Editor, Times-Union: There are things that I do that I do because it is the right thing to do.
Taxes for example. I lead a local TEA Party because it’s the right thing to do. Taxing and spending our children into oblivion in America has become a thing that is morally repulsive. Someone has to lead ... I chose to lead a TEA Party because it is the “right thing to do.” God has blessed this endeavor.
But then there are things that I choose to do because it is the passion that drives my spirit, my body, my life and everything about who I am. It was what I was created to do. It is the essence of who I am.
That is to fight for religious freedom and for the sanctity of life.
These past two weeks have made me stop and examine who I am, and why I am fighting. There is something that has chewed away at my spirit this week. The Catholic Church has decided to actively stand against the evil Obama administration’s attempt to mandate abortion coverage and contraception in healthcare coverage of religious organizations.
In full disclosure, I am an evangelical, conservative, Jesus follower ... in other words ... I am one of those I choose to speak about in this article.
A part of me has to wonder if the Evangelical Church would have done the same thing. Or would they have taken the normal stance and said, “Let’s pray about it” and then go to the next potluck?
I love the church ... I love worship ... It’s medicine to my soul every Sunday morning ... I am there every time the doors are open. But I have to ask myself, would we have had the same conviction as the Catholics Church did this week?
My guess is no.
How many evangelical pastors or “pew sitters” stood up Sunday morning and said enough is enough, you are not crossing this line? How many evangelicals picked up the phone to encourage their pastor to speak out? How many evangelicals called a Catholic priest to let him know you will hold his arms up if he gets weary?
Yes, before you send your hate mail, I know 65 percent of the Catholic Church voted for Obama ... but when slapped in the face with the reality of losing their core convictions, they chose to stand on those convictions.
Do evangelicals have conviction like this or are we too worried about what people think?
Evangelicals live on “preference” not “conviction.”
- They prefer that the slaughter not happen ... but they are not convicted to their soul to fight and say “The slaughter must stop.”
- They prefer that there be no gay marriage... but they are not convicted enough to stand up for their religious freedom to stop hate crimes and the indoctrination of their children all under the name of tolerance and love.
- They prefer that we have a conservative president, Congress and administration ... but are not convicted enough to get involved in the process.
Let me tell you where I see their convictions:
- They are convicted that we need to pass the offering plate ... but prefer to preach nice tickling things to the ears of their sheep while trying to walk both sides of the fence.
- They are convicted that their 501c status is a good thing … but prefer to stay out of anything that might offend the government or one of their sheep.
Yes, let me reiterate, I am talking to myself … one of those evangelical, born again, Jesus-following, church-attending believers.
In the end, I ask you:
Where are the men and women of courage who will live by conviction?
Where are the men and women of courage who will stand even against the strong arm of the government?
Where are the men and women who will decide that it is no longer acceptable to sit on the sidelines as our freedom is taken away?
