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."
Once my throat is slit I have no others to offer.
Yeah. He obviously lied. His plan was to not find his made-up WMDs so that the world would call him a liar. In fact, here's an excerpt from a secret White House prewar recording...
Cheney: Of course there are no WMDs in Iraq, Mr. President. EVERYONE knows that. But you need tell everyone that there ARE WMDs, and use that as reason to invade.Bush: You mean I must lie about WMDs? Why?
Cheney: Because then once we get there, and don't produce any WMDs, you will be exposed as a liar and all support for the war with dwindle along with your Presidency.
Bush: Oh I see! Great plan, Dick! Let's do it!
What importance is this world, anyway.
The Methodist Church has been kidnapped by weirdos, nutjobs and general all around perverts. A good reason that Methodists with brains have bailed out.
Here is an earlier thread that has explored this subject and some of the background of Jim Winkler.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1637229/posts
In particular post #21, #155 and those near the end of the thread are quite revealing.
Allowing Evil to go unchallenged in the world is the real un-Christian thing, IMHO.
I am a lady, so I will explain this delicately.
Someone gave BJ Clinton that moniker after revelations about his conduct with Lewinsky. The charming Monica revealed that he and the basin in his office powder room had intimate knowledge of one another.
The thing that makes mackery of the liberal theology (never mind it is extremely misleading) is their cry of absolute separation of church and state. Then there they are try to use the Bible to justify socialism ie social justice. I fo not want their religious ideas thrown down my throat. Jesus would never say that forced charity is charity. They too are fundalmentalist of the socialist stripe. Pot kettle black. I will resist socialist christian interference with this government to the end of my fife. We need to state loudly that they are trying to turn this country into a Theocracy of Socialism ie liberal theology. When Hillary and the Kerrys of the world start to quote out of James to push their State mandated Christian ideas we need to stand up. We need a "People for the Separtaion of Liberal theological fundammentalism from State" activist group. That would really confuse tham. We need to play the game they do.
Would these same pacifists have willingly lined up for Hitler's gas chambers? Longing for the peace of the gulag grave is hardly a Christian virtue.
'In the beginning, God created the heaven and earth . . .'
' . . . and God saw that it was good.'
"For God so loved the world . . . "
'A Republic, if we can keep it.' BF
The United Methodist "leaders" are pretty un-Christian themselves.
Thank you overtaxt for the pings and posts.
Just doing the job America hating journalists won't do.
I understand.
Excellent response!
What a mindless statement. This just goes to show you how delusional religious fanatacism can make people.
Unless it is a morals case, there is no way except for failure to reappoint to another term.
Winkler is a darling of the liberals who now hold the positions necessary to continue him in his socials concerns position.
He does not, however, speak for the church. Only the General Conference speaks for the church.
It has approved Just War as a sometimes necessary cause for military conflict.
Too bad he can't be sanctioned for making statements to the press that would lead an ordinary reader to think he was speaking for the denomination.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.