God may be a Republican, but Jesus would have been a Democrat

In our society, whenever we fear something or don't understand it, we declare war on it. The War on Terror. The War on Drugs. The War on Poverty.

Now our society is declaring war on People Who Think Differently.

Case in point: Pastor Chan Chandler of the East Waynesville Baptist Church in North Carolina has given his congregation an ultimatum - if you don't support George dubya Bush, either repent or resign. Nine members, all Democrats, were told they're not welcome in the church anymore. Forty others, presumable Republicans, have left the church in protest.

The bad news is, intolerance is rising to new heights (or sinking to new depths). The good news is that Christian Republicans have turned their backs on this church. Think about this. North Carolina Republicans. Christians. Denouncing their church. Because of behavior that goes against the teachings of Jesus.

There's hope for them yet.

Daily Kos is running a campaign to publicize the event and ostrasize the church's leader for his unchristian-like behavior. He offers suggestions to help here.

In another act of war:

Hyde Park's Summit Country Day School invited Kansas Gov. Kathleen Gilligan Sebelius to be this year's commencement speaker.

But the independent Catholic school uninvited her after talking to Cincinnati Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk about the Democratic governor's support for abortion rights.

"We initially nominated her because we were proud of her career successes," Carol Boyd, the school's spokeswoman, said today.

"After further consideration, we rescinded our invitation."

And finally, the Palm Beach, Florida diocese feels that the Judge who decided that L.G., the 13 year old runanway who became pregnant, could choose to have an abortion, should be denied communion.

Granted, a religion should be allowed to dictate it's doctrine. But a Judge is required to put his personal beliefs aside in order to rule based on existing laws. We're not a theocracy yet, and the laws clearly imply that the Judge ruled correctly. To deny him absolution as prescribed by his faith is highly unchristian.

So war has unequivocably been declared. "Christians" no longer have christian values. Those of us with christian values (compassion, mercy, tolerance) are considered "godless". Greed, hate, and intolerance are the new path to "salvation". Well, not exactly new, since they're reminiscent of the Crusades centuries ago, which led the rest of the world to mistrust us (Christians, that is, since America didn't exist yet) enough to instill the hate that plaques us today in the form of terrorist attacks.

Hate fosters hate. Intolerance begets intolerance. And greed propagates power, which corrupts exponentially (i.e. Bush, DeLay, Frist).

Jesus said, "Judge not, lest you be judged" (Matthew 7:1). He also said, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy" (Matthew 5:7), and, "if you love only them which love you, what reward have you gained?" (Matthew 5:46).

Memo to Christians: You are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14). But if that light is under a bushel, it's lost something kinda crucial (Godspell). Which seems to be the ailment of organized religion these days.