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Is God a Liberal Democrat?
FrontPageMagazine.com ^ | July 14, 2008 | Mark D. Tooley

Posted on 07/14/2008 7:43:51 AM PDT by SJackson

Officials of the declining 4.9 million Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) have revealed what God’s priorities are in the U.S. presidential campaign. And remarkably, the divine priorities was very akin to the Democratic Party’s priorities, if not further to the left.

Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson, with three other ELCA officials generously wrote both presidential candidates a public letter with the divine guidance. Although famed Protestant Reformer Martin Luther championed the Bible as God’s exclusive revelation, modern ELCA activists have located more useful counsel in the secular welfare state and environmental agenda.

“The Scriptures are clear about God's concern for and solidarity with people living in poverty and on the margins of society,” the Lutherans portentously intoned in the letter. “They are equally clear that God calls us to be stewards of creation. We bring into the public square a commitment to service for the well-being of all of God's children and a faith conviction that government is an important catalyst in God's work of restoring peace, achieving economic justice and protecting the environment.”

Observe that the Lutherans cite government as “an important catalyst in God’s work.” In fact, their agenda implies that government is virtually God’s only instrument. The Lutherans want government to abolish poverty, prohibit war, cleanse the environment, engineer egalitarian justice globally, and seemingly usher in The Millennium through additional regulation and taxation. If government can achieve so much, who needs God, much less the church?

Traditionally, Christians have seen the universal church as God’s primary instrument for revealing Himself in the world. Christians have also traditionally attached great importance to marriage, the family, private charity, and a vast array of mediating institutions that sustain human relations and mitigate against injustice and despair. The New Testament describes the state as primarily God’s instrument for temporally punishing or deterring criminality and aggression. But the Religious Left, including the Lutheran prelates, attach messianic importance and powers to the state. Perhaps Caesar is Lord after all?

Just as revealingly, the ELCA officials, duty bound at least briefly to reference the Bible, claim the Scriptures are “clear” about how to reduce poverty and protect the environment. In fact, the Scriptures offer broad principles, not specific political prescriptions. On issues about which the Scriptures are genuinely “clear,” such as marriage and human life, the left-wing Lutherans prefer to be silent. They are more comfortable in identifying Divine Providence with the endless expansion of state power.

“The persistent poverty in America is a moral scandal and an affront to our nation,” the Lutherans bewail. They grimly paint a bleak tableau of scarcity and struggle in America, “ claiming “historically high degrees of economic inequality between the rich and poor,” while “upward economic mobility is a reality for only one-third of Americans.” Indeed, poverty is “far higher than in many other developed countries.” Working against all this misery requires “sustained commitment from our political leaders.”

How likely would the Apostles, or Luther, have viewed modern America’s lower income people, most of whom are armed with air conditioned homes, automobiles, cable television and high tech gadgetry, along with modern health care, record life spans and food stuffs from a global market, as desperately poor? Poverty is often a relative term. And by the standards of history, or most of today’s world, few in America are genuinely impoverished. Many of America’s lower income people are indeed trapped in a cycle of relative subsistence, thanks partly to government programs that punish initiative, and social pathologies that inhibit advance. Avoiding poverty in America mostly entails finishing high school, shunning drug and alcohol addictions, not having illegitimate children, and avoiding divorce. But the Religious Left, contrary to its own religious traditions, is not interested in shaping personal choices. It prefers the compulsion of state regulation and taxation.

Predictably, the Lutherans want the U.S. government to guarantee a 50 percent reduction in U.S. poverty in 10 years, provide “comprehensive health care,” i.e. socialized medicine, and create more federally subsidized low income housing. In essence, God’s plan for America is simply expanding the Great Society programs of the 1960’s, despite their 40 year track record of locking in rather than reducing poverty.

And naturally, the Lutherans discern that “global warming presents a terrible and growing threat to the future of God's creation.” They want an 80 percent reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The Lutherans prefer not to address how shutting down industry and restricting economic growth will affect the poor. The Lutherans also want to redirect “valuable research dollars” away from clean coal technology towards the more mythically appealing wind, sun and water energy sources. In other words, the less plausible an energy source, the more funding it deserves.

The God of the Lutherans wants liberalized immigration policies to accommodate all the millions who, unaware of how impoverished and unjust America actually is, still desire to immigrate here. And the divine plan also demands that the U.S. government expend at least $140 billion a year in foreign aid, cancel all foreign debt, increase funding for the United Nations, and advocate “fair trade” rather than free trade. Coercively redistributing old wealth, rather than encouraging creation of new wealth, is always a supreme moral imperative for unimaginative left-wing clergy.

As to war, the Lutherans confirm that “marginalization and desperation, often perpetuated by poverty and hunger,” are at the root of most conflicts. If only the U.S. Government would mail more checks to all the world’s aggrieved parties, global peace might be achieved. The ELCA prelates want more U.S. “diplomatic pressure” on the Iraqi government, increased “robust diplomacy” to create a “viable contiguous Palestinian state,” and “urgent diplomatic efforts” to establish peace in Sudan. Again, U.S. dollars are the key to success. The Lutherans do not offer specific concern about human rights or even religious liberty.

“Loving and serving our neighbors -- Lutherans make a difference,” the ELCA officials modestly conclude in their letter to John McCain and Barak Obama. Cain. But their manifesto implies that the only “love” that Lutherans are exhibiting is lobbying for expanded state powers, taxation and spending, with confidence that dollars are the solution to all the world’s ills. Ostensibly, Christians traditionally understand that Mammon ultimately can solve few of mankind’s miseries, most of which are spiritual rather than material.

But officials of the shrinking ELCA, in their demands to the presidential candidates, imply they have less confidence in the Gospel than they do in the healing, wonder-working powers of Big Government.


TOPICS: Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: aclumia; churchandstate; churchofliberalism; commies; communist; communists; doublestandard; elca; election2008; godgap; howtostealanelection; lutherans; religiousleft; starkravingsocialism; taxdollarsatwork; thegreenmenace; theocracy
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To: Ouderkirk

And it’s still funny!


41 posted on 07/14/2008 9:30:26 AM PDT by brytlea (amnesty--an act of clemency by an authority by which pardon is granted esp. to a group of individual)
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To: SJackson

Switch the title just a little and you get a BIG YES. IS LIBERALISM A GOD TO THE DEMOCRATS?


42 posted on 07/14/2008 9:30:42 AM PDT by NavyCanDo
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To: aberaussie; Aeronaut; AlternateViewpoint; AnalogReigns; Archie Bunker on steroids; Arrowhead1952; ..


Lutheran (ELCA) Ping!
43 posted on 07/14/2008 9:40:04 AM PDT by lightman (Waiting for Godot and searching for Avignon)
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To: SJackson
Is God a Liberal Democrat?

Nope.

God is not in favor of homosexual marriage, and in fact, calls homosexuality an abomination.

God is not in favor of abortion, as abortion is murder, pure and simple.

God is not in favor of robbing people via taxes with the excuse that you're helping others (generally, people who simply won't work). The bible says those who don't work don't eat.

God is not in favor of a progressive tax scheme. The bible admonishes us not to treat the rich and poor differently.

I could go on, but you get the idea.

44 posted on 07/14/2008 9:44:34 AM PDT by MEGoody (Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall cause you to vote against the Democrats.)
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To: SJackson
It saddens me to see that the ELCA is no longer a Christian religion. The entire synod has morphed in to a sect or cult, a cult of socialism.

I am greatful that God led me away from this cult to a new home in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod in 2005!

45 posted on 07/14/2008 9:50:16 AM PDT by Redleg Duke ("All gave some, and some gave all!")
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To: Jerry Attrick
I do not see how any bible-believing Christian can be a Democrat.

A new Christian could be. But as a Christian grows in the Lord, it becomes clear that things Democrats stand for (more often than not) are anti-biblical.

46 posted on 07/14/2008 9:50:17 AM PDT by MEGoody (Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall cause you to vote against the Democrats.)
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To: southernindymom
" He or someone in the office replied that I would most likely be happier going to the LCMC or WELS... Basically told me to leave if I didn’t like it."

Well, even a blind squirrel finds an acorn once in a while. That nitwit is absolutely correct! I left the ELCA for the LCMS in 2005 and have been divinely happier because of it!

47 posted on 07/14/2008 9:52:13 AM PDT by Redleg Duke ("All gave some, and some gave all!")
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.

Hanson's positioning for that choice upcoming position -- World Council of Churches 'World Bishop'.

ELCA has been about world welfare politics instead of The Great Commission for many years now.

As for abortion, the ELCA employee health care plan provides abortion on-demand up to 20 weeks (this after the ELCA Board of Pensions followed ELCA's social statement on abortion recommended against doing so).

As for sexuality, ELCA's previous sexuality study returned a majority congregant opinion against blessing gay unions and ordaining gay clergy. So, they're just redoing the study, this time focusing on the college crowd and ignoring the greys in the pews.

As for ecumenism, ELCA and TEC share bishops (TEC bishops, like V. Gene Robinson, have more power) and there are some joint TEC/ELCA congregations now.

Beware of apostate WCC/NCCUSA churches. If you're a member of one, you'd better check into what they're really up to at higher levels.

48 posted on 07/14/2008 9:59:22 AM PDT by polymuser (Those who believe in something eventually prevail over those who believe in nothing.)
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To: SJackson
Officials of the declining 4.9 million Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) have revealed what God’s priorities are in the U.S. presidential campaign. And remarkably, the divine priorities was very akin to the Democratic Party’s priorities, if not further to the left.

Butterflies!

49 posted on 07/14/2008 10:00:03 AM PDT by Alex Murphy ("Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?" -- Galatians 4:16)
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To: Perdogg
"God's a libertarian. He believes in free will but you are responsible for your actions"

Nice, I'll second this one :-)

50 posted on 07/14/2008 10:09:36 AM PDT by Lloyd227 (and may God bless Oriana Fallaci)
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To: Lloyd227

Is God a liberal democrat? No, but liberal Democrats think they are God.


51 posted on 07/14/2008 10:17:39 AM PDT by VA_Gentleman (Moshe Plesser - "I think I did what is expected from every soldier and citizen.")
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To: SJackson

God is simply that...God...

He is not to be labeled or analyzed...He is to be loved, as he loves us all...

I believe it is even more simple than that...

This is his house, and his rules...

Trying to appear clever as these people are in this article think they are, are not doing themselves any favors by trying to excuse their own pathetic, worldly weaknesses...

But then again I should not judge...


52 posted on 07/14/2008 10:21:43 AM PDT by stevie_d_64 (Houston Area Texans (I've always been hated))
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To: Perdogg; Lloyd227

Perdogg: God's a libertarian. He believes in free will but you are responsible for your actions.

Floyd227: Nice, I'll second this one :-)

Me: And I'll third it.
53 posted on 07/14/2008 10:22:26 AM PDT by Category Four (Joy, Fun, the Joke Proper, and Flippancy.)
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To: VOR78

See my tag line.


54 posted on 07/14/2008 11:22:32 AM PDT by Blood of Tyrants (G-d is not a Republican. But Satan is definitely a Democrat.)
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To: SJackson

“economic justice” being one of the favorite code phrases of the modern day socialist and closeted communist, for these church leaders to adopt that language shows just how far gone they are. I dare say, they do not speak for God because their choice of words indicates that they truly renounce Him.


55 posted on 07/14/2008 11:37:24 AM PDT by PeterFinn ("I will stand with the Muslims" - Barack Hussein Obama)
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To: Redleg Duke

I know I should find another church, but I will stay, as we are extremely small and we don’t listen to the synod or the bishop for that matter. We barely send them money, but they were very interested in us when we paid our mortgage off on the building. When we dissolve, which I think will happen here in the next 10 years, I will then find myself another church affiliation. I love the people in my church rather than being a Lutheran or belonging to the ELCA. I don’t let them dictate my beliefs. Some are dumb enough to do that, I am sure, but not me.


56 posted on 07/14/2008 12:33:38 PM PDT by southernindymom
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To: SJackson

Sounds like those guys have eased on over to Moloch’s temple.


57 posted on 07/14/2008 1:03:05 PM PDT by muawiyah (We need a "Gastank For America" to win back Congress)
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To: stevie_d_64
Sure, you shouldn't judge unless you are willing to be judged ~ that is, that you are willing, yourself, to undertake a leadership position. That these guys are leaders in some church is sufficient reason to "judge them".

I'd suggest they're not doing all that well.

58 posted on 07/14/2008 1:07:08 PM PDT by muawiyah (We need a "Gastank For America" to win back Congress)
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To: SJackson
Politics are for humans.
God is clearly apolitical.
59 posted on 07/14/2008 1:27:38 PM PDT by xhrist ("You don't have a soul. You are a Soul. You have a body. " - C.S. Lewis)
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To: Eddie01

God is a big ‘actions have consequences’ guy. That is the opposite of what liberals believe...so I don’t think God is one of them.


60 posted on 07/14/2008 1:31:13 PM PDT by goldfinch
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