by Smitty (h/t Dodgeblogium)

Just How Political Is Christianity?

. . . Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.

Mat 22:21

Actual Evangelicals are too busy evangelizing to be political. Separation of church and State, prior to Progressivism becoming the de facto State religion, still means that actual churches don’t fret politics. I’ve yet to ever see a politician near the pulpit in my local house of worship.
Thus, it is with amusement that one turns to Politico’s attempt to sew division in the Tea Party camp, emphasis mine:

The rise of a new conservative grass roots fueled by a secular revulsion at government spending is stirring fears among leaders of the old conservative grass roots, the evangelical Christian right.

Can’t say I’ve heard of any.

A reeling economy and the massive bank bailout and stimulus plan were the triggers for a resurgence in support for the Republican Party and the rise of the tea party movement. But they’ve also banished the social issues that are the focus of many evangelical Christians to the background.

The Federal Constitution is highly libertarian in character. Problems arise when DC thinks “promote the general Welfare” in the Preamble means that interfering with individuals is a good idea.

And while health care legislation has brought social and economic conservatives together to fight government funding of abortion, some social conservative leaders have begun to express concern that tea party leaders don’t care about their issues, while others object to the personal vitriol against President Barack Obama, whose personal conduct many conservative Christians applaud.

Let’s see:

• Relative to Bill Clinton, BHO is a model husband. (Golf clap).
• Cigarette smoking, not so much.
• Utter inconsistency in public statements, (boo hiss).

While not feeling qualified to set myself up in ultimate judgement of BHO as a man, I’m not sure that he’s in great shape by a Biblical measure. Who are these applauding conservative Christians, exactly?

Just How Religious Is Progressivism?

“There’s a libertarian streak in the tea party movement that concerns me as a cultural conservative,” said Bryan Fischer, director of Issue Analysis for Government and Public Policy at the American Family Association. “The tea party movement needs to insist that candidates believe in the sanctity of life and the sanctity of marriage.”

Mr. Fischer, sir, we need to split the difference here. While I fully, 100% subscribe to the sanctity of life, and I agree that the symbol “marriage” means exactly what you think it meant, means, and shall mean, from alpha to omega, I don’t think individual social concerns are a proper Federal issue, for the following reason:

You go beyond the notion of the Constitution protecting you from the Federal government, and instead assert that the Federal government can and should tell you what to do.

It is a bad enough thing that the 16th Amendment gives DC eminent domain over your wallet, Mr. Fischer. This must be repealed. Also, DC writing more invasive Census questionnaires, fretting about your education, health care, housing, and retirement are false.
Precedent sucks, on the one hand, and morality cannot be legislated, on the other. Let us disabuse ourselves of Al Gore’s notion of legislative redemption. Fret about it at your state and local level.
Drinking Al Gore’s Progressive kool-aid is exactly what the adversary would have you do. Is it possible that Progressivism is a lie from the pit?

Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

Mat 4:8-9

I’ll serve up those dots, and let the reader connect them.

Conclusion

I go to church, not Tea Party protests, to hear preaching. The notions are orthogonal, and should remain so, in the American context.
Conversely, if I was a Progressive, wetting myself at the prospect of a Great Political Awakening, attempting to divide the house of the opposition against itself by any means available would seem a smart tactic.

For further reading, your attention is drawn to Gateway Pundit, (h/t Left Coast Rebel via Insty)

See also American Power.

For a negative example, the PuffHo.  I understand what “justice” and “social” mean apart, but there seems to be magic in “social justice” that involves legislating morality.  The Christian’s attention is drawn to Romans 7 for an exposition of why the law, in and of itself isn’t the answer.