Chuch Baldwin -- The Religious Right Has Huge Blind Spot

Conservative Christians have made a significant contribution to our country and to our culture over the past 25 years. Their efforts on behalf of the pro-life and pro-family causes have at times been courageous and commendable. However, the so-called Religious Right has a glaring blind spot: it seems absolutely oblivious to the loss of personal liberties and national independence.

Issues such as state sovereignty, constitutional government, and personal freedom seem to never appear on the radar screen of the Religious Right. Beyond that, it seems that most Christians actually support the breakdown of those constitutional protections articulated in America's Bill of Rights.

When President Bush and Attorney General John Ashcroft team up with Ted Kennedy and Hillary Clinton to pass Orwellian-style federal programs such as the USA Patriot Act, the Homeland Security Department, and many other police state policies, conservative Christians sit mute and dumb. It is as if the loss of personal freedom means nothing to them. America's Christians today seem to have no resemblance whatsoever to our great Christian forefathers who fought and died to give this country liberty and independence.

It must be remembered that the vast majority of the men and women who fought against the Crown back in 1776 were Christians. They were people who regarded liberty as a sacred gift of God and were willing to resist any despot who sought to trample their freedoms.

George Washington is quoted as saying, "What separates the American Christian from every other person on earth is that he would rather die on his feet than live on his knees." Benjamin Franklin declared, "Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God." The theme "No King But Jesus" rang throughout the colonies during America's fight for independence.

However, the spirit of resistance seems totally lost to America's Christians today. They cavalierly equate humble submission to lawful authority with cowardly compliance to unlawful authority. They seem to have forgotten that the church was birthed in a baptism of resistance to unlawful authority.

Simon Peter declared, "We must obey God rather than men." Christians of the early church were branded as outlaws and criminals by oppressive governments for refusing to submit to their tyrannical laws. As a result, thousands of them paid for their faith with their own blood, being regarded by government leaders as recalcitrant rebels.

How is it that today's Christian leaders have allowed themselves to be silenced? Why are Christian people today weak-kneed and sheepish in their resistance to unbiblical laws? How can they allow a Republican or a Democrat Caesar to usurp the authority of Jesus Christ in their lives? How has it happened that Christians in this country have become so cowardly?

Somehow, pastors and Christian leaders have allowed themselves to be duped by a false faith-system that demands unquestioned submission to political authority. Instead of standing boldly and confidently on the principle of Christ's headship over their lives, they have become willing servants of corrupt political despots.

For all the good religious conservatives have accomplished, this blind spot stands out as a huge and monstrous weakness. Predictably, it is a weakness that is being aggressively exploited by politicians in both parties who seek to undo the legacy of our Christian forebears.

Chuck Baldwin is Founder-Pastor of Crossroads Baptist Church in Pensacola, Florida. In 1985 the church was recognized by President Ronald Reagan for its unusual growth and influence.

Dr. Baldwin is the host of a lively, hard-hitting syndicated radio talk show on the Genesis Communications Network called, "Chuck Baldwin Live" This is a daily, one hour long call-in show in which Dr. Baldwin addresses current event topics from a conservative Christian point of view. Pastor Baldwin writes weekly articles on the internet http://www.ChuckBaldwinLive.com and newspapers.

To learn more about his radio talk show please visit his web site at: http://www.chuckbaldwinlive.com. When responding, please include your name, city and state E-mail: chuck@chuckbaldwinlive.com

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