The Destruction of the American Family, Part 1: What it Isn't

Louie Gohmert

As all of informed America knows, a deadly shooting in Colorado last Friday night left twelve people dead and 58 wounded. Political figures have already become numb to the tragedy in an attempt to politicize the issue. Republican Louie Gohmert stated that he blamed the attack on "ongoing attacks against Judeo-Christian beliefs". While Gohmert later apologized, saying his comment was "taken grossly out of context", it still made me wonder: Do people actually believe this crap? Gohmert's rhetoric is not something new; The idea that there is a 'war' against Judeo-Christian principles is not a new one, and right-wing politicians are playing the 'values' card more frequently than ever.

Judeo-Christian 'Values':

Main Points/Miscellaneous:

First of all, I am a follower of Jesus Christ, commonly referred to as a Christian. I go to church every Sunday, I try to do unto others as I would have them do unto me, and I try to live a morally upright life. 

But that doesn't make me a better American than you.

Secondly, to all the politicians out there who are playing the religion card to attract Christian voters: Stop, you look like an idiot. I'm sure that you had a great time raising your children in a Christian environment, but please, if that is why we elect you to higher office, then we as voters need to be educated about what a politician is supposed to do. 

Thirdly, if you take the morality of Christianity by itself, it isn't all that great when compared to Eastern Buddhism or Jainism. There, I said it, call me a heretic, but it's true. The reason why Christianity is valid and valuable (and in my opinion the true faith) is because it offers something other religious systems do not: Grace. Christianity is special not because Christians have to be perfect, but because ultimately our believed salvation comes from God being willing to overlook our mistakes if we trust in Jesus Christ. Therefore, when a politician tries to play the tune of the 'Christian values', he should think long and hard about the need for values within Christianity itself. 

Introduction:

Rush Limbaugh

American politicians, particularly (but not exclusively) those to the right of the political spectrum, will go on and on about how 'our values are being undermined'. I have heard this repeatedly from radio personality and conservative Rush Limbaugh, to whom I say: "Like the sanctity of marriage you practiced with your four wives?" 

You see, political figures and pundits are all very theoretical: They decry Gay Marriage as an abomination, but are free to cheat on their wives. Excuse me? I'm sorry, ladies and gentlemen who cry 'abomination', but we do not, as you claim 'Have the same values'. 

The Death Penalty:

There are also values that I am supposed to have, but professional politicians have hushed it up for the sake of being conservative: The death penalty. In my opinion, those who cite Old Testament texts to advocate the death penalty are not hermaneutically sound, but are snatching at a book they claim to uphold. The death penalty in the Old Testament nation of Israel was par for the course in terms of Ancient Near-Eastern law: Everybody had the death penalty. How can we claim to be a society that has advanced above those of three-thousand years ago when we use false-justifications to uphold our unforgiving mindsets.

This is all very opinionated, but I genuinely believe that the Jesus Christ whom these fanatical supporters of the death penalty claim to serve would not feel the same in terms of forgiveness. Jesus was all about forgiveness, even asking God to forgive the people who crucified him! I understand the human desire for vengeance. If someone raped and murdered my wife or child, I would naturally want to seek justice. But justice and vengeance are different. We are too often motivated by revenge in terms of seeking out punishment for crimes, a motivation that my Savior would not support. So to you politicians who advocate the death penalty, and use the Bible as your source of justification, I ask this: Would you want to be forgiven if you committed a crime, no matter how heinous? 

On this subject, I will say this: Even James Holmes, the suspect in the case of the Aurora, CO shooting, deserves to be forgiven, and while he may need to spend the rest of his life behind bars, we as human being to not have the right to execute them. 

Gay Marriage:

I do not agree with the homosexual lifestyle. I believe that the New Testament offers evidence that it is sinful, and you cannot change that about me. However, I do not reserve the right to tell another American that he or she cannot marry a partner of the same sex. 

I also believe that you should practice what you preach. To those political figures who love to bash homosexuality in all it's forms, and to quote a verse here and there: I demand that you live a life that is above reproach, that you keep your personal preferences from interfering with the law, and that you show some respect to those who disagree with you. 

I believe in the separation of Church and State, I believe that this is a good institution. The political figures who shout that we are a 'Christian nation' need to understand how great it is that these two institutions are separated. If, as many secretly desire, the Church were thrust into an embrace with the State, then the State would assume the power to dictate how the Church is to operate, which would effectively destroy the Church as an institution. Therefore, unless the Right is willing to have the State dictating the way that the Church operates, they should shut up about having the Church dictate the way that the State operates. You cannot have your cake and eat it too. 

With that being said: We as American Christians should acknowledge that while we do not agree that homosexual behavior or marriage is right, we have a requirement as Americans to allow it. The awesome thing about America is that we as Christians are free to practice our religion, but we must also acknowledge that everyone else must have that same freedom. It's great that I have the right to marry my fiancee, without having to share her with another, but that right is also extended to my gay friends, or at least it should be.

Conclusion:

Maybe my arguments don't make sense. Maybe there was something I missed. I expect to draw some heat for this post, but it is my right to have an opinion and it is everyone else's right to disagree with me. So in your thoughts, occasional comments, and real-world conversations with me, remember that we both have that right, and we share it as Americans.