispanic churches.

Even when parishioners objected to Mrs. Clinton campaigning from the altar at a Rochester, N.Y., Catholic church last week, the rules were not enforced. Those who didn't like it were simply ejected by police while the first lady continued her campaign speech.

Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr., whose namesake is both a reverend and one of the Democratic Party's most vocal boosters, was challenged on the issue Monday during a Tennessee radio interview on WLAC-AM by "Nashville This Morning" hosts Steve Gill and Terry Hopkins.

GILL: Let me ask you about this. It's against IRS regulations for politicians to campaign from the pulpit. Why are these politicians campaigning in black churches?

JACKSON: I'm not totally convinced that's true in the African-American community. Certainly there's a separation of church and state. But in our community there's little distinction between our religion and our politics. ... And so in many African-American churches born out of experience in this country, the role of the churches has evolved into a very, very active political institution which has been very effective for a number of causes in the black community.

HOPKINS: And that supersedes the law?

JACKSON: Absolutely. Oh, absolutely.

-PJ

[gunnedah]

Every tax exempt organization should lose it’s status if churches do because they all politic.The Conservative Church has been too quite for too long.

[VR-21]

Good Point. I remember those posters...and a “rock opera” come to think of it.

[kcvl]

So when are the African American churches going to STOP using them?!!!

[TXBlair]

“A very happy face at least.”

Yeah, the bliss of ignorance, I guess!

[ArchAngel1983]

”This process has remained unchecked for so long that some pastors are now crossing the only remaining, clearly delineated line between their churches and the state."

And just how does a conservative or liberal church voicing its beliefs and opinions in a political context “establish” a national religion?

As far as withdrawing tax-exempt status from conservative churches for practicing politics, is the Rev implying that the same punishment should be employed against liberal churches engaged in political activities? I doubt it! Libs are interested in maintaining only one standard; the good old double-standard.

[WVNan]

Another ignorant wantabe telling us what the Bible does not say. As I recall, God had several unpleasant things to say about child sacrifice. And, what is abortion but child sacrifice? Lev. cps 18 & 20 deal with children sacrificed to Molech. Then there is the example of prophets whom God had plans for before they were born. He said so. Jeremiah is one good example that comes to mind. God is life. He says so. So killing a person who is living, even in the womb, is murder.

[kcvl]

C. Joshua Villines

Contact Joshua

web@villines.com

Rev. Villines is listed in his capacity as Coordinator of Progressive Clergy of Georgia, an explicitly pro-gay, pro-choice organization. Rev. Villines attended the 2001 CBF General Assembly as a representative of Virginia-Highland Baptist Church, a CBF church in Atlanta that openly affirms homosexuality. While there, he was one of the most outspoken supporters of the narrowly defeated motion to suspend CBF's new policy of not hiring open homosexuals.

******

Lacking basis, Christians fight abortion

Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^
| 3/20/06 |
C. Joshua Villines

How else could we spend millions of dollars to oppose abortion --- despite no clear biblical argument for or against it --- and ignore the overwhelming number of biblical texts that explicitly command us to care for the poor?

The issue of abortion is not about whether life starts at conception. There are convincing arguments either way. The issue is which carries more weight: the life that may be in the embryo, or the life and needs of the woman in whose body that embryo was conceived?

The far right, however, has been able to set the issue of abortion apart from all of the other controversial, life-or-death decisions we make every day. Abortion is not a special case; and I pray that the guardians of our Constitution will continue to protect our freedom to choose our own priorities in all of these weighty matters.

HE IS A PROTESTOR AGAINST the protesters at abortion clinics! In other words he is FOR ABORTION (everyone else is just a 'far-right' overzealous religious freak)

[narses]

Obama Says A Baby Is A Punishment

Obama: “If they make a mistake, I don’t want them punished with a baby.”

[kcvl]

Gay Marriage: Constitution protects this right

A guest column in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution by The Rev. C. Joshua Villines (GAY ACTIVIST)- an associate pastor of Virginia Highland Church, a Baptist and United Church of Christ congregation.

Pastors for Sexcual Health, Prophets for Sexual Justice

Religious Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing

http://www.religiousinstitute.org/index.html

[kcvl]

In partnership with the Unitarian Universalist Association

http://www.religiousinstitute.org/documents/AnnualReportforwebsite.pdf

[kcvl]

He is also a supporter of and co-founder with:

The Reverend Debra W. Haffner is the director of the Religious Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing. She is an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister. She is the endorsed community minister with the Unitarian Church in Westport, CT.

In 2001 Rev. Haffner co-founded the Religious Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing with Rev. Dr. Larry Greenfield.

Recently Rev. Haffner appeared on the O’Reilly Factor to discuss the importance of introducing elementary school children to sexuality education. O’Reilly criticized Haffner’s use of the word “uterus” in explaining pregnancy and birth to kindergarteners, claiming that it was too explicit for children that age. Haffner responded that using correct terminology and providing accurate information are vital in establishing open communication with children.

Rev. Haffner was quoted recently by The New York Times regarding the decision Maryland schools made to offer lessons on homosexuality as part of its sexuality education program. Offering her support of this decision, Haffner refuted the argument that offering these lessons might influence students’ behavior rather than simply offer neutral information. She stated, “It’s a myth that our schools don’t teach values about lots of things. We don’t put communism, socialism and capitalism on an equal footing in our classes on government.”

In collaboration with the New England Adolescent Research Institute (NEARI), Haffner developed a course entitled Balancing Acts that is designed to train ministers and other religious professionals in how to keep children and youth safe from sexual abuse. Rev. Haffner works frequently with congregations who are struggling with including sex offenders in their congregations, and in this program, she addresses the concerns these faith communities face when discerning how to discern appropriate involvement for these individuals. It suggests the formation of a “limited access agreement” to determine what activities the individual may participate in and suggests rules and guidelines to prevent the occurrence of future abuse. “Every place of worship needs a safe-congregation policy,” Haffner said.

[kcvl]

Maybe he should practice what he preaches!

“I’m a liberal Democrat willing to endorse Phil Gingrey now to keep anyone with that profound lack of integrity out of office,” said Joshua Villines, associate pastor of Virginia Highland Baptist.

[kittymyrib]

Sounds as though this is written by a homosexual who doesn’t want to believe that his perversion is “an abomination” to God as plainly taught in the Bible.
The IRS will not take these pastors to court until Obama can put two or three Leftist justices on the Supreme Court. Then your church’s minister will be given his sermons by the government so that nothing that is unapproved will be preached. It happens in all totalitarian societies where government wants to be the only authority that people obey.

[TexasGreg]

As for a “biblical” understanding of how the universe was made, Christians who wish to hold with their tradition and a literal reading of the Bible must accept the biblical writers’ assumption of a flat Earth, and they must also agree with both Martin Luther and Pope Urban the VIII that, despite the data, the sun goes around the Earth.

There is a rather significant difference between the theory of Intelligent Design and Biblical Literalism. This is the nominal red-herring of the Liberal Establishment which desires to maintain Evolutionary Theory and so much ridicule and mischaracterize Intelligent Design as ignorance and anachronism.

[TexasGreg]

For years, political activists have abused this freedom to produce single-issue voters whose decisions are forged, not in the thoughtful debate of the public arena, but behind the closed doors of sanctuaries and chapels.

This could be said of Pro-Abortionists, who are one-issue voters inasmuch as they use the issue of Abortion as the ultimate litmis test on issues such as Supreme Court Nominations and whom to vote for for Vice President of the USA. In this case, Sarah Palin is disqualified because she is not in favor of killing pre-born babies.

This process has remained unchecked for so long that some pastors are now crossing the only remaining, clearly delineated line between their churches and the state. They have reneged on their obligation to nurture houses of worship where Christians of all political persuasions can find a home.

Something tells me that the author's church would not be a welcoming place to political conservatives. The kinds of social-gospel kick-ass sermons you preach ... sermons which berate conservatives and name-call them as luddites and ignorant boobs and other similar pejorative terms would not be at all welcoming to a conservative. Rather than preach about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and seeking to make Disciples of Jesus Christ, your messages probably trend more toward helping the poor, feeding the hungry, and promoting the right to abort an unwanted tissue mass.

Instead, they are selling out the entire depth and breadth of the Christian tradition to the Machiavellian desires of a narrow political faction, one that will go back to ignoring those pastors and their churches as soon as the election is over.

Wow ... this sounds just like what Liberal Churches have been doing for decades. I'm a United Methodist pastor ... and, yet, it pains me every time I attend General Conference and feel as though I'm at the DNC.

[madprof98]

Rather than preach about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and seeking to make Disciples of Jesus Christ, your messages probably trend more toward helping the poor, feeding the hungry, and promoting the right to abort an unwanted tissue mass.

You may be sure that only the last of the above is one that would involve any individual effort at all. The other two would be the sole responsibility of the federal government.