Proclaiming yourself a Christian is not the most common thing on Daily Kos. In fact, I would venture to say that a significant percentage of people here are either indifferent or hostile to organized religion. But for me my politics follow my faith - I am a Democrat because for me, the Democratic Party is the only national party whose acts match my faith.
As a life long Episcopalian, the teachings of Thomas Cranmer form the foundation of my beliefs. His work on the Acts of Supremacy laid the foundation for our own concept of separation of Church and State. It took Cranmer and Thomas Cromwell to separate the state from the church, to make the Government supreme on earth, so that Washington and Jefferson could separate the Church from the State and make God supreme with he individual.
Much of my early life in the church was passive. I was there every Sunday, was confirmed as a teenager and both my children were baptized shortly after birth. Sometime after my son was baptized I began to play a more active role in the church - not because I wanted to but because I had to. The church we were members of was being divided by disagreements in doctrine and "action." One part of the church wanted to be active 7 days a week while another was "one and done." It was at this time that I started to learn what it being a Christian means.
James 2:14-26
What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
I read this and wonder how Republican "Christians" can live with themselves. How can you vote to cut AFDC or Headstart and still enter Gods house? The Bible speaks of caring for the poor over
300 times - mostly in the Old Testament. Of course most Republican "Christians" are familiar with the Old Testament because of Leviticus 18 and 20 telling us
not to have homosexual relations. They somehow seem to miss the "no adultery" portions of both Leviticus 18 and 20 along with the four references to taking care of the poor elsewhere in Leviticus. How do Republican "Christians" square denying (insert everything) to homosexuals based on "faith" and the "Bible" without a word about adultery?
Many Republican "Christians" seem to treat the Bible and the teachings of Jesus like a trip to the Golden Coral buffet - a little of this and a little of that. While they are perfectly willing to proclaim faith as justification for opposing sexual and racial matters they are silent on anything involving their wallet. Matthew 31 makes it clear that those who ignore the poor and the hungry risk their place in Gods Kingdom. I find it amazing that those who proclaim the loudest that their faith demands they reject homosexuals as equal in Gods eyes will simultaneously risk their eternal soul for a few pieces of silver.
To me the Democratic Party has failed in giving away "faith" to Republicans ever since President Carter left office. Johnson's Great Society is a blueprint for a "Christian" government. Acceptance of homosexuals is no different than accepting - not killing - adulterers. Maybe God will judge them, but I will not. Ever since Reagan Democrats have run away from anything having to do with faith despite being the party that Jesus would endorse.
Many here oppose the very idea of belief and prayer. Before dismissing those who believe, look at what they believe. You mind find that you have more in common than you believe. :)