Political Combinations...Democrat...Republican...The Worst...The Christian

Among the two major political parties, Democrat and Republican, there seems to be a general rule as follows:

REAL Democrats are fiscally and socially liberal...REAL Republicans are fiscally and socially conservative.

Moderate or independent voters tend to be in some kind of middle...Fiscally liberal and socially conservative or fiscally conservative and socially liberal.

From where I stand, I believe the WORST combination is not fully Democrat or fully Republican, but the Moderate: fiscally conservative/socially liberal.

Why? This seems to lead to the greatest oppression. The rich, fiscally conservative, tend to oppress the poor, as the Bible says. I've got money, why don't you. Likewise, the socially liberal tend to allow individuals to destroy themselves all in the name of freedom. Put them together and you get Marie Antoinette's, "Let them eat cake!"

I believe the CHRISTIAN political combination would be the Moderate: fiscally liberal/socially conservative. Whether rich or poor, the fiscally liberal tend to be more charitable. The greatest part of social services come from this point of view: charity. Socially conservative may err in this arena, but they tend to be of the mindset that we need to protect people, even if it is from themselves. Parents who care about their children will be like this. Parents who don't won't.

Those are my thoughts...What are yours?

Triablogue: Against Calvinism: Reviewed

Triablogue: <em>Against Calvinism</em>: Reviewed

The Training of the Twelve...Still a Great Book on Christian Leadership

A. B. Bruce wrote this book quite some time ago. I first read this book as a new Christian at college, and since I was new, I didn't really understand many of the stories much less the application.

As a somewhat more mature Christian, rereading this book, I have a greater respect for the insights of its author.

On page 112, in my edition, when referring to the commission of the disciples on their first missions and Christ's instructions to take nothing, Bruce hit very close to home for me. He wrote:

"So understood, the words of our Lord are of permanent validity...Many a minister and missionary has obeyed these instructions almost in their letter, and many more have kept them in their spirit. Nay, has not every poor student fulfilled these injunctions...gone forth...without money in his pocket either to buy food or to pay fees."

I have struggled for years debating about getting more intense theological training. On one hand, I feel as though God is calling me. On the other hand, I make excuses, asking God to provide the means, and then I will go. When all the while, God says, "Go. Take nothing. I will provide."

May God help me to move.