Evangelical Christians

There is nothing that gets me more riled up than listening to SRN News in the morning. It's one of those things that makes me want to sit and write ten posts, one for each news point, when I really have more important things I should be doing. Today I jotted down some recent newslines which triggered irritation. For a news company that talks a lot about Christian values, it sure is biased and presumptuous in "proclaiming" what Christians believe or want to hear. I admit I don't have all the quotes word-for-word, but I tried to capture the basic reports:

1. There is nothing that will mobilize evangelical Christians more than standing against the election of Hillary Clinton. I thought of this juxtaposed against the recent railings from Christians against Iranian President Ahmadinejad. We say Iran is an evil place because of its suppression of women, yet Iran has had two women for Vice-President and the US has had . . . how many? The Christian hatred I hear voiced against women like Hillary Clinton or Katie Couric, CBS news anchor, reveal to me a deep-seeded mistrust of women . . . women who break the stereotypes, women who stand up for issues, women who are willing to use their leadership gifts to make a difference. I have heard Christians label Hillary as evil -- more evil than any man running for President, I wonder? I even heard someone imply Hillary should not be respected since she is obviously not submissive to her husband. What??? I wonder what President Ahmadinejad thinks of Christians who condemn him so much in this area of suppression of women? America doesn't want women in politics - yet we allow them flashing half-clad bodies on the front covers of the tabloids at all check-out counters. In what ways is that empowering women? What a Christian nation we are.

2. Tragic -- more and more Evangelical Christians are "straying" from the Republican party (85%-45% drop). You would think that we would worry more about how many are "straying" from the Church! When do we equate the Republican party with the "fold," our Christian home? Can one be Christian and support Democratic policies? Hmmm. . . .

3. We proudly announce that Evangelical Christians have contributed $10 million toward the repairs and rebuilding of bomb shelters in Israel. Wow! Is that something to be proud of? So evangelical Christians are supporting the Middle East conflict. Instead of money toward peace efforts, we support bomb shelters, acknowledging and expecting more war. No faith that peace is possible. It confirms what I heard a Christian say once, "why worry so much about the Middle East conflict? It started in Bible times and it says there will always be emnity there . . . " So evangelical Christians subscribe to the hopeless state of our Earth . . . we'd rather sit in our bunkers than work for transformation that Christ claimed is now possible through His Church?

Hmmm . . . it all makes me wonder if I really want to be labeled an Evangelical Christian.