People here struggled to get a pro-life license plate, the funds of which would help Pregnancy Life Centers, and yet people accused us of politisizing Christianity. We did get that pro-life plate finally.

I do think we need to fight. It’s a different arena. And we do need to keep each other accountable.

i have been wondering with her new show and how she spends quite a bit of her time on it focusing on her wall and the journalist that moved in next to her why no one has asked her “who is her neighbor?” anyone who had nothing to hide would have had the man in for pot roast, turned him from an enemy into a friend in no time. i honestly can say that i am stunned that something that is so basic to our faith seems to be lost to her.

So I’m kind of forecasting here, cautioning evangelicals from placing too much stock in her. As I said, support her as a politician if you like her policies and faith, but beware letting her speak as an evangelical leader. Her chosen career makes her too polarizing to have her as our movement’s figurehead. I know I’m making some careful distinctions here, but I think it’s important that we not allow evangelicals to become to wrapped up in the political game.

Thank you for the insight presented in your article. I appreciate your stepping forward and openly warning about the marriage of religion and politics as a tactic used by possible political figureheads to garner votes from the christian (or any other religion’s) populous. I think that though I consider my self a conservative and a christian, a conservative christian stance isn’t wholly appropriate if its only used to gain the upper hand. However, I would be wary to avoid slighting a politician just because they have a firm religious stance. It seems like the book, though i have not yet read it, is more about her fracturing from the McCain campaign and conventional republican base than an attempt to frame her beliefs as a platform. Am I missing something that might require more in depth study? I don’t think she is trying to set herself up to be any sort of religious leader, but instead a leader who happens to be religious. Thoughts?

WOW! I’m really glad you asked me to clarify. I mean that we need Christian leaders who are not politically polarizing. My point was that politicians are polarizing by nature, they have to take sides to a certain degree. We should pick Christian leaders who don’t come with this kind of baggage.

I’m concerned about Palin’s book because it’s raising her profile and part of that profile is her Christianity. So we have a very polarizing figure whom many Christians will look to as a role model, as a way to validate themselves in our culture, and as a champion against the liberal left. That just doesn’t cut it for the Gospel that is good news for all people.

Also, when you say, “let’s resolve to carefully select spokesmen and spokeswomen who aren’t politically polarizing and who are best known for their faithfulness to Jesus, the Messiah and Prince of Peace,” are you speaking of political leaders…like presidents and senators and governors? That seems to be the implication. If so, why do our political leaders HAVE TO BE Christians? I think that’s part of the problem in this country…evangelicals who insist that their civil rulers are openly committed to the Gospel.

As for myself… I’m not sure about pacifism, and apart from taking action as a peacemaker, it can be a moot point anyway. My goal is to get Christians talking seriously about what Jesus meant when he said blessed are the peacemakers and when he commanded us to love our enemies, as well as his priorities and actions. Those are the kinds of things we lose when Christianity serves political causes.

I’m not too interested in pinning myself down as a pacifist, but rather in discussing the meaning and implications of Jesus for us today and the steps we can take in applying his message.