In a recent interview published in the Miami Herald (registration required), former Senator and former Ambassador to the United Nations John Danforth continued his role as a Jimmy Carter wannabe by decrying the lack of a "middle ground" in American politics. With a little criticism aimed at the left and a lot of criticsm aimed at the right, Danforth held himself up as the kind of political figure America needs: ''I was a mainstream Republican, but I never thought it was my job to foist a particular religious agenda on my constituents."Thus, Danforth (an ordained Episcopal minister) describes how "appalled" he was to see Republicans try to use the courts to save Terri Schiavo and to pass a constitutional amendment to protect marriage. Such issues, including abortion, are "wedge issues" that divide people and are, in Danforth's mind, contrary to true religion.
''If religion is about reconciliation,'' argued Danforth in this interview, "then the job of Christians, and especially Christians in politics, is to de-emphasize the wedge issues.''
Uh...Senator Danforth...religion is indeed about reconciliation but reconciliation with truth, not an indifference to it! And, as Jesus made perfectly clear, truth is a sword of division, separating those who love His truth from those who would hide, ignore or even seek to destroy it.
Senator, I believe you know better. You know that Jesus Christ came to reconcile men to Himself by offering His death as payment for their sins. With that barrier broken down, we can have peace with God and peace with our fellow man. But never at the expense of truth. Jesus didn't ignore or eliminate the Law; He completed it.
God offers us His fellowship as we receive His offer of salvation through the blood of Christ and as we faithfully abide in His Word. Therefore, if we downplay priority biblical issues like the sanctity of life and marriage (those "wedge issues" that make you and Mr. Carter so uncomfortable), we are, plain and simple, disobeying God.
So, by all means, let Christians be as winsome, as patient and as persuasive as possible in dealing with those who disagree with us. But the policy that you, Mr. Carter and others would suggest American Christians follow; namely, refusing to accept our obligations to pray and work for the biblical truths so important to God, is unacceptable.
