Right-Wing Exposed

Limbaugh, Hannity and other right-wing talk radio gurus regularly tell us that America has not had another terrorism attack on our soil since 9-11 due to the successful war on terror being waged by the Bush Administration.  They mention the Iraq War and the Patriot Act as major reasons for our respite from terror.  I believe that they will soon be forced to swallow their words, as America comes under the most devastating attack in our nation’s history; an attack that will prove the failure of President Bush’s anti-terror policies, including the Patriot Act and our invasion of Iraq.

It will be seven years this September since Al Qaeda’s previous assault on America.  Why is that significant?  The number seven is an extremely meaningful and important number in the Bible, the holy book for both Christians and Jews.  I believe that our enemy is planning a seven-year surprise for our nation.  Remember that Al Qaeda selected a significant American number, 9-11, for their previous attack.  I predict that this time their number will be “seven”, Christianity’s and Judaism’s special Biblical number.  I expect that Al Qaeda plans to present us with their version of a special seven-year anniversary gift; a colossal, devastating, nationwide attack producing hundreds of thousands of casualties.  And,  I would suggest that the exact date may very well be September 7th, 2008, seven years after 9-11.  Our enemy will probably declare their attack to be “pay-back” for our invasion of Iraq, and for our presence in general on Islamic soil.

Why am I making this daring prediction?  And, what do I think the attack will be?  I am making this prediction because I believe it will happen.  Al Qaeda has not forgotten about us; they still hate us intensely.  They have not decided to leave us alone, while attacking other locations around the globe.  Let us not forget that they refer to us as the “Great Satan”.  Moreover, the reason we have not been attacked thus far is not because of Bush’s Patriot Act, because random suicide bombers could have blown themselves up at various public venues numerous times since 9-11, as they have continued to do in many spots throughout the world.  And, Bush’s invasion of Iraq has only intensified their hatred of us, not mitigated it.  Yet, we have been “attack free” for over six years.  What’s going on?

Our enemy spent several years planning 9-11; an attack limited to a few targets in a couple of cities.  This time they’re planning something bigger.  This time it will be nationwide.  This time the casualties may number in the hundreds of thousands.  This time they want to crash our stock market and bring America to its knees.  This time they want to hit more than just America’s commerce and transportation industry.  This time they want to hit America’s lifestyle, its soul, and everything we hold dear.  This time they want to attack our religion, our recreation, our pastimes, as well as our transportation and commerce. 

What will the attack be?  I mentioned the fact that suicide bombers could have easily attacked our restaurants, hotels and other venues in the past, but they have completely refrained.  Why?  Suicide bomber attacks have been Al Qaeda’s favorite and most effective means of attack throughout the world.  And, America is their number one enemy.  Doesn’t it seem a bit peculiar that Al Qaeda has exempted their top enemy from their favorite and most effective method of terrorism?  There is only one logical answer.  They have not wanted to alert us in advance of what’s coming.  If they had used suicide bombers before in America, we would be “on the lookout” for them at our public gatherings.  We would have utilized special bomb detection devices at our public venues.  This would have prevented them from succeeding with a major terrorist attack of this nature.  However, America has “conveniently” never had a single suicide bombing attack, which has resulted in us not being “on alert” for them.  In other words, we are a ”sitting duck” for such an event as the one I’m about to describe.

September 7th, 2008, seven years after 9-11, just happens to be opening day for the National Football League, when stadiums across America will be filled to capacity.  At the same time, Major League Baseball will be entering the final weeks of the pennant races, when baseball stadiums will be jammed with fans.  September 7th of this year also happens to be on a Sunday, when “America’s religion”, Christianity, meets to worship in churches across our nation.  Furthermore, many of these churches are mega-churches with thousands of Christians packed shoulder to shoulder.  Sundays are also big days for amusement parks and shopping malls.  For terrorists who like significance, and who like to get their “bang for their buck”,  there could be no more effective time to simultaneously attack America’s religion, recreation, pastimes and commerce than on a Sunday in September, especially a Sunday that falls seven years after 9-11, on the 7th day of the month.

Imagine several hundred suicide bombers simultaneously detonating their bomb vests in sports stadiums, shopping malls, Christian mega-churches, amusement parks, hotels, restaurants, and airline, Amtrak and bus terminals in cities across America, including the normally safe and peaceful cities in the heartland of America, such as St. Louis, Kansas City, Minneapolis etc.  The casualties could number in the hundreds of thousands, and our economy would come to a standstill, as people would be afraid to enter any and all public buildings, choosing to stay in the safety of their own homes.  Al Qaeda would have reserved their favorite method of terrorism, suicide bombing, for one simultaneous, unexpected, colossal, nationwide attack.  And, they would have pulled it off “under the radar” of Bush’s vaunted Patriot Act, as they patiently utilized face to face communications and hand-written notes that Bush’s wiretapping could not detect or stop.

I don’t want to be “chicken little”, but I do believe that a scenario similar to the one I’ve described is coming soon.  And, as the likes of Hannity and Limbaugh have been pointing to more than six years without an attack as being evidence that Bush’s strategies are working, the real truth is that Al Qaeda has been using this time to plan a terrorist event that will make 9-11 seem like a non-event by comparison.  Furthermore, Al Qaeda’s operatives have been spending their time “fitting in” with the environments that they will soon attack.  They have purchased season tickets and have been attending the games for the past two or three years at the stadiums they will bomb.  They have been weekly attendees at worship services at the mega-churches they will attack.  They have been regular patrons at the hotels, restaurants and shopping malls they will blowup.  They have become well-known and trusted in their environments, waiting for the precise moment when they will all simultaneously detonate their bomb vests on a day that may well be remembered and labeled as being “Black Sunday”.

If I am correct, and I fear that I am, this may well be the event that prompts us to bring our soldiers home from Iraq to protect our own cities.  This may well be the event that changes America’s foreign policy forever.  

I have chosen to dedicate this week’s “Right-Wing Thursday” segment to conservative, talk radio host, Michael Medved.  Mike has certainly earned the spotlight for this week based on the foolish, judgmental, biased remarks he made on his program today.  You can probably guess who his comments were about; who else, but Senator Obama and Pastor Jeremiah Wright.  Although right-wing talkers’ focus upon them is certainly nothing new, Mike decided to go even farther than he’s done in previous shows.

Today Medved revealed himself to be more than just an ordinary, arrogant, biased, right-wing broadcaster; today he made known that he is also a mind-reader.  Mike told his audience that Senator Obama was lying about being a sincere Christian; moreover, that he had only joined Pastor Wright’s church for political reasons.  I was astounded to hear this new talent that Mike possessed.  He had just read the thoughts, purposes and motives of Obama’s heart in a moment’s time.  Medved had told me things that I didn’t know.  In fact, he may have revealed things that Obama himself didn’t even know.  Senator Obama may have to contact Mike to thank him for making known these thoughts and motives of which he himself had not been aware.

Alright, I’ll lay off the sarcasm and get right to the point.  Mr. Medved, since when did you become God?  You claim to be a dedicated, religious Jew.  The Old Testament, which you espouse to believe and obey, states that man can only see the outward things of a person, and that God alone can see the heart.  So, why do you, a self-proclaimed religious Jew, ignore and disobey God’s Word by claiming to know the thoughts and intents of Senator Obama’s heart?  He could also accuse you of not being a sincere Jew based on your disobedience of the Old Testament.

Mike also stated that Obama belonged to a “crackpot” church.  What about Medved’s Evangelical friends who teach that their God is going to torture unconverted people throughout the trillions of years of eternity in a horrific inferno that causes them to wail and gnash their teeth?  If their torment was limited to one trillion years, based on a 75 year lifespan, it would equal two million years of agonizing torture for each and every hour they had lived on earth.  I’d say that Evangelicals who espouse and believe this sadistic teaching would also qualify as being a “crackpot” church.  What about it Mike, are you going to be fair and denounce them as crackpots also? 

The choice of topic seems easy this week for “Right-Wing Thursday”.  Everyone is talking about Obama and his pastor, Jeremiah Wright, especially conservative talk radio.  Are right-wing talkers, like Prager, Medved and Hannity, just sincerely searching for the truth for the good of our nation?  Or, are they “swiftboating” Obama?

Why would I, an Evangelical pastor, even suggest such a thing?  I’ll tell you why, because of the glaring double standard.  Obama is being attacked because of his continued friendship with Pastor Wright despite Wright’s hateful statements and his questionable associations with the likes of Louis Farrakhan.  Obama’s renunciation of Wright’s remarks is not good enough for Republicans.  They insist that Obama should ostracize and renounce Pastor Wright himself.

I have a question for my conservative friends.  What about Pat Robertson and John Hagee?  Have any of the Republican Party’s recent presidential candidates completely ostracized and renounced them, not just their inflammatory remarks?  If Pastor Wright is guilty of prejudiced and hateful speech, what about Robertson and Hagee?

John Hagee publicly states that Catholics, who actually believe in Jesus, are not truly Christians, which would mean that they could not go to heaven; notwithstanding, he states that Jews, who do not believe in Jesus, can  go to heaven without Him.  Moreover, in his book, “Jerusalem Countdown”, Hagee said: “Most readers will be shocked by the clear record of history linking Adolph Hitler and the Roman Catholic Church in a conspiracy to exterminate the Jews.”  Hagee is clearly pro-Jew and anti-Catholic, and his words are certainly prejudiced and hateful.  And, Hagee “milks the gospel” financially.  Information released in 2001 revealed that Hagee and his wife had a combined “gospel income” of nearly one and one-half million dollars.  I’ve got a feeling that he is probably paying himself several times more than Pastor Wright’s gospel wages.  If right-wing pundits want Obama to officially denounce Wright himself, they should also ask the Republican Party to denounce Hagee.

Then, there’s Pat Robertson.  If Pastor Wright’s speech is hateful, what about Pat Robertson?  He publicly advocated assassinating the President of Venezuela.  And, he referred to non-Christians as termites who needed to be fumigated.  I’d say that’s pretty hateful.  Oh yes, they say that Pastor Wright is also guilty of blaming our nation’s policies towards African Americans as being the cause of 9-11.  Well, I seem to remember that Pat Robertson did the same thing, by blaming America’s abortion and “gay” policies as also being the cause of 9-11.  Then, there’s that accusation that Pastor Wright kept company with “bad guys” like Louis Farrakhan.  I guess I need to jog the memories of my right-wing friends regarding Pat Robertson’s evil associations.  Robertson associated with, befriended and even entered into business relationships with brutal dictators such as Rios Montt of Guatemala, Mobuto Sese Seko of the former Zaire, and Charles Taylor of Liberia, who was indicted as a war criminal.  According to my scorecard, I’m pretty sure that Robertson has Pastor Wright beat when it comes to hanging around with “bad guys”.  And, when it comes to that “milking the gospel” thing again,  Pat Robertson lives in a huge mansion with a private airstrip on a Virginia mountain, and has a net worth of about $140 million.  I suspect that Pastor Wright hasn’t amassed a “gospel wealth” quite the size of Robertson’s.  Once again, if right-wing pundits want Obama to officially denounce Wright himself, they should also demand that the Republican Party denounce Robertson.  If not, can you say “hypocrisy” with a capital “H”?

Well, well, what have our right-wing talkers been up to this week?  These guys know how to “talk trash” better than professional sports athletes.  Rush Limbaugh, the king of trash talk, can always be counted on to come through with some whoppers.  While commenting on the Clinton and Obama race, Rush said that the “super delegate” system used by Democrats displays their ignorance.  He then asked why we would want to trust our health care system to be managed by such people as them, stating that these ignorant Democrats would run up a huge debt for our nation.  Knock, knock Rush, is anybody home?  Have you heard about the huge national debt we’ve run up under the Bush Administration?  Have you heard about the half a trillion dollars we’ve squandered in Iraq?  Have you heard about the collapse of our housing market and the devaluation of the dollar during the Bush Administration?

Limbaugh also stated that the Democrats super delegate system showed that they don’t trust their own voters, and revealed their lack of morality, integrity and character.  Rush, can you say hypocrisy?  When it comes to not trusting your party’s voters, what about you and your fellow right-wing talkers?  Every day throughout the primary races Republican voters were being told who to, and not to, vote for by Rush and his cohorts.  Obviously these right-wing talk gurus don’t trust their fellow Republican voters either.

When it comes to the morality, integrity and character accusations against Democrats, Limbaugh was not alone.  Michael Medved and Hugh Hewitt joined Rush in his character inquisition of Democrats.  Hewitt devoted 30 minutes to having his listeners call in and vote for who is more sleazy and immoral, Eliot Spitzer or Bill Clinton.  Hugh, why didn’t you make the choice between Spitzer and Larry Craig? 

Michael Medved did a comparison of Spitzer with Kwame Kilpatrick, the Democratic Mayor of Detroit, in which Medved stated that most scandals involve Democrats.  Are you sure about that, Michael?  What about Bob Barr, the Republican congressman from Georgia?  What about Mark Foley, the Republican congressman from Florida?  What about Ken Calvert, the Republican congressman from California?  What about Ed Schrock, the Republican congressman from Virginia?  What about Helen Chenoweth, the Republican congresswoman from Idaho?  What about Larry Craig, the Republican senator from Idaho?  What about Duke Cunningham, the Republican congressman from California?  What about Philip Giordano, the Republican mayor from Waterbury, Connecticut?  What about Jim West, the Republican mayor from Spokane, Washington?  What about Louis Beres, the Republican chairman of the Oregon Christian Coalition?  Do you need more reminders, Mr. Medved?  I assure you that more could be recited.

I guess it’s probably time to stop for this week’s edition of “Right-Wing Thursday”.  You can only stomach so much of these guys’ rhetoric.  This will allow us a week to recover until next week’s “spotlight” on the “not right”.   

It is common knowledge that the right-wing movement represents Israel’s major support base in America.  Whatever issue, turmoil or conflict is brewing between Israel and the Palestinians, right-wingers are sure to be “pro-Israel”.  Of course, much of the right-wing is comprised of Evangelicals.  And, Evangelicals’ support of Israel is more than political; it is also religious or spiritual.  Evangelicals choose to believe that the physical nation of Israel is still God’s chosen nation today, and that God favors Jews above all other people.  With that kind of bias it’s obvious why they are always pro-Israel regardless of who is right or wrong.

Evangelicals also claim that Israel worships the same God that Christians worship, whereas they say that Islam worships a different God.  However, the Islamic religion actually holds Jesus Christ, who is the Lord and Savior of Christians, in much higher esteem than does Judaism.  Islam regards Jesus as being one of the greatest prophets of God, but Judaism, at best, only regards Him as being a good man and a teacher.  There is an obvious unjust double standard being employed here by Evangelicals.  How can Judaism, the religion that esteems Jesus the least, be worshipping the same God as Christians, while Islam which esteems Jesus much more highly, is worshipping a different God than Christians?

It is interesting that Evangelicals intentionally contradict the specific teachings of their own New Testament, as they conspire to deceive Americans by stating that Israel also worships the God of Christianity.  Evangelicals are fully aware that their prospective new converts to Christianity are taught that, in order to be accepted by the Father God of Christianity, they must place their faith in Jesus and profess Him as being the divine Son of God, Savior, Lord and as having risen from the dead after His crucifixion.  The New Testament clearly states that all who do not profess this kind of faith in Jesus have denied, and do not have, a relationship with Christianity’s Father God.  The nation of Israel and Judaism do not profess Jesus to be Savior, Lord and the Son of God, and therefore do not worship the God of Christianity.  Evangelical leaders know this!  So, why have they conspired to tell this lie to the American public?  Obviously, it must be the result of their own bias and their political desires concerning Israel.

Evangelical leaders also know that Jesus said that God had rejected the nation of Israel as being a favored nation because of their rejection of Him.  And, they know that the New Testament states in many places that Jew and Gentile are “one and the same” to God now, and that no one is favored above another.  If you are interested in hearing the biblical evidence that proves these things, I encourage you to listen to my podcast titled, “The Bible Truth About Israel”.

I call upon Evangelical leaders to stop this deception and prejudice, and to put an end to this Israel conspiracy.  Only then can they ever hope to have a balanced perspective of the issues between Israel and the Palestinian people. 

After seven long years of the Bush Presidency I thought it appropriate to consider the results of the combination of Bush’s religion and his politics.  He began his drive for the Presidency by securing the support of America’s Evangelicals when He said that Jesus was his hero in Iowa in 2000, and he rode their support to victory over Al Gore in the famous “judicial election”.  And, it was certainly the Evangelical vote that gave him his narrow victory over John Kerry in 2004.  Bush’s professed Christianity was unquestionably his political salvation in both elections.

Now, in retrospect, how did Bush’s religion influence his politics in the Oval Office, and how did his politics influence his religion?  Certainly Bush’s invasion of Iraq will be viewed as his most controversial decision.  Was it possibly influenced by his religion? 

There is a doctrinal belief held by many Christians known as predestination.  This doctrine teaches that God has predestined everything for every person He creates, including every word that we speak and every thing that we do.  Naturally people who believe this doctrine have an extremely strong sense of purpose and mission, as well as an unwavering confidence that they are making the right decision at all times.  This is because they believe that all of their decisions and actions are God’s will in motion.

Why do I bring this up?  Because President Bush has exhibited these same characteristics throughout his Presidency.  He stubbornly goes ahead with whatever he wants to do regardless of the opposition.  And, it is obvious that he thinks his decisions are always right.  In fact, in one of the Presidential debates with John Kerry, when he was asked to name just one mistake he had made while in office, he could not think of one single mistake.  That’s an amazing accomplishment!  President Bush completed his first four years in office without an error.  Only a Christian who believes in predestination could possibly have such confidence; only someone who does indeed believe that all of his decisions have been controlled by God Himself.

It is also noteworthy that the history of both Bush Presidencies and their mutual experiences with Iraq certainly create a perfect predestination scenario.  Did President George W Bush consider it his divine calling to invade Iraq and to complete the work begun by his father in 1991?  Does he believe that God predestined the Bush Presidency, as many Christian conservatives suggested after the 9-11 attacks, and that he is doing the predetermined work of God in his “war on terror”, which mutated to his invasion of Iraq?  If he adheres to a predestination philosophy, this is unquestionably his view, and his words and actions in the Oval Office seem to agree.  Have we possibly sacrificed the lives of 4000 brave American soldiers and countless thousands of Iraqi civilians over a religious mindset of our President?

Did Bush’s religion also influence his decision to channel federal funds through religious organizations via his faith-based initiative?  Besides the obvious concerns over separation of church and state, there is probably a far greater issue that dwarfs the church and state question.  As I clearly document in my book and in blogs and podcasts on this website, the American Church has degenerated into a selfish, greedy, materialistic organization with corrupt dealings that include practices of price gouging to the tune of 2000% markups on the “free gospel”.  Should we be channeling federal funds through such an unethical organization?

And, has a demented teaching within Bush’s religion also been responsible for Bush’s approval of the use of torture upon enemy prisoners?  I encourage you to listen to my podcast titled, “Evangelical Sadism”, which will alarm and appall you.  It should suffice to say that anyone who considers it to be fair and just punishment for their God to torture people two million years for every hour they lived on this planet, has a warped and sadistic sense of what constitutes equitable justice and punishment.  Obviously, for such a person, toruring enemy prisoners for a mere few days or weeks would probably seem to be extremely fair and just by comparison.  And, President Bush’s Christian denomination does indeed espouse this demented religious belief.

We’ve seen how Bush’s religion has influenced his politics, but how has his politics influenced his religion?  To begin with, it has taught him a new style of prayer.  Jesus told His followers to pray to God in His (Jesus’) name.  Why have none of President Bush’s public prayers over the past seven years been offered in Jesus’ name?  The answer is obvious.  It would have been political suicide.  It is also obvious, therefore, that President Bush’s political office is more important to him than being faithful to Jesus.  Perhaps he should not have run for political office if it was going to cause him to disobey Jesus with every public prayer he’s offered over the past seven years. 

Also, what about all of the misleading and inaccurate statements concerning Iraq?  Does President Bush know that one of the Ten Commandments deals with deception and dishonesty?  Does he think that it is alright to stretch the truth if you’re in public office?  What is more important to him, Christian principles that include honesty, or maintaining political power?

Furthermore, wasn’t President Bush aware of another one of the Ten Commandments regarding not bowing to idols?  The Meiji Shrine in Tokyo, Japan was erected to house the spirits of the late emperor Meiji who revitalized Shintoism’s emperor worship.  Shinto worshippers clap to awaken the emperor’s spirit and then bow in worship to him.  Although knowing that it is forbidden for a Christian to bow before idols, President Bush participated in Shintoism by also clapping to awaken the spirit of Meiji and then bowing before him in worship.  He may have shrugged it off as foreign diplomacy, but Christians in Japan called it public idol worship.  It is apparent that President Bush’s political priorities frequently outweigh his Christian principles.

What we’ve had the privilege of watching the past seven years is the President Bush “two-step dance” between his politics and his religion.  And, he hasn’t done either one very well.  You can’t have it both ways, George.  You’re either a Christian who adheres to Christian principles even if it results in political suicide, or you’re a politician who does what it takes to stay in office.  Your double-life has been painful to watch and a continuance of compromises and contradictions.

Today’s blog covers the same subject as yesterday’s podcast because I believe it is a very important topic, and many visitors to websites do not listen to audio.  Therefore, I’m repeating it in written form.  There will, however, also be a new podcast posted later this evening, and you will want to hear it.  But, now for the blog:

One of the most effective and longest lasting lies in the history of mankind is housed within the doctrines of the Christian Church.  This lie has been cherished and supported by the vast majority of Christian leaders for centuries.  The most famous and respected Christian preachers and teachers in today’s contemporary Church also embrace and espouse this great lie.  And, great efforts have been made in recent church history to maintain the cover-up of this cherished lie.  The Christian Church in America has even united with secular state, county and city governments throughout America’s history to legally enforce this lie.

What is this great lie and cover-up?  It is the Christian Church’s revered tradition of Sunday observance and worship.  This tradition goes back at least 1700 years.  It is, therefore, a nearly 2000-year-old lie and cover-up.

Why is it a lie?  What is the cover-up?  And, how has the Church combined with secular government to legally enforce it?  We’ll answer the last question first.

Throughout much of the history of America the Christian Church has united with secular government to enact and enforce “Sunday laws”, also sometimes referred to as blue laws.  Even to this day there are counties and cities across America that still have these Sunday laws in effect requiring certain businesses to remain closed on the first day of the week, Sunday.  Why Sunday?  Because Sunday has been the Christian Church’s day of worship.  And, the Church united with the state to legally recognize and enforce their “special day”.

I will write more about this in a moment, and the great significance and threat it poses for our nation in the midst of our current cultural battle in America between the religious right wing and our secular society.  But, first we need to answer the other two questions.  Why is Sunday observance and worship a lie?  And, what is the cover-up?

Most non-Christian Americans probably assume that Sunday-keeping has its origin in the Bible via some specific commandments from God.  That would be a reasonable and logical assumption to make based on the Church’s exaltation of the first day of the week, Sunday.  Also, they probably have heard Christian preachers refer to Sunday as the Sabbath because this is commonly done.  Moreover, Sunday observance is presented as being a biblical obligation by many preachers.

So, what’s the lie?  The Bible does not either command or encourage Sunday observance or worship.  There is not one single passage in the entire Bible that commands people to honor or worship on Sunday.  In fact, there is not a single passage where God ever blesses the first day of the week, Sunday, period.  Moreover, the Bible clearly states that God’s Sabbath is on the seventh day of the week, Saturday, and that He did bless and sanctify the seventh day, but not Sunday.  So, all of these statements by Christian preachers are absolute, unarguable lies!

What is the cover-up?  Christian preachers have gone farther into dishonesty in order to cover-up their great lie that Sunday is the Sabbath, by deceptively saying that Sunday is the “Lord’s Day”, and that it needs to be kept to honor Jesus’ resurrection.  What’s the deception here?  Once again, there’s not one single passage in the entire Bible that says Christians are to observe the first day of the week, Sunday, in order to honor Jesus’ resurrection.  And, Jesus Himself stated that the “Lord’s Day” is the seventh day, Saturday, not Sunday.

We obviously have a real dishonesty problem with most Christian leaders, which should serve as a warning to all Americans.  I conclusively prove their dishonesty beyond the shadow of a doubt in my podcast titled, “The Bible Truth About Sunday”, which will be posted in a couple of days.

I ask you to consider the Church’s usage of government Sunday laws to force compliance with their religious dogma in the past.  If they’ve united with the state before in order to enforce compliance with religious beliefs, it is likely that they will do so again if given the opportunity.  Remember, they succeeded in enforcing a religious dogma that is not even supported in the Bible.

Now think about it.  If they’ve messed with the Bible, which they claim to love and revere, will they not also mess with our Constitution if given the chance?  America beware!  The Christian Church, primarily the right wing Evangelical movement, is once again expanding into politics with intentions to take over our government and to control its policies.

Today’s blog is the first of a brief four-part series on right-wing hypocrisy.  We all know that right wingers claim to be the champions of good morals in America.  Of course, much of the right-wing movement is made up of Evangelicals.  And, they have appointed themselves as watchmen over America’s secular culture.

The Evangelical movement led by James Dobson’s “Focus on the Family” organization, has often denounced Hollywood for all of the violent entertainment it produces.  They say that the abundance of violence is corrupting America’s children.  A great deal of their focus has been on many violent video games being marketed to our kids.  And, I do share their concern about many of these violent video games.

So, where’s the hypocrisy?  A little more than a year ago a new Christian video game hit the market.  It is titled “Left Behind Eternal Forces”, picking up on the famous Left Behind novel series.  The game is licensed by Tyndale House, which is also the publisher of some of James Dobson’s books.  The problem with this game is that it is also violent.

Left Behind Eternal Forces pictures the Earth after the Evangelicals’ supposed “secret rapture” event.  There are two types of people presented in this game; those who have become Christians after the rapture, and those who are not Christians.  And, Christian kids can play the part of the Christians and shoot to kill the infidels.

I find this to be troubling and hypocritical.  If it is wrong for Hollywood to produce violent entertainment, why is it alright for Evangelicals to do so, and to market this game within Evangelical churches?  Does violence become acceptable if Evangelicals can make money on it?  This is pure hypocrisy.

It is also interesting that Tim LaHaye, one of the authors of the Left Behind novel series, told the LA Times that he hoped Christian teenagers like the game.  In other words, he hoped that Christian kids had fun blowing away non-Christians in this apparently “Christian-approved”, violent video game. Can you say, “do as I say, not as I do”?

As we continue this four-part series on right-wing hypocrisy, we’ll focus on the right-wing’s propensity to liberally dispense family and marriage advice in an effort to save our culture.  Of course, leading the charge in this effort is James Dobson and his “Focus on the Family” organization.

Dobson and his Evangelical cohorts tell us that our American society is quickly degenerating.  They point to the breakup of the traditional American family, divorce and increasing addiction rates to alcohol, drugs and pornography.  And, I agree that these are troubling signs in our culture.

So, where’s the hypocrisy?  Jesus said that we are to “remove the log from our own eye before we attempt to remove the logs from the eyes of others”.  In other words, before we begin sharing our expert advice with others about any issue, we had better be sure that we have that issue under control ourselves.

Surveys done within the Evangelical Church over the past several years by the “Barna Research Group” have revealed some very troubling statistics.  Barna discovered that addiction rates and other sins within the Church rival the same percentages as those within our secular culture.  And, these surveys found that the divorce rate in the Church was just as high as among non-Christians.  In fact, in some areas of our nation, the Church’s divorce rate was actually higher.

Based on Barna’s statistical results we appear to have a situation where Evangelicals are basically saying to our secular society: “Our plan is failing within the Church, but you need to try it anyway.”  Wouldn’t it be wise for Evangelicals to get a working model in the Church before so freely dispensing their advice to others?  Perhaps Dobson’s Focus on the Family organization should spend more time focusing on Evangelical families and less time focusing on our secular culture. 

A major emphasis of right-wing Evangelicals in recent years has been to keep the Ten Commandments in our secular culture.  Right-wingers are fighting to keep them in our public and government buildings, and would like to once again have them put back in our public schools.  This issue received national attention when the Alabama chief justice, Roy Moore, was removed from his judicial position because of his refusal to remove the Ten Commandments from government property.

The Christian Right has drawn a line in the sand regarding the Ten Commandments, and is willing to pursue all legal avenues to keep them in our culture.  Conservative, religious, legal organizations, such as the “American Center for Law and Justice” and the “Alliance Defense Fund”, have fought, and are fighting, many legal battles on behalf of the Church in courts across America to keep the Ten Commandments in our public and government buildings.

One would think that Evangelicals must hold the Ten Commandments in high esteem and cherish them greatly, based on their aggressive efforts to have them recognized in our public institutions.  One would expect that the Church itself must be honoring, teaching and preaching these commandments.  One would surmise that the importance of these commandments, and of obeying them, must be a major focus among Evangelicals.  One would assume that the same Church that insists that the Ten Commandments should not have been removed from our public schools, would never tolerate any attempt to remove them from the Church.  It would certainly be logical to assume and expect these things, yet this is not the case.

A common teaching within Evangelical Christianity is that the Ten Commandments were nailed to the cross of Jesus and have been abolished.  I myself had a debate on a Christian college campus with the president of the Christian Apologetics Ministry in Minneapolis regarding this issue, and he espoused this teaching.  The same Christian Church that denounces the removal of the Ten Commandments from our public institutions, readily accepts the proclamation of a doctrine that, in effect, removes the Ten Commandments from the Church!  I think that most reasonable people would find this to be inconsistent and hypocritical.

If Evangelicals want our secular society to recognize and honor the Ten Commandments, it would seem reasonable for them to do so first.  After all, why should our secular culture want them if the Church doesn’t?