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03/29/2004 Entry: "Applying the scriptures"
I gather that Democrat Presidential nominee John Kerry has been quoting the scriptures and not everyone approves. Black conservative La Shawn Barber writes
James gives guidance on how individuals, not governments, can evaluate their faith to determine whether it's living or dead. It is the personal works of believers that James has in mind in this passage. It wasn't addressed to Caesar.She's right about James' original context, of course. The issue is how how we might apply it to our place and time. The context of the USA is a land whose children daily proclaim to be a nation "under God" (and I, for one, have no problem with that), a President who regularly refers to the Almighty, and a political system composed of many individuals who claim allegiance to the Christian religion. So the question isn't merely whether James addressed Caesar in his day -- Caesar would have had little interest in what one of the leaders of an obscure Jewish sect had to say. The question is, does he address Caesar today given that Caesar claims to be a follower of the Way?
I have no informed opinion of John Kerry, and I don't know whether his application of James to public life is the proper one. But I am absolutely certain that it does indeed have an application in that way.
Unfortunately, it seems that Kerry wants it both ways. He wants to claim the church's support for his politics, but won't accept the church's criticism of his policy
"I don't tell church officials what to do, and church officials shouldn't tell American politicians what to do in the context of our public life," Kerry said in an interview with Time posted on the magazine's Web site Sunday.But you "can't have your cake and eat it". Either the gospel has a public application or it doesn't. I believe it does - and that inevitably means the Church will have something to say to ou believing Caesar's.
Replies: 5 comments
What's amazing about all this to me is not that Kerry quoted the Bible and campaigned in a church...politicians here do that all the time. Not sure it's good, but that's how it is. The ridiculously ironic thing is that the Bush administration is heavily criticizing him for it: http://www.therightchristians.org/archives/000639.html
It's like the pot calling the kettle black...
Posted by Jonathan @ 03/29/2004 02:35 PM GMT
2 thoughts
a) bad move if Kerry wants to woo the heavily Protestant (grace-crazy) Southern vote.
b) and I quote you: it seems that Kerry wants it both ways ...
Never truer words spoken at soooo many levels. At least that's the buzz here inside the Beltway.
Posted by Mean Dean @ 03/29/2004 04:53 PM GMT
Twenty-six years ago I ran for President of the student government association of my college. My theme was "From the Brick House to the White House" using posters with a photo blown up of me quoting that wonderfully deep and philisophical work by the Comodores, "Brick House," as a comedy sketch in a school talent show. As if using that refrence wasn't bad enough, I invoked Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I have a dream" speech to in my own campaign speech to talk about having a dream to bring college and townspeople together. The sad thing is, it wasn't until five years later that I actually studied and understood Dr. King's speech.
My whole point in this somewhat narcisistic remembrance is that, when it comes to politics and elections, no matter what the level, we end up quoting to please those who are voting. I'm looking for much more than biblical quotes when our elections come to persuade me to vote for either of our candidates. Maybe a write in this year might be in order! (Don't quote me on that.)
Posted by Ivan the Crank @ 03/29/2004 10:37 PM GMT
P.S. For anyone who cares, I did win that election by 3 votes in a runoff. And, that was without an Electoral College!
Posted by Ivan the Crank @ 03/29/2004 10:38 PM GMT
John Kerry is a man who has made a career out of having it both ways.
Posted by Douglas @ 03/29/2004 11:12 PM GMT
