I Am A Conservative Christian, And The Religious Right Scares Me, Too

Chuck Baldwin ^ | 12/15

[ambrose]

I Am A Conservative Christian, And The Religious Right Scares Me, Too

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By Chuck Baldwin

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The Covenant News ~ December 15, 2004 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For those readers who are unfamiliar with my biography, let me here provide a thumbnail sketch of my conservative bona fides:

I attended, graduated, or received degrees from fundamentalist Christian schools such as Midwestern Baptist College in Pontiac, Michigan, Thomas Road Bible Institute (now known as Liberty Bible Institute at Liberty University) in Lynchburg, Virginia, Christian Bible College in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, and Trinity Baptist College in Jacksonville, Florida.

I am currently in my thirtieth year as the Senior Pastor of the Crossroad Baptist Church (Independent) in Pensacola, Florida. I was the Executive Director of the Florida Moral Majority in the early 1980's. I was an active member of the local Christian Coalition.

I have marched and protested against abortion clinics. I have led several pro-life rallies and even led our church to construct A Memorial To Aborted Babies. I have conducted small and large (some drawing crowds numbering in the thousands) pro-life, pro-family rallies and meetings in the Pensacola area and in many towns and cities across the state of Florida.

When Ronald Reagan was running for President, I helped Dr. Jerry Falwell register more than fifty thousand new conservative voters in my state. I have attended White House functions with former President Reagan and former Vice President George H.W. Bush.

I supported and defended Chief Justice Roy Moore and his fight to display a Ten Commandments monument at a pro-Ten Commandments rally in Montgomery, Alabama and even on national television.

I am an annual member of the National Rifle Association and a life member of Gun Owners of America. I have been the featured speaker at several pro-Second Amendment rallies.

No one can honestly question my commitment to pro-life, pro-family, conservative causes. That being said, the Religious Right, as it now exists, scares me.

For one reason, on the whole, the Religious Right has obviously and patently become little more than a propaganda machine for the Republican Party in general and for President G.W. Bush in particular. This is in spite of the fact that both Bush and the Republican Party in Washington, D.C., have routinely ignored and even trampled the very principles which the Religious Right claims to represent.

Therefore, no longer does the Religious Right represent conservative, Christian values. Instead, they represent their own self-serving interests at the expense of those values.

It also appears painfully obvious to me that in order to sit at the king's table, the Religious Right is willing to compromise any principle, no matter how sacred. As such, it has become a hollow movement. Sadly, the Religious Right is now a movement without a cause, except the cause of advancing the Republican Party.

Beyond that, the Religious Right is actively assisting those who would destroy our freedoms. On the whole, the Religious Right comports with those within the Bush administration and within the Republican Party who, in the name of "fighting terrorism," are actually terrorizing constitutional protections of our liberties.

The Religious Right offered virtually no resistance to the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, the passage of the Patriot Act, or the recently created position of National Intelligence Director. Neither did the Religious Right offer even a whimper of protest as President Bush and Republicans in Congress created a first-ever national ID card in the new intelligence bill, which eerily has more in common with early Twentieth Century German and Russian intelligence institutions than anything envisioned by America's Founding Fathers.

Another disconcerting feature of today's Religious Right is its attempt to Christianize political entities which it supports and to demonize political entities which it opposes. This trend is especially scary.

When people are told that they are voting "Christian" by voting for Republican Party candidates, it is being intimated that they are voting non-Christian by voting for any other candidate. This is not only silly on its face, it is downright dangerous!

I don't remember anyone saying people voted "Christian" when they elected the outspoken Christian candidate, Jimmy Carter, President. Yet, Carter, in his personal life, demonstrated as much, if not more, Christianity than does George W. Bush. If you recall, Carter even taught Sunday School in a Southern Baptist Church while President.

However, in spite of the fact that President Bush and the Republican Party in Washington, D.C., have repeatedly supported copious unchristian (not to mention unconstitutional) programs and policies, Christians act as if Bush and his fellow Republicans have ushered in the Millennial Kingdom.

More than that, the Religious Right appears to believe that G.W. Bush is the anointed vicar of Christ. But instead of wearing the garb of a religious leader, he wears the shroud of a politico and a military commander-in-chief.

As such, in the minds of the Religious Right, Bush's war in Iraq is a holy crusade. America is fast taking on the shape of the old Holy Roman Empire and President Bush is quickly morphing into a modern day Caesar.

The willingness of the Religious Right to give President Bush king-like subservience is easily seen in the way they demonize anyone who dares to oppose him. This is very unnerving.

Are we heading for a modern day religious inquisition, this one led not by the Catholic Church but by the Religious Right? Are we witnessing the type of marriage between Church and State that America's founders originally feared?

I used to believe that liberals were paranoid for being fearful of conservative Christians gaining political power. Now, I share their trepidation.

Of course, the sad truth is, neither George W. Bush nor the Republican Party in Washington, D.C. represents genuine Christian or even conservative principles. If they did, they would take their oaths to the Constitution seriously and then neither liberals nor conservatives would have anything to fear, for the U.S. Constitution protects the rights and freedoms of all men.

Unfortunately, when the seed of Bush's unconstitutional policies come to fruition, it will produce large scale fallout economically, socially, and politically. And sadder still will be that, instead of blaming Bush's infidelity to constitutional government and conservative principles, people will blame Christianity and conservatism itself. The result of this miscalculation will doubtless be a massive tide of support for more and greater unconstitutional government, but only under a different name.

Chuck Baldwin chuck@chuckbaldwinlive.com Chuck Baldwin Live http://www.chuckbaldwinlive.com

[TOUGH STOUGH]

I disagree with many points in the above article and will comment whne I have more time.

[swilhelm73]

There are some idiots who would rather have Dubya the conservative movement pound his its chest and lose than have him us keep his our mouth shut and win.

The CP, like the LP, is a failure, and one that anyone who cares about advancing conservativism should recognize by now.

If the RP isn't conservative enough for you, get off your lazy butt and change the party. Trying to help the hard Left reachieve power, a la both the CP and LP, isn't the answer.

[papertyger]

He walks the walk and that makes a lot of freepers nervous.

Not to put too fine a point on it FRiend, but I don't think that's what makes freepers nervous. I work in a town chock full of Mormons who "walk the walk," but that doesn't make them any less wrong. No, I think Mr. Baldwin's critics (myself included) would place him more in line with the backward preacher that takes up pulpit bandwidth condemning women who wear pants, than Jeremiah.

The servant that buries his talent rather than actually putting it to use is always going to have an armload of reasons why he didn't accomplish anything, and no doubt he'll delude himself to the point of taking pride in the fact that he didn't "lose" anything entrusted to him.

In this present case, I think what you are seeing is the contempt of the fellow servants who are using their ten, and five, talents instead of worrying so much about the sayings of a critic whose only goal is to justify his own actions.

[CyberAnt]

You have missed the whole point of Chuck's article. He's besmirching the President of the United States and accusing him of using the Religious Right for his own political purposes. You don't get that ..??

But for Chuck (who claims to be a Christian), to besmirch another Christian (President Bush) - the text in Psalms says - KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT ABOUT OTHER CHRISTIANS - GOD IS ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF HIS OWN. If President Bush is off kilter - GOD IS MORE THAN CAPABLE OF TAKING CARE OF THE ISSUE - without Chuck's help.

That is and was and will continue to be my point. YOU DON'T AGREE!! Bully!!

Secondly, "this Nation" - GOD gave power over the EARTH to man - through Adam and Eve. They sold it to satan. What on earth does that have to do with the fact that America has a President and not a King ..?? You lost me there.

In the Epistles (Timothy I believe), Paul explains to Pastors and aspiring Pastors on how to deal with problems within their churches. Paul gives specific instructions on how those things are to be handled - THE PASTOR OF THE PERSON DOING THE TRANSGRESSION IS THE PERSON GOD HAS APPOINTED TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUE. Since Chuck is NOT THE PRESIDENT'S PASTOR - I would say Chuck should follow GOD's advice and "touch not God's anointed". [touching can be done with WORDS]

David wasn't just "commenting" - he was warning people not to mess with GOD's anointed. GOD's anointed are actually the people who have accepted Jesus as their savior. Bush has an additional anointing - because of the public office he holds.

It tickles me that unsaved people believe it is somehow their duty to push around and besmirch Christians - like GOD is not capable.

[CyberAnt]

Yeah - I realized that when I looked it up.

Thanks for the encouragement.

[lucysmom]

This is why, between 1977 and 1981, the full force of the Executive Branch of the United States Government was brought to bear in an effort to overturn Roe V Wade and place abortion in the category of Capital Murder...

Carter on abortion

This was an issue that I had to face when I was campaigning 25 years ago. I have always been against abortion; it’s not possible for me in my own concept of Christ to believe that Jesus would favor abortion. But at the same time, I have supported the Supreme Court ruling of our country as the law of the land. And the present arrangement, whereby a woman is authorized to have an abortion in the first trimester of the pregnancy, or when the pregnancy is caused by rape or incest -- these are the things that moderates who have beliefs like mine can accept as the present circumstances in our country. The liberality of abortion is anointed by the laws of our country, including the ultimate ruling of the Supreme Court.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Ah, yes, the old "it's okay to lie as long as it serves a good cause" reasoning. How low this forum has sunk.

If you want to get technical, Bush never lied about the AWB renewal. Ari Fleischer said Bush would sign it if it hit his desk, but Bush himself was silent on the matter.

Bush didn't lie. He merely refrained from addressing the issue.

As far as Kofi Annan remaining as Secretary General of the United Nations, by tepidly supporting him Bush has left Kofi slowly twisting in the wind. The longer Kofi remains, the more damage is done to the credibility of the United Nations.

That's a good thing.

Bush does not need to expend any political capital going after Kofi. The member nations are going to do it on their own because Coffee has become a tremendous liability and a threat to the continued existince of the UN.

Those guys don't want to lose their gravy train. They will take care of Coffee.

[delacoert]

FILTHadelphia FILTHNSMELLFORYA

[rdb3]

The servant that buries his talent rather than actually putting it to use is always going to have an armload of reasons why he didn't accomplish anything, and no doubt he'll delude himself to the point of taking pride in the fact that he didn't "lose" anything entrusted to him.

In this present case, I think what you are seeing is the contempt of the fellow servants who are using their ten, and five, talents instead of worrying so much about the sayings of a critic whose only goal is to justify his own actions.

AMEN!

Very well put!

[NMC EXP]

NSL's have been used for years. FISA has been overseeing NSL's for years

NSL's were not issued by FBI agents against US citizens and the "Foreign" is FISA was the operative word.

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Chuckie sounds like a sore loser. As far as I'm concerned, he has no business questioning Bush's committment to Christ. Bush has said that he has accepted Christ as his personal savior and that it was his belief in Christ which helped him to quit drinking. The Patriot Act is NOT unconstitutional; it's simply a way for agencies to be able to share information with each other, and they still need search warrants to use its provisions. If chuckie wants to hang out with a bunch of third party losers in the name of principal that's his choice, but he shouldn't have to expect the rest of us to go down the same path. I like Bush and think he will be ranked as one of our great Presidents. Tell Chuckie to take his rant down the road.

[rdb3]

You'll get no argument from me. I agree.

[Lester Moore]

WHAT ..?? Not applicable ..?? So .. if you don't agree with it then it doesn't apply ..?? Good grief!

Good luck .. you'll need it!!

Here's how it applies: I am annointed and appointed by Almighty God over you and I'll have you know you are on the list!!! How dare you oppose me! I am God's man!!

[Eagle Eye]

Wow...."neither...represent genuine Christian principles..." those are terribly harsh words! Oh my God. How could he kiss his wife with the same mouth!!

It seems that you equate him pointing out their shortcomings with demonizing.

See what I mean about you being a master of distortion?

You ol' idealogue, you!

[Eagle Eye]

Lied? Lied?

Don't tell me you don't know the difference between making a prediction that doesn't come to pass and lying?

Do you call the weatherman a liar when he's wrong?

Hmmmm.....(re reading yours...) no, I guess you don't.

[Eagle Eye]

The servant that buries his talent rather than actually putting it to use is always going to have an armload of reasons why he didn't accomplish anything,

I dare say his resume stacks up very favorably against 99% of 'C/conservatives' out there.

His annual God and Country Days are special events. He attracts people like Jesse Lee Patteson as guest speakers. There is no more vocal and visible abortion opponent in the area than he.

Sure he ran for VP and lost. Look how many Freepers didn't run for anything. No shame is attempting something big...but there are plenty of small freepers who mock those who actually do something in accordance with their beliefs.

No sir, Chuck isn't NATO (No Action Talk Only). For example, Freepers aren't discussing your essay or mine, but they are discussing his. It seems that he struck some nerves.

Face it. There's a lot of bandwagon freepers who would rather have the power of office and misuse it than keep to their principles.

Sadly there's not much room left on this forum for those who don't drink from the Republican cup. Now we're on the verge of labling anyone who dissents as traitors. Look at this thread and others. That gets scary.

We have people claiming that since Bush won the election, he is God's annointed and beyond our reproach. But wouldn't the same logic apply to clinton? Now that gets really scary!

[hellinahandcart]

-- Peroutka’s running mate, Chuck “Is Bush the Antichrist?” Baldwin.

LOL!

Scanning...scanning.... Senior Pastor Crossroad Baptist Church (Independent), Executive Director Florida Moral Majority, Christian Coalition, pro-life rallies, Memorial To Aborted Babies...Ronald Reagan, Dr. Jerry Falwell, George H.W. Bush. Roy Moore, Ten Commandments. National Rifle Association and Gun Owners of America. Hmm...

dighton, help me out here. Why, on this long recitation of his conservative bona fides, is there no mention of his being the Constitution Party's 2004 VP candidate/ Is he not proud of that, or something?

[risk]

We have a dual threat to our freedom. The foremost threat is from the secular humanist left. The secondary threat is from demagogues (they always exist) who claim to be on the Christian right while simply taking advantage of the backlash to secure power. The constitution opens us up to secular humanist attack. In defending ourselves against it, we must not open ourselves up to a different sort of vulnerability: the abolishment of government's foundation in reason and persuasion. Yes, Roy Moore is one of those demagogues, and he proves it every time he unqualifyingly says that our constitution is founded on the 10 commandments.

[hellinahandcart]

He walks the Conservative walk. That is what bothers conservatives about him.

Um, no. That isn't what bothers me about him.

What bothers me about Chuck Baldwin is that he is too ignorant to know the difference between the White House and the White House Correspondents Dinner, and too much in love with his own writing to change a word of it even when it's wrong, or issue a correction, after people wrote to inform him of the mistake he had made while writing an abysmal, embarassing, cringeworthy editorial called "Is Bush the AntiChrist?"

That's what bothers me about him. The minute he corrects that mistake is the minute he gets one shred of credibility back, as a politician and particularly as a pastor.

[CyberAnt]

"Here's how it applies: I am annointed and appointed by Almighty God over you and I'll have you know you are on the list!!! How dare you oppose me! I am God's man!!"

If you'll tell me who's speaking and and who they're speaking to .. I might be able to decide of I'm supposed to be upset by what you said.