Evangelist Dobson parts with Focus on the Family

[Baron1710]

Originally Posted by notofworks

Plenty of liberal churches? There are a few, maybe, but by and large the Christian Culture is conservative. And certainly, the view of the Christian culture is that it is very much republican. The common perception is an expectation of political compliance with the "system" of Christianity. I'm frequently asked by religious cynics, "Are you guys gonna tell me who to vote for?", or "Do you accept liberals" because clearly, there is an expectation that all need to be conservative.

One of the problems we've created within American Christianity, is a closed culture to anyone not like us. Even if a UPC church never preaches "standards", if everyone in the building has complied with the code, the underlying message is, "You need to conform." The same thing happens with conservative politics.

I wouldn't ever want you to walk away from your political opinions, just like I wouldn't want I wouldn't want a liberal to do so.

And true, Dobson is not a pastor, but that's really beside the point. He is very much an acknowledged voice of the Christian Culture and he speaks for the culture as a whole.

I, too, see frightening trends in the government but I don't think it has any effect on the church at all. In fact, historically the church has been at its best when opposed the most. The underground church in China is growing at a faster rate than anywhere in the world.

A little opposition might do us some good.

I can assure you that the majority of churches in DC were openly preaching "Vote Obama" from their pulpits.

I don't expect anyone to change their political views. Last week I took nearly half a day off of work and sat in the Ethiopian Embassy to get a young lady's passport and visa and overnight them to Florida. She was on part of a mission trip that was leaving the next day, and I assure you these folks are very Liberal. A friend of mine from law school called and said is there anyway you can do this for us? She is the most liberal Christian I have ever met, both politically and in terms of Christianity. After spending 2 months around her in Europe when we were studying International law she said to me, "You are the first person I have met with conservative viewpoints that isn't legalistic and judgmental."

We are still friends and christian, and still have totally different political views.