Gingrich Continues Faith-Based Campaign, Decrying Obama's 'War Against Churches'
Reader Comments
Faith alone
Mr McArthur seems to conveniently overlook the epistle of St James which tells us that faith without good works is worthless.
James 2:24
America was founded in 1776, not 1607
Newt Gingrich is 100% correct to say that the country is dramatically different than the one Puritans landed upon in 1607 - their lives WERE 'faith-based'. But they were never a 'Country'.
But America was not founded by early 17th Century settlers. The 1600's were a nightmare of religious superstition, inquisitions, wars, 'witch' burnings and intolerance towards science and secular progress. From the ashes of that century, the 18th Century gave birth to 'The Enlightenment' and it is from that movement that the United States of America was born.
Newt Gingrich knows this, he has read Franklin, Madison, Jefferson and Paine, their writings and values are unambiguous and it is their values and ideas that formed our founding documents. A serious discussion about the evolving role of faith in 21st Century life NEEDS to occur, but the time for obscuring the secular foundation of the Republic has passed. America WILL go on as it has been, as a secular Nation that allows freedom of Religion. The question for believers is, do they honor their faith and their Nation and enjoy the fruits of belief AND freedom, or, like Islam, faced with modernity - will they retreat from the world and become a hardened and increasingly detached population.
Formidable? Certainly. Part of the future? Doubtful
Evangelical Christians vs. Catholics
Jennifer of MS wrote: In response to the lady who seems to think that Catholics are not Christian, boy are you uneducated.
Just to clarify...I didn't say that I, personally, do not think Catholics are Christians. I think they are. What I said was that many evangelical Christians do not think that Catholics are "saved," and for that reason, many of them will not come out in support of Newt Gingrich.
Read what well-known evangelical writer and minister John MacArthur has to say about this issue. (And again . . . this is my position. I am only pointing out that this is the position of many evangelical Christians.)
http://www.biblebb.com/files/macqa/1301-X-13.htm
Questioner
My brother and his wife are both Christians, and they went to Biola University [Christian college], and my brother taught at Biola. In the last three years, he started teaching at a Catholic high school, and he feels that I’m really narrow-minded about Catholics. And, in particular, he feels that many of the priests that he knows at this high school actually have salvation. My question is, can a Catholic priest actually be saved and remain a Catholic Priest?
John MacArthur's Answer
Not if he believes the Catholic system. If he doesn’t, if he doesn’t accept their baggage. If he believes his salvation is provided only through grace by faith in Jesus Christ, he could be saved. But, if he accepts the full sweep of Catholic dogma, there’s no way. He has cluttered up the simplicity of salvation with a works/righteousness system. But, there are priest in the system, as you know...Catholicism tolerates its dissidents. It absorbs them, and, therefore, perpetuates its system. It doesn’t expel them. That’s why it lasts so long. And, there are, within the system, those priests who have come to an understanding. Do you know Martin Luther never left the Roman Catholic Church? Never! He stayed in the system. But, he rejected the corruption of the doctrine of salvation.
Obama is a wolf in sheep clothing
His actions speak louder than his words. If he was a Christian he would act like it. He only says he is to get all you gullable Christians. In response to the lady who seems to think that Catholics are not Christian, boy are you uneducated. Being catholic is a religion just like Baptist, Methodist, Etc... ! I won't necessarily vote for someone in the coming years just because they SAY they are Christian... but rather on how they act.
Obama Is a Christian
Dave of VA wrote: Darcy, kindly explain "Christian" Obama's . . .
There's nothing to explain. Contrary to the opinion of those who reduce their faith to a political stance, Christians can and often are Democrats.
Christians can and often are personally opposed to abortion while at the same time recognizing the need to keep abortion legal in our country and to allow women control over anything and everything that exists within their own bodies. These Christians are both pro-life AND pro-choice.
Rather than attaching themselves to the pro-life movement so that they can feel like brave warriors fighting the most noble cause imaginable, these Christians go beyond rhetoric and actually put their faith into action. They do this by getting on board with the President's plan to work to reduce the number of abortions in our country by providing education, support for women and girls, and reducing poverty in our country.
This is why many Christians in our country voted for Obama in 2008 and why so many of them will vote for Obama again in 2012.
I'm sorry that Obama will not have your vote in 2012. However, he won the election without the vote of hyper-conservative Christians in 2008. He will win it again--with or without their vote--in 2012.
Obama a Christian?
Pfffft. Barack Obama is a Christian. He has no desire to destroy or replace the church.
Darcy Grant of IN
Apr 06, 2009 15:25:37 PM
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But Obama has no qualms about destroying life.
Darcy, kindly explain "Christian" Obama's
1. four votes against "The Born Alive Infants Protection Act."
2. His 100% NARAL rating.
3. His signature over turning the Mexico City policy.
4. His Executive order reinstating abortion in military hospitals.
5. His promise to sign the "Freedom of Choice Act."
*The list goes on .... Hyde Amendment, others
I will not be voting or supporting President Obama in Nov. 2012.
What about the man caught in adultery?
Hey, you "Christians" out there need to remember that you've sinned as well.
Like the other poster said, give him a chance. That would be the Christian thing to do. Unless your hatred of Catholics is so great that it prevents you from doing so.
In that case, you have more problems than Newtie. Saying you love God but hate your neighbor makes you a liar, at least according to the Apostle John in his first epistle.
Newt has only been married three times. God says we have to forgive 70 times 7.
He's got a few more to go!
But seriously, attacks on Newt by fellow Christians make you guys look bad.
But Darcy
Not all Evangelicals are misinformed bigots who think Catholics are not saved. And I think Newt has had a sincere conversion to Christ. I agree. Why not at least give him a chance.
Cold-Heated Newtie at it again.
Newtie is awful! He's just plain awful! He is so desperate for attention that he will say or do anything to get on TV. Clearly, he wants to run in 2012, and like many conservatives, he see religion as a weapon to manipulate the "values voters." When will people of faith see though this nastiness? Newtie is the classic "Christian Right" panderer. He just isn't a very good person.
The man gay-bashes despite having a lesbian sister. How gross is that?
Enough said.
give him a chance
I think that we should give him a chance to show that his conversion is sincere.
In the long run it is more important to have your head on straight, regarding politics and religion, than if your pants are on straight.
What I mean is that everyone has issues trying to live the demands of the moral law, but not everyone has the strength to accept when they made mistakes and not attempt to change the moral law to justify their actions.
I don't know much about Newt, but at least give him a chance to show that he is trying to be sincere. And if he turns out to work towards a return to political sanity and practises an orthodox Catholicism, can't we let his past sins be forgiven.
If Our Lord gives people another chance in confession, we can do the same for our brothers.
