A Pastor Sells His Soul to the Party of Obama

The Christian Diarist ^ | September 3, 2012 | JP

[CHRISTIAN DIARIST]

Rev. Derrick Harkins is a hypocrite.

He’s the pastor of Nineteenth Street Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., which the Washington Post describes as “theologically conservative.” And he serves on the board of the National Association of Evangelicals.

But the Baptist preacher also is the National Director of Faith Outreach for the Democratic National Committee, which supports public policies that are an affront to the Almighty.

Indeed, today Harkins presides over a meeting of the party’s so-called Faith Caucus at the Democratic convention in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Its task is to devise a strategy to somehow persuade Christian voters that the party’s platform is about “being our brother’s keeper” and “compassion.”

Pastor Harkins should be reminded of the Scripture which declares: “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other.”

Harkins obviously believes that Scripture does not apply to him. He thinks he can be, at once, a faithful Christ follower and loyal Democrat.

But the reality – which the pastor is too blind to see – is that his service to the party of Obama is a disservice to the Kingdom of God.

Indeed, there simply is no way that a man of God can support a president, support a political party, that defends the yearly slaughter of more than one million unborn children. And there’s no way that a pastor faithful to God’s Word could blithely associate himself with a president and a party that promote the abomination of same-sex marriage.

I imagine Harkins rationalizes his hypocrisy by invoking the words of Jesus: “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” And I imagine the pastor deludes himself that he is somehow following the Savior’s example.

But the Democrats in Charlotte are absolutely unrepentant of their advocacy of ungodly policies. And they are absolutely convinced that the wrongdoers are those of us who oppose abortion, who oppose homosexual nuptials.

Harkins knows this. Yet he continues to fellowship with those who shake their fists at God, who are gathered this week at the Democratic convention.

The Bible tells the stories of two men – Samson and Saul – who were once highly favored by God, but from whom God’s Spirit departed when they did their will, rather than His.

Those should be cautionary tales for Pastor Harkin. By casting his lot with unrepentant abortionists and sodomites – among other recalcitrant sinners partying in Charlotte – he risks the same spiritual ruin as Samson and Saul.

[CHRISTIAN DIARIST]

There are some issues on which Christ followers can reasonably disagree (the Apostle Paul referred to them as “disputable matters”). But not on such fundamental issues as abortion and homosexual marriage.

[vpintheak]

Murder of children, homosexual marriage, government as god. I could go on but why?

[ModelBreaker]

Thought this would be a Rick Warren article.

[CommerceComet]

But not on such fundamental issues as abortion and homosexual marriage.

Aren't those who are pushing an enthusiastic supporter of a false gospel just as guilty of selling their souls?

Because actions speak much louder than words, it is a hard sell to convince anyone that Romney is opposed to abortion or homosexual marriage. His actions in Massachusetts were clearly pro-choice and pro-homosexual marriage. With someone who has such a well-deserved reputation of flip-flopping, why believe him if he now claims a convenient conversion?

[kcvl]

“My record clearly shows that I am a strong defender of the rights of all people, including LGBT people,” Harkins told the Blade in an email exchange last week. “I consistently state, from the pulpit and elsewhere, that there is never a time when words or actions that dehumanize or marginalize any individual have a place in our life as a church and faith community.”

Observers in the religious press, including Christianity Today, have said Harkins is a generally progressive minister with strong ties to the Evangelical Christian community and black churches, attributes that could boost the Democratic Party’s standing with evangelical voters while shoring up support from black churches.

According to his church biography, he regularly advocates for comprehensive immigration reform and the global battle against HIV/AIDS. He is also part of the Circle of Protection, which has been endorsed by thousands of pastors in a stand against budget cuts that hurt the poor and vulnerable.

[loveliberty2]

"Being our brother's keeper" and "to whom much is given . . . " refer to personal charity and the need for personal responsibility. They are not delegations of authority to some elected or appointed imperfect individuals to impose, or coercively "take" from other likewise imperfect individuals the fruits of their labor and "redistribute" those hard-earned earnings to other individuals in the society, no matter how deserving the recipients are.

To try to justify coercive government power by such misuse of Biblical passages is just as dishonest as are the politicians who employ them to gain power and privilege.

This new line about the "free market" being a "license to steal" is just more semantic dishonesty used by Obama and the so-called "progressives" to obscure the Founders' admonition that their "People's" limited government would not be "licensed" to do that which, for individuals, is considered a crime. That is what "redistribution" is--theft made legal by man-made laws which are not in accord with the Ten Commandment's admonition against stealing.

From the RNC Convention remarks by elected leaders from various so-called "minority" groups, one can assume that their families' hopes and dreams rely on the same solid foundation as did those of every previous generation of immigrants to America--the Creator-endowed and unalienable right to be free, to work and earn, and the right to ownership of private property, not a false "common ownership" of the earnings of someone else.

Now, however, the Democrats' "media" strategy toward their targeted groups (Hispanic, African-American, women, elderly, etc.) turns such understanding upside-down. They present "regressive" ideas as "progressive," "backward" policies as "forward," and "down" as "up." On and on it goes.

It's a strategy which goes deep into the decades-long effort to "fundamentally change" America from its new and revolutionary foundations in Creator-endowed liberty backward into the Old World and later Marxian ideas of control by imaginary human grantors and protectors.

Perhaps an answer to the once-asked question here on FR: "Why does Christianity 'scare' . . . ?" may lie in the degree to which the foundation ideas upon which America's Declaration of Independence were laid and from which the concept of Creator-endowed individual liberty and the Source from which that liberty is derived have been removed from "the American mind" (Jefferson).

Perhaps the so-called "progressive" enemies of freedom understand better than those who fancy themselves as "conservatives" that in order to reverse the Founders' ideas of "People over government," and institute "government over People," they must first marginalize and destroy the ideas from which liberty is derived.

The writings of America's Founders are replete with references which rebuke would-be tyrants and cite a Higher Source for life, liberty and rights. Early histories confirm those facts.

As so-called "progressives" have led a movement in forsaking the Founders' "reliance on Divine Providence," and belief that individuals are "endowed by their Creator," they also have forsaken the principles underlying America's Constitution and Declaration of Independence, and are systematically dismantling the greatest protections for liberty ever established for a people.

"Ideas have consequences"(Weaver).

The ideas of 1776 came out of a set of ideas consistent with liberty.

We tend to forget, or have never considered, that other world views existed then, as now.

Unless today's citizens rediscover the ideas of liberty existing in what Jefferson called "the American mind" of 1776, we risk going back to the "Old World" ideas which preceded the "Miracle of America."

There are those who call themselves "progressives," when, in fact, their ideas are regressive and enslaving, and as old as the history of civilization.

Would suggest to any who wish an authentic history of the ideas underlying American's founding a visit to this web site, at which Richard Frothingham's outstanding 1872 "History of the Rise of the Republic of the United States" can be read on line.

This 600+-page history traces the ideas which gave birth to the American founding. Throughout, Richard Frothingham, the historian, develops the idea that it is "the Christian idea of man" which allowed the philosophy underlying the Declaration of Independence and Constitution to become a reality--an idea which recognizes the individual and the Source of his/her "Creator"-endowed life, liberty and law.

Is there any wonder that the enemies of freedom, the so-called "progressives," do not promote such authentic histories of America? Their philosophy puts something called "the state," or "global interests" as being superior to individuals and requires a political elitist group to decide what role individuals are to play.

In other words, they must turn the Founders' ideas upside-down in order to achieve a common mediocrity for individuals and power for themselves.

So, the still-revolutionary idea stated by both Ryan and Romney last week about the Source of our rights became fodder for the current President's disdain this weekend, when he declared that they were "reruns" from the 20th Century and better suited for "black and white" television. (Actually, Mr. President, they are from a time much earlier than that.)

As Jefferson wisely observed:

"History, by apprising the people of the past, will enable them to judge of the future; it will avail them of the experience of other times and other nations; it will qualify them as judges of the actions and designs of men; it will enable them to know ambition under every disguise it may assume; and knowing it, to defeat its views."

All of which reinforces our conviction that the ideas of our Declaration of Independence and Constitution are as revolutionary and objectionable to tyrants as they were in 1776 and 1787!

[bobo1]

Rev. Derrick Harkins is a hypocrite.

Yes he is.

Jesus did call sinners into repentance.

He didn’t indulge in the sin, nor did He excuse the Sin.

His job Was To Save Them From Their Sins.

I really don’t know how a Christian can support the DNC platform, or give excuses for this administration.

I know the Bible, and obama has not a clue. he is a baby-killer of horrendous proportions.

I would have ads showing how evil this man is.

Blessings, bobo

[Little Bill]

He is a Poof, Gaydar went off, the following is Crass and for adults.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9B1PrCckSk

[Alex Murphy]

Rev. Derrick Harkins is a hypocrite. He’s the pastor of Nineteenth Street Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., which the Washington Post describes as “theologically conservative.” And he serves on the board of the National Association of Evangelicals.

But the Baptist preacher also is the National Director of Faith Outreach for the Democratic National Committee, which supports public policies that are an affront to the Almighty. Indeed, today Harkins presides over a meeting of the party’s so-called Faith Caucus at the Democratic convention in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Theologically conservative? The NEA is a nest of liberals, from the top down, that still needs to be cleaned out.

Related threads:
Evangelical Leaders Swing Influence Behind Effort to Combat Global Warming
Religious Climate Change? (The Left thinks global warming is about to break-up the Religious Right)
Evangelicals, Ecumenicals Stand Against Torture
Ecclesiastical Follies
"Christian Leaders Need to Leave the GOP" (news brief)
Haggard says he's not gay [emerged from counseling, convinced he is "completely heterosexual"]
Dobson, Others Seek Ouster of NAE Vice President [over "global warming" views]
NAE's Anderson responds to pressure from conservatives on warming
NAE Formally Names Leith Anderson President
What does Evangelical Lobbyist [NAE Chief Spokesperson Richard Cizik] Really Believe?
Controversy over NPR comments forces NAE lobbyist Cizik out
Evangelicals make necessary change at the top
EVANGELICALS: Your Leaders Endorsed Mass Amnesty Today

[Neidermeyer]

With someone who has such a well-deserved reputation of flip-flopping, why believe him if he now claims a convenient conversion?
*********************************************
I don’t give a damn what Romney believes or what is in his heart , I pray that that flip flopper has seen the results of the 2010 elections and HAS decided to flip in our direction because he was ordained by the RNC-e’s as McLames successor to the gallows... so that they can assume their rightful #2 position behind the DNC-e’s and be satisfied with the crumbs of power they leave behind. I think he might just be smart enough to see where the real power and the electoral tsunami lies and shock the RNC-e’s...

[Campion]

Nowhere in Scripture are we told to be “our brother’s keeper”. The phrase comes from a sarcastic reply to God by Cain, the first person to commit murder.

[jacknhoo]

In a letter to Dr. Clarence Gamble, Margaret Sanger stated, “We should hire three or four colored ministers, preferably with social-service backgrounds, and with engaging personalities. The most successful educational approach to the Negro is through a religious appeal. We don’t want the word to go out that we want to exterminate the Negro population. And the minister is the man who can straighten out that idea if it ever occurs to any of their more rebellious members.”

[loveliberty2]

You are, of course, correct about the phrase’s context. The enemies of freedom, however, use such phrases to distort from the facts of their coercive power aspirations and aims.

[papertyger]

Nowhere in Scripture are we told to be “our brother’s keeper”. The phrase comes from a sarcastic reply to God by Cain, the first person to commit murder.

You Catholics...

Next you'll be claiming God DOESN'T help those who help themselves ;o)

[Albion Wilde]

Pardon my French, but he looks like he's grunting one out in that picture.

And the girl in the back is having to listen.

[dfwgator]

Maybe they can do a video of him, like the ones they did for Robert Tilton.

[RetiredArmy]

Sadly, this guy is going regret this when he faces his Creator God.

[Salvation]

Baptist?

[sport]

Long, long,long before he was hust a far away gleam inhis old man’s eye, Jesus had the answer for him and his ilk. It begins with”Depart from Me,......” and endes with “ I never knew you”.

[boatbums]

Well said! Thank you.