O.K. Got another letter at the church (I know you all are thinking I’m making this up but I promise these are all true letters we received…ask Ann Lynn) from the anonymous “Concerned Christians.” Once again, I’m assuming they are going after Barack Obama (who interestingly enough was at the 4-H fairgrounds yesterday…just a few blocks away from my house…he didn’t buy me gas though…what is up with that?!!). Here is the letter (with my commentary laced in parenthetical notes):
Dear Pastor (that would be me) 
:
It is our grave responsibility to weigh up current events (who appointed you with such a grave responsibility?), and look ahead to determine the direction our nation, the home of liberty, is heading. In the Middle East, Israel’s only true friend is the United States, and America’s only true friend is Israel. Iran is a sworn enemy of us both, and Iraq is a small and very troublesome child. Most, if not all, of the other Arab nations cannot be trusted, since the brotherhood of the descendants of Ishmael is a more powerful force than peace and pragmatism. Not only that, but radical Islamic elements seek to bring their hatred to our shores, and spill the blood of Christians and Jews alike. Against this backdrop, the institutions of democracy run their course. We are in the midst of a presidential election campaign that will determine, to a large extent, the direction in which our nation will be heading over the next four years. The choices in the upcoming primaries in Indiana and North Carolina are clear (really?): on the one hand, an untested candidate who would sit down at the table with our common, unrepentant, sworn enemies (and how exactly does meaningful peace and reconciliation happen apart from this?). On the other hand, an experienced politician (translation: career politician) who will not stoop to such compromise (dialogue is compromise?), but has promised “massive retaliation” (wow!! massive!! that must make Jesus happy…I’m sure he will look beyond that whole “love your enemy” thing…I’m sure he probably didn’t mean it on a “national scale”) against any nation which attacks Israel. Times are too critical to bathe the dark intrigues (that sounds kind of poetic) of the Middle East in an unrealistic millennial glow (I feel soothed just saying that over and over). The time will come when the lion will lie down with the lamb (so compromise is coming as the lion sits at the same table as the lamb?), but in the meantime our Messiah (are you sure we have the same Messiah? I’m following that crucified suffering servant one…which one are you talking about?) is holding us responsible for the government (when did he say that? I don’t remember him ever saying we were responsible for our government…maybe it was in that Gospel of Thomas book?) that we choose. (Translation: someday Jesus will make things right…until then…let’s kick the crap out of all of our nationalistic enemies just like Jesus would want!)
With sincerity,
From Concerned Christians
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This email is just a blatant example of a Christianity that has allowed the secular political agenda to become its master. This example is one of slavery to the secular right. Where I live there are plenty examples of professing Christians who have become a slave to the secular left agenda. Where have we Christians failed (in hearing and declaring the gospel) that we are now becoming more and more known for our support and identification with the secular left and right rather than our allegiance to the One who declared that the Kingdom of God is at hand?
Rex
Point A: We have a system of government in place such that the president has limited power and cannot single handedly change the course of our nation. It has worked well for over 200 years.
Point B: Why are the Concerned Christians taking so much power away from a sovereign God and giving it to the president of the United States? And themselves for that matter?