Posted on 10/14/2005 3:45:48 PM PDT by SmithL
Columbus, Ohio -- A new coalition dedicated to converting thousands to Christianity and getting thousands more on voter registration lists got its start Friday with a tightly scripted rally that resembled a revival meeting.
More than 1,000 people gathered outside the Statehouse for the launch of Reformation Ohio. The group, founded by the Rev. Rod Parsley, a television evangelist and pastor of the World Harvest Church in suburban Columbus, vehemently opposes gay rights, and Parsley has written that the teachings of Islam were inspired by demons.
The group's formation comes after last November's election in which Christian conservatives helped pass a gay-marriage ban in Ohio and give President Bush the electoral votes he needed to claim victory.
Speakers included U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback, a Republican from Kansas who is considering a White House run in 2008; Rep. Walter Jones, R-N.C., and Ohio Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell, who is seeking the Republican nomination for governor next year.
Blackwell, who also won Brownback's endorsement Friday, praised the efforts of Parsley and others to sign up new voters. Parsley's goal is to add 400,000 people to voter rolls.
"Reformation Ohio is about history-making times, reforming the culture," Blackwell said. "We are a government that governs only with the consent of the governed."
Brownback, who has emerged as a leading skeptic of President Bush's nomination of Harriet Miers to the U.S. Supreme Court, said the nation is engaged in a cultural struggle.
"We need a culture that buttresses our families, not attacks them. We need a society that honors good and condemns what is bad," Brownback said.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Seeking to lead people to Christ for the sake of elections is a perversion of the gospel...figures that it's Parsley doing it.
seems like you have perverted what was stated. The article says there was a dual purpose. Leading people to Christ--and getting Christians registered to vote. As Christians are -last I heard still a part of our American society--and
have a duty to take part in their society(salt and light)
and as it would be much better if the Citizens were guided as Christians than to have them follow the modern myth of a nation divided and excluding Christians from the political process as seen too often over the span of my lifetime.
You can attend a Sunday morning social club-and put on your
spirituality and rmeove it like a choir robe if you choose.
I cannot be a sometimes Christian-Spiritual only in church
and that is th ekind of Christianity you seem to propose.
Parsley has been sliced and diced by letters to the editor in the Columbus Dispatch in recent weeks.
Per usual, those who disagree with Parsley's efforts to register 400,000 voters think his a scumbag and, therefore, should not have a voice.
We wee mortals may sow the seeds, but it is He that reaps the crop.
And when they come to Him, they come in a myriad of forms and ways.
I think it is beyond Christians to know what Christ intends. We are grafted onto the vine. I.e. we are lucky to have been considered and accepted.
The Holy Spirit has no politcal motive...He has no politcal plan. If He did, it would have been present before the Crucifixion.
The Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit are beyond the silliniss of human politics.
Ron Parsley's been leading people to Christ for many many years. His service is televised here. His church has just about as many black members as it does white members. And that's why the dems don't like him. They're afraid he's leading blacks to the republican party.
I did not pervert what was stated, although it is clear that you and I took something different from the article. I will explain why I arrived at the conclusion I did...
Firstly, What was being started was "Reformation Ohio". Further into the article was the statement group was formed after the November elections...so it seems as if elections was the motivating force behind it's founding and not a primary desire to preach the gospel and save the lost.
Secondly, the article states "Parsley's goal is to add 400,000 people to voter rolls." Now his primary goal should be to seek and save the lost...not add voters to the rolls.
Thirdly, the article stated "Reformation Ohio is about history-making times, reforming the culture," Blackwell said. Thus the organization's stated goal is to reform the culture...again, it should be about preaching the gospel...which would then have a profound affect on society, but he has his cart before the horse.
Fourthly, the article then makes 2 more statements regarding being in a cultural struggle. While that is true, what the focus should be on is not the culture but in seeing souls soundly saved. What value is changing the culture if in the process people are not saved?
Now, to the rest of your comments...yes, Christians are indeed part of society, but ultimately our citizenship is not of this realm. It is our responsibility to participate in voting and standing for truth, but higher than this responsibility is our call to the Great Commission, and correct me if I'm wrong, but the Great Commission does not include adding to the voter rolls but rather to the kingdom of God. Parsley has his goals twisted, which is what I take exception to...but he's heavily involved in the twisted TBN crowd, so it's no shock that he has his priorities confused.
You can attend a Sunday morning social club-and put on your spirituality and rmeove it like a choir robe if you choose.
Brother, you do not know me or what sort of walk with the Lord I have, so attempting personal insults in this regard reflects poorly on you.
I cannot be a sometimes Christian-Spiritual only in church and that is th ekind of Christianity you seem to propose.
Perhaps it wasn't your intent, but this comes across as a "holier than thou" statement. I have not proposed a sometimes "Christian-Spiritual only in church". What I am calling for is making the gospel our first and foremost focus and concern, unlike what the article seems to describe as Parsley's motivation. If you take exception to my calling for a gospel first focus, well, sorry about that.
What you have said is true.And I agree.But if the Christian is to be cut off from the political process that means the
mere politician can and will enact laws that do not glorify
God. Nor benefit the Christian. We are to be salt and light
in this world and cannot be so if we are hiding in a cave.
A well reasoned reply. But changes nothing of what I have said. I made no attempt at personal insult-if you took what I said as such then we have failed to communicate. I've a wee little book titled "american Christians and their civic
responsibility,by pator Ed Young (christians for good governmentPO box1272 Arvada CO 80001[Mile High Evangelist PressPOBox 275 Denver CO 80201 that states better than I
have the position I now take. A political sermon of the Founding Era by Samuel West "On the Right to Rebel" preached befor eth eHOuse of representatives and Counsil of the State that would appoint Samuel West to serve on the
ratifying committee for the US Constitution.sets forth a clear cause for Christian involvement as well. (The Patriots Handbook,George Grant Editor, Cumberland House publishers,1996 paperback pages 119-152.The two volumn set
Political sermons of the founding era (1730-1805),Ellis Sandoz editor Second edition,Liberty Fund ,1998; the writings of Rev.John Witherspoon - who served wearing his
pasoral robes in the Continental Congress 1776-1782 had some hand in appointing Rev.John duche to be chaplain of Congress;helped draft the congressional act of Sept.11,1777 to provide 20,000 bibles for the Revolution;
helped Robert aitken get his translation of the Holy Bible
read by Congress and approved by the COngressional chaplains and by Congress who recommended the Aitken Bible
"to all the inhabitants of the United States";helped draft
at least two national proclamations settig aside days for fasting ,thanksgiving and prayer,(Nov 1,1777,and Oct.18,1780); though Rev.john Witherspoon did not attend the Constituional Convention at least six of the men educated by Witherspoon at the College of New Jersey did
attend as delagates among them James Madison(who studied to preach) and Luther Martin who affirmed what George Mason had
said Aug.22,1787 "As nations cannot be rewarded nor punished in the next world so they must be in this. by inevitible chain of causes and effects,Providence punishes national sins with national calamaties. "Affirmed by Luthe rMartin Jan.27,1788 "It has been stated and ought be considered that national crimes canonly be and frequently are punished in this world by naitonal punishments."Even the least religious of the delegates to the Convention ,Dr. Benjamin Franklin in his speech of June 28,1787 Cited the biblical authority for his proposal no less than five distinct passages(James 1:17; Psalm 67:4; Matthew10:29; Psalm 127:1;and Genesis 11:4-9)were each refered to.And Franklin included the Scripture "Except th eLord build the house they labor in vain that build it.","I firmly believe this,and I also believe that without his concurring aid,we
shall suceed in this politcal building no better than the builders of Babel"John Duche opened Congress with prayer
In the name and by the merits of Jesus Christ ,Thy Son and our Savior." Gee seems to me like the founders had no problems with Christians being involved in the political process.
You are correct of course.
Regarding the faithful the living in caves, I think some people are called to the political process and some are call elsewhere...and I think some (monks/hermits) are called to a life of solitude and prayer.
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