The area I now serve has a bevy of conservative churches. They've put together an ecumenical group to bring the pastors closer together. A few weeks ago, the group started pushing iPledge Sunday, a simulcast "town hall" type of event sponsored by the Family Research Council and the American Family Association. This event is supposed to be addressing issues of faith, family and freedom during this most important election year this country has ever seen. I'm neither impressed nor swayed by their arguments, and I'm even less impressed with the behavior of the FRC and AFA.
So I wrote a letter to the editor:
=====================================
To
the Editor:
On
September 9, several local congregations are participating in iPledge Sunday, an event sponsored by
the American Family Association and the Tony Perkins-led Family Research
Council. Unfortunately, these groups are
more interested in the regulations of religious purity that they have developed
instead of the moral and ethical concerns of God.
The
FRC has been defined as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center for
their long history of false and demonizing anti-gay propaganda. They lobbied against an anti-bullying law on
religious grounds, saying that bullying is okay if it’s based in deeply held
religious beliefs. They have falsified
studies to satisfy their own agenda. And
Mr. Perkins has also supported white supremacists.
The
AFA and their spokesman, Bryan Fischer, also put forth their own line of
misinformation and hateful lies. Mr.
Fischer has claimed: AIDS results from
excessive inhalant drug use, not from HIV; the Democratic National Convention
will be a “three day Auschwitz” because of pro-choice speakers; women can’t get
pregnant from rape; and he has defended Rep. Todd Akin’s position of
“legitimate rape.”
Caring
for widows, orphans, aliens, the underprivileged and the Other is what concerns
God, not religious purity; something these groups fail to understand.
Christian
living is more than participating in culture wars against things and people you
dislike. Christian living recognizes
power comes through Jesus’ death and resurrection, not through political
parties. And Christian living reminds us
that God’s love and salvation are offered to all – not just the religiously
pure.
As
Christians we need to ask ourselves: Am
I more interested in following man made regulations of religious purity; or will
I love my neighbor as myself, respecting the dignity of every human being?
Rev. Ref, Rector
The Episcopal Church
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4 comments:
How can these people call themselves Christians? They are more like the rabbis Jesus called "a brood of vipers". I think they might need to re-read today's Epistle.
Stand firm, dear friend, and I pray your congregation is staunchly behind you.
Well done, good and faithful servant.
Lady: Thanks. And yes, the Epistle today was particularly appropriate. However, I've noticed that most non-denominational, "Bible-believing" churches don't use the lectionary, so they probably didn't bother reading from James today. More likely to have used a few of the clobber verses in preparation for tonight's event.
And, yes, the majority of the congregation gave me good feedback this morning.
Martha: Thank you.
Thank you for your important letter to these people. It is great to have someone speaking clearly to the issue. God bless.
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