Posted on 05/29/2006 3:19:32 AM PDT by indyreb
Article published May 25, 2006 Was Bush's response to Sept. 11 attacks un-Christian?
RICHARD N. OSTLING Associated Press Writer
The news media focuses on evangelical and Roman Catholic politicking, routinely ignoring such liberal Protestant activism as United Methodist Church officials' onslaught against policies of George W. Bush, an adult convert to their denomination.
Underlying issues: Must Christians oppose the Iraq war? Warfare in general?
The Methodists' chief social-issues spokesman, Jim Winkler, believes Congress should "impeach President Bush." He proposed that during the annual "Ecumenical Advocacy Days for Global Peace With Justice," attended by 923 progressives, mostly from the National Council of Churches and member denominations (e.g., the United Methodists, Christian Church-Disciples of Christ, Episcopal Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Presbyterian Church USA and United Church of Christ).
The House Judiciary Committee's ranking Democrat had already submitted a bill authorizing investigation of impeachable offenses.
Winkler's complaint: "The attack on Iraq was sold to our people on lies, and the war itself was an illegal war of aggression" that included things such as "unconstitutional" National Security Agency surveillance."There was nothing Christian in (Bush's) response to Sept. 11," Winkler asserted. "The war on terror is a war of terror. We have to stop it."
Strict Christian pacifists such as Mennonites and Quakers resist all war-making. They apply biblical teachings from Jesus and Paul about peacemaking not just to personal relations but to international affairs.
Winkler, who wants the U.S. defense budget slashed by 80 percent, could be considered a semipacifist. He said "Jesus Christ, if not a pacifist Himself," at least "chose a nonviolent course of action." He also cited Paul: "Do not repay anyone evil for evil. ... So far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves" (Romans 12:17-19).
That reflects the Methodists' official Social Principles: "We believe war is incompatible with the teachings and example of Christ" and reject it "as an instrument of national foreign policy."
That text also says many believe that in "extreme situations" when all alternatives fail and "the need is clear beyond reasonable doubt," combat using "international organizations" may be better than allowing "unchecked aggression, tyranny and genocide."The Methodists are America's third-largest religious body. The bishops of the largest, Roman Catholicism, said before the Iraq invasion that they questioned the morality of pre-emptive and unilateral action and saw no grave danger of Iraqi attacks or evidence that that nation was involved in Sept. 11.
Updating matters this year, the bishops' international policy chairman rejected both "cut and run" and "stay the course" policies. He said that now, America has "moral responsibilities to help Iraqis secure and rebuild their country." U.S. troops should leave "sooner rather than later" but remain pending a "responsible transition" to provide security, stability and the rule of law.
There's no hesitation with the hawkish Southern Baptist Convention, America's second-largest denomination.
Last year's annual Baptist meeting said Bush "has shown courage and leadership in his valiant opposition to terrorism. ... We express deepest gratitude and respect for our president in light of the gravity of the decisions he must make and the leadership role he fills."
The Baptists found scriptural warrant in 1 Timothy 2:2, which commends prayer "for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life." An earlier Baptist statement defending the war on terror said the Bible commands "civil authorities to restrain evil and to punish evildoers through the power of the sword," citing Paul in Romans 13:1-5.The National Association of Evangelicals includes pacifists, and its "Call to Civic Responsibility" last year said members disagree about use of the military "to defend our homelands, rescue others from attack or liberate other people from oppression."
It is in reference to his beating off in the oval office sink.
They were Lucky I was not in charge, since there would have been much more destruction to neutralize a good amount of Terrorist nations and Saudis would have paid more for their involvement. Even if it was just the removal of thier leaders in certain countries, then follow up with a threat to blow up their holy places unless the terrorists turned over in three days....
On the contrary, the Methodists' should impeach jim Winkler!
Can you guys fire these people?
right,
I don't remember reading where Jesus ever advocated the removal of a head of gov't
wonderful observation.
What a dumb question. Of course it was un-Christian./sarc
Have you read the words of GOD in his best seller the 'BIBLE'?
Have you read anywhere in the Bible where GOD had his people fight back against evil? Have you read anywhere in the Bible where GOD destroyed evil? Have you read anywhere in the BIBLE where Christians are supposed to be door mats for Satan's followers to wipe their feet on? Have you read anywhere in the BIBLE where Christians are supposed to sit back and allow Satan and his hate mongers to take over the world without lifting a finger to stop him?
I don't recall the communists of the early part of the 20th century trying to use God to justify their own embrace of human slavery. They were honest about the fact that they openly stood in opposition to God-given freedoms and they were honest about their opinion that the way of man is superior to the way of God.
Now that we have the advantage of hindsight, and the 100 million+ deaths attributable to Communism, the left can no longer just stand on the love of enslavement alone- they have to go to the length of bringing God down to Satan's level to try to make their religon palatable to as many as possible.
The sacreligious liberal media is again accusing Christians of being "unChristian." Tough sell, in my book.
yep!
To People of Faith Internationally:
The NCC is an obsolete entity that has no place in the diverse religious and spiritual landscape of twenty first century America; especially in an America that is under attack from external as well as internal enemies out to destroy the Union, the American way of life, and all that we hold sacred and dear.
It is no secret that the NCC's sympathies usually slant towards individuals, groups, movements, and concepts that are anathema to American ideals of democracy, and religious freedom.
Throughout its different incarnations, the NCC has always existed as a subversive political anti American organization rather than the religious body it pretends to be.
Abuses of the NCC:
1. Currently involved in an intensive "Action Days on Iraq" campaign to stop the United States from taking just military action against the Iraqi dictatorship; and strengthening the security of the American people.
2. Practicing unpatriotic, un-American, blame America first attitudes without acknowledging the heinous human rights abuses carried out by dictators like Saddam Hussein, Fidel Castro, and Kim Chong-il.
3. Championing secular, atheist, liberation theology.
4. Ignores human rights abuses worldwide & in nations where the NCC is heavily involved. Cuba for example.
5. Coddling and sympathizing with brutal dictatorships in Iraq, Cuba, North Korea, Zimbabwe, Sudan, China, various terrorist groups, and historically with the late Soviet Block, Vietnam, and the Nicaraguan Sandinistas.
6. Ignores and belittles dissidents, oppositionists, human rights activists, and religious opposed to tyranny in the aforementioned nations.
7. Worked on behalf of the Cuban dictatorship and on orders of Fidel Castro, the Clinton administration, INS, Janet Reno, and various business interests like Archer Daniels Midland to return Elian Gonzalez to Fidel Castro’s dictatorship.
8. Irresponsible financial mismanagement of Church funds and resources. Hundred Thousands spent on an unnecessary anniversary bash for the NCC, and money for private jet during Elian Gonzalez incident instead of directing monies to the real needy.
9. Downplaying, altering, and perverting teachings from both the Old and New Testaments in order to confuse, change, and eventually subdue Christianity.
10. Lying and exaggerating about Black Church burnings in the American South.
11. Unabashed support of Planned Parenthood, abortion, and the hideous late term abortion procedure.
A call to action:
Stop donations and monetary support to the NCC and its various organs like the Church World Service.
Educate church congregations on the harmful nature of the NCC. Urge them to take peaceful, non violent, but creative actions in the form of protests, e-mail campaigns, press releases, and withholding of funds.
Publicly expose the NCC, and it's past and present leaders to hold them accountable as accomplices for human rights abuses in nations where the NCC has been involved.
Infiltrate the NCC if possible to raze it from within. This can be done on a local and national level.
Start a public movement to disband the NCC in your local houses of worship.
Thank you for your support! God bless America!
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/end_NCC/
The Protestant Churches on Abortion:
Complex, Contradictory, and Challenging
By Kathleen Sweeney
The history of the Protestant churches' witness on the abortion issue in the last 30 years has been complex, contradictory, and challenging. In the early 1970s, there was a sudden capitulation to the secular pro-abortion persuasion on the part of several mainline Protestant denominations. This has been a scandal to the many pro-life believers who found themselves at odds with their denominational leadership on a vital issue.
This unfortunate reversal led to the founding of pro-life groups within those denominations. As the timeline on page 16 indicates, these churches - - with the notable exception of the Southern Baptists - - have not yet come back to their life- affirming position. However, pro-life resolutions continue to gain increasing support. (The vast majority of these pro-life groups are members of the National Pro-Life Religious Council. See below and story, page 8.)
http://64.233.179.104/search?q=cache:t3JFhQCAdsEJ:www.nrlc.org/news/1999/NRL199/sween.html+National+Council+of+Churches+ABORTION&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=10
No, Afghanistan and the Middle-East are not glowing green glass deserts!!! That is the "turn the other cheek" response to 9/11!
Good Lord, I never heard that one. Clinton continues to creep me out.
Without doubt the biggest pervert to ever occupy the Presidency.
He coasted thru the office, putting off anything important for later presidents to have to deal with.
Truly one of the worst presidents in history.
Morally bankrupt. As is his wife.
You mean there was a limit to his cheek-turning?
Disagree. Terrorists declared the war, not us. The only winning strategy is to respond with greater and over-whelming terror. Defense is not supposed to be employed on a level playing field. It's not a game.
The world will crumble under the rule of a few crazy mullahs if we don't tilt the battle field in our favor. The quicker, the better.
Meanwhile, the Methodist Church continues to lose members while the Baptist Church continues to gain.
_____________________________-
Just so.
Every few years the United Methodist Bishop's Council (the highest ranking body in the UMC) commissions a survey to discover the reason for the continual hemoragging of members from their body. Every survey reports that members perceive dominant liberalism in the leadership as not Christian and not Biblical. The Council consistently rejects these findings as not valid.
The UMC leadership has sacrificed Christian ethics on the altar of humanism and politics.
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