God and Al Gore (Taking God back...)
© 1999 WorldNetDaily.com
They say none of us can really judge what's in another man's heart -- or know who has attained salvation through a relationship with God and who hasn't.
Having said that, let me add emphatically and swiftly that Vice President Al Gore's celebrated new emphasis on "religious values" is as phony as a three-dollar bill.
It's probably just a very good bit of Internet folklore -- at least I haven't been able to verify the validity of this story. Nevertheless, the fact that it is so totally believable in the context of what we know about Al Gore makes it worth repeating -- even if it turns out to be nothing more than a good joke.
It seems Gore was giving a speech somewhere and referred to his favorite Bible passage as John 16:3. There were a few snickers and sideways glances in the audience among those who assumed the vice president had made a slight gaffe in confusing one of the most famous scripture references for Christians -- John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
As for John 16:3? "And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me."
It just could have happened. I'll wait to hear the denials from the Gore campaign and stand ready to publish them if they care to set the record straight.
But that's not my beef with Gore's religion-mongering. My problem is not even that it is transparent politics from a man who has in many ways betrayed the principal tenets of the Christianity he pretends to observe. It's worse than that.
I truly believe Al Gore is the point man in a campaign to set a fatal trap for America's churches and Christian charities.
What Gore is saying is that he plans to run a "faith-friendly" campaign. One of his advisers, Elaine Kamarck, explains that the GOP "should not have a lock on religious issues ... the Democratic Party is going to take back God this time."
Well, Ms. Kamarck, I've got news for you. Nobody on this mortal plane -- least of all Al Gore and the Democratic Party -- is much equipped to "take back God." The God I know and serve doesn't do the bidding of petty politicians -- Republican or Democrat. He may or may not "take back" some of them. If He does, I can assure you it will be on His terms, not part of some pathetic humanistic political agenda.
But again, that's just simple arrogance, the kind we have come to expect from modern politicians. Where Gore gets dangerous is when he talks about the role of "faith-based organizations" or, in his bureaucratic jargon, FBOs. He is talking at campaign stop after campaign stop about how FBOs could help solve problems in a way that secular government approaches could not. Of course, he's right about that. Marvin Olasky pointed out in "The Tragedy of American Compassion" how the churches more than adequately addressed the needs of the orphans and widows prior to the advent of the welfare state.
Yet, trust me, Gore has something else in mind. He's talking about building partnerships between the church and the state -- using the churches and the FOBs to help the state redistribute the goodies. More efficient socialism? Of course. If that's what you're looking for, Gore's probably your man.
However, if you believe in the Constitution, freedom, individual rights, personal responsibility and self-government, this is a dangerous prescription. Why is it dangerous? It's another step toward an official church -- not unlike those you see in China and Cuba and other totalitarian nations. It's also a way to co-opt the church, to lure it into acceptance of the state's politically correct rules and regulations.
For instance, Gore says he would like to extend public funds to FBOs as long as they don't "proselytize." Do you see why it could be a little dangerous for the state to impose such restrictions on churches? "Yeah, you can help us with our important work," says the state, "but don't mix up helping people and evangelism."
Of course, the very thing that makes the churches so effective at helping widows, orphans and the less-fortunate is the zeal with which they do their work and the very real answers they provide for people. It makes a difference in people's lives.
Why is Gore the point man in a 21st century plan to hijack what's left of the most important and vital cultural institution in the world? Figure it out.
Let me give you another Bible reference to ponder. And, Al, make sure you get this right. It's 2 Corinthians 11:14:
"And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light."