Friday, June 17, 2005
A Vanishing Breed of Republican
An eminently reasonable op-ed by former Republican Senator (and UN ambassador) John Danforth defending "moderate" Christianity. Key quote (one of many):
Unfortunately, too many in the current Republican party consider the words "reasonable" and "moderate" to be pejorative, if not slanderous. I think it's clear why he didn't last as UN ambassador....
Moderate Christians are less certain about when and how our beliefs can be translated into statutory form, not because of a lack of faith in God but because of a healthy acknowledgement of the limitations of human beings. Like conservative Christians, we attend church, read the Bible and say our prayers.
But for us, the only absolute standard of behavior is the commandment to love our neighbors as ourselves. Repeatedly in the Gospels, we find that the Love Commandment takes precedence when it conflicts with laws. We struggle to follow that commandment as we face the realities of everyday living, and we do not agree that our responsibility to live as Christians can be codified by legislators.
Unfortunately, too many in the current Republican party consider the words "reasonable" and "moderate" to be pejorative, if not slanderous. I think it's clear why he didn't last as UN ambassador....
