Republicans have multiple problems, all of which have been created by themselves. Thanks to the TEA Party, our government is broken, and Congress has failed to serve the American people. To protect the expose of the evil administration of George W. Bush, they deny the successes and efforts of a good president and a great man in Barrack Obama. They have failed in their efforts to secure new demographics in elections thanks to continued messages of hate and prejudice from their party’s leader, Donald Trump. They criticize, but offer no solutions, because they have none. They have but one god, money, and fail to serve those who elected them. Worst of all they are hypocrites; they claim to be Christians, but deny the teachings of Jesus Christ.

The basic precept of all Christian religions in the past was ‘do unto others as you would have them do unto you.’ This ‘golden rule’ came directly from the New Testament when Jesus Christ told his followers to love one another as he loved them. He commanded them not to judge; judgement was reserved for God the Father alone. He never told believers that His was the only religion, and all others should be shunned. Anyone who fails to believe in the words of Jesus Christ cannot claim to be a Christian.

Weeks ago an evangelical college in Illinois suspended a tenured political science professor. Larycia Hawkins is a respected educator who did not break any of the college’s rules; was not committed of a crime; and did not fail her students. Her ‘violation’ was acting like a Christian. Ms. Hawkins posted the following on her Facebook page:

“I stand in religious solidarity with Muslims because they, like me, a Christian, are people of the book,” Hawkins wrote on Facebook. “And as Pope Francis stated last week, we worship the same God.”

She also said that she would wear a hijab during Advent to show respect for Muslims.

Since the Second Vatican Council the Catholic Church stated that ‘Catholics and Muslims’ worshipped the same God, although they have different views of Jesus Christ.

Today the hypocritical evangelical college is planning to terminate Ms. Hawkins’ employment. The college issued the following statement in defense of her upcoming dismissal:

“Following Dr. Hawkins’ written response on December 17 to questions regarding her theological convictions, the College requested further theological discussion and clarification,” the college said in the statement. “However, as posted previously, Dr. Hawkins declined to participate in further dialogue about the theological implications of her public statements and her December 17 response.”

How many true Christians do you know? I doubt that the number can be counted on one hand.

I was raised as a Catholic. I went to Catholic school for ten years. I was taught tolerance, understanding, and love for all mankind. Never was I told that others who practiced a different religion were evil and that they would all go to hell. Anger and hatred were not in our vocabulary. What are ‘Christian’ schools teaching their young men and women today?

Politicians claim to be Christians, but they cannot make that claim honestly. They preach fear, anger, and hatred. Their religious declaration is merely opportunistic in an attempt to receive votes. Their true religion is money from a successful political career.

Although I do not believe in organized religion, I believe I am more of a ‘Christian’ than most people who attend church every Sunday. I strive to attain spirituality with every day. I do not, and will not judge other men and women. The media focuses on evil men and women who are do not believe in the worship of a God, they are merely carpetbaggers. The media has no interest in showing the American people the lives of average Muslims who live good and peaceful lives; good news does not sell advertising.

A single example proves that our major media fails the people by only reporting sensationalism.

Donald Trump has received five-times more coverage from the press than any other candidate from either party. It’s not based on his ideas or intelligent and charismatic speech, it’s because he is a loud-mouthed racist and bigot whose statements are outrageous and un-American in content.

My criteria for being a ‘Christian’ is very low and very simple. They must follow the ‘golden rule.’

Op-Ed

By James Turnage

Source

Photo Courtesy of Stevan Sheets

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