Breaking Constantine, Christians can celebrate their influence on party politics

Note to Christians: We need to end our adventure with Constantine. It is more-or should be. When the fourth century the emperor made Christianity the state religion, our love affair with political power has begun. We wanted to change the world, and thought it would help.

Now, after 17 centuries of experience in the courts of the temporal power, there is little (In the U.S. at least) who think they have something to do with the change. Defines us as a rock solid block and morally righteous political conservatives, is being courted or ineffective, depending on your point of view.

The weight of the so-called religious right is waning. Blame it on the lack of a unifying candidate if you want, but as a Christian, I believe that a good thing. Political power is the opium of religion. Ironically, the same power that sought has stripped our actual effectiveness, and we define like any other political force, among others.

Then it was over, Connie. This is really good for us.

During the first 300 years of our existence of the Christian community was decidedly counter-culture, not the secular status or power. We have known for our love and community, our growth has been mainly among the poor. Then, with Constantine, who won a champion mixed between the devil and earthly wealth. We rose to the catacombs and the courts of Mr. Civic.

The Bible speaks of us collectively as the "Bride of Christ." It was our flirtation with the beautiful patrician Constantine the first adultery our series of good and bad leaders: Charlemagne, Henry, Catherine, Francisco Benito, Guillermo, Jorge, each of them. We enjoyed them, or they us. It is shameful that even worse, our own, we have become complicit by silence, as we did in the 1930's in Germany.

Our role today remains shallow if we find that candidates or political causes with values ​​closer to ours and approve. If our work is not very objective in greatest need a change in the human heart, who simply have adopted instead of the secular American system of power (without doubt the best there is), then tried to dress up our customs. Given the failure and sin takes even the best human systems, this approach is a bit like putting lipstick on a pig.

In our heart that we represent an order different, one that is suspicious of any temporal power. The Christian concept of authority is upside down with the rest of the world that we think is great is that a servant and the last shall be first. We believe in the other cheek and love our enemies. These are difficult to live in practice, but said it was easy.

This should produce citizens who are committed Christians and those involved, making decisions for the orderly practice of the world. We have a good example of this in one of the evangelists, William Wilberforce, who worked to end the slave trade in English in 1833.

For most of the issues that divide liberals and conservatives, there is a "Christian position." Believers disagree on the role of government in the economy, or if is a fair world war. I do not like surprise or anger my evangelical friends, but this means that a committed Christian, born again evangelicals can also be Democrat and Republican.

Jesus says give to Caesar what is Caesar's and unto God what is God's. These dual citizenship should not be confused. I am a Christian, and that I'm actually in the field of anyone. If I am convinced that you have my vote, but my heart belongs to God.

Pine Gap Exposed – part 1 of 3

Politics For American Christians $18.2 Politics For American Christians