If you are an evangelical Christian and have received mail, email, or phone calls telling you what you, as a Christian are to do, you may be as disgusted as I am. Some religious leaders and groups appear to reject the priesthood of believers. Instead they see us as sheep and they as the shepherds, not Jesus Christ. As a protestant evangelical, I believe in the reformation principle of studying and rightly dividing the word of God for myself, using the teaching of the saints of all the ages to guide me.
When I do this, the teachings of Jesus and the writers of the epistles teach something far different from some of the divisive ways some present day leaders and groups say. Instead I find love, compassion for all-especially the poor and downtrodden, peace through resolving problems by talking them with each others. We are to allow differences on issues which are not central to the faith, not attack denominations or groups with whom we disagree. I read that all have sinned and must to turn to God daily, and so we cannot label others evil and assume we are always right. I find the Bible emphasizes racial justice versus using race to divide; human rights for all peoples, who are to be treated with dignity and equal justice.
As Christians, we are to reject fear and instead act in loving faith. We are to work for our families, but not put down others verbally, economically or socially. We are also told to be good stewards of God's creation and not disrupt or adulterate, i.e. pollute, God's good earth.
Some religious leaders and groups will condemn the Sojourners and their ideas. But dogmatic groups attacked Jesus, his disciples and the early Christians in the same way. If you believe Christ has set you free, then turn to his word, and see what it says. You will be surprised at how different it is from the ideas promoted by those who seek power and control over our faith and our government. Once again, it's time to confront the Pharisees and Sadducees and become the true priesthood of believers and vote for leaders who will follow in the footsteps of Jesus.
Roger A. Meyer, PhD
consultroger@hotmail.com