Political Pastors

I have not posted much on Obama and Rev. Wright simply because it already everywhere. They have talking heads debating every aspect of the mess 24 hours a day.

I prefer to take the path less traveled. In doing so, it's interesting to look at Sen. John McCain and his association with Rev. John Hagee. McCain has received the endorsement of Pastor John Hagee.

There are definitely some distinct differences here between Obama and Wright and McCain and Hagge. McCain was never a member of Hagee's church. Hagee was never an official member of the McCain campaign. However, Pastor John Hagee has made numerous intolerant comments about Catholics, women, African Americans, Muslims and homosexuals.

Hagee's position that Hurricane Katrina was punishment from God because "New Orleans had a level of sin that was offensive to God and they were recipients of the judgment of God for that." Or his position that "all Muslims have a mandate to kill Christians and Jews." [NPR Fresh Air, 9/18/06] To help students seeking odd jobs, his church newsletter, The Cluster, advertised a "slave" sale. "Slavery in America is returning to Cornerstone," it said. "Make plans to come and go home with a slave."

Here is the question that no one seems to be asking. Where in all of this is the teachings of Christ? Both Hagee and Wright men claim to be ordained members of the clergy. They both claim to follow the same Scripture and serve the same God. But are their churches built around them as individuals or Christ?

I can't tell you how many people are running around calling themselves Reverend, Pastor, Bishop, Minister. Some lead very large churches and often without an overseeing ecclesiastical authority they stray from the Word of God. In fact there are times when even the overseeing authority becomes infected with self righteousness that they lose their own credibility like we now wittiness in the Episcopal church.

John Hagee in a pre-election mailing wrote: "why can’t the church… realize that we are a political force to be reckoned with? As Christians, we must exercise our sacred right to vote…If you vote the Bible, you are voting for the right candidate.”

Sacred means “dedicated to or set apart for the worship of a deity; worthy of religious veneration; made or declared holy.” Can we as Christians honestly describe our privileged right of voting in such a way? And what does Mr. Hagee mean when he talks of “voting the Bible”? Does that mean his interpretation of various passages?

The Bible says that all authority comes from and originates with God. Therefore, if you believe Scripture, then any president past or present, good or bad was granted that position by God. We must also concede that any member of the clergy including Rev. Wright & John Hagee were also granted that position from God.

It is the often seen fall from grace that is self inflicted.