In the world of political dart throwing the religious right is encumbered with a distinct disadvantage. Because of their profession of faith it is generally recognized that the Bible should be the standard for human behavior and philosophical thinking. When someone in this category, particularly one in leadership, stubs their toe and allows their humanity to overcome their spirituality, it gives the non-religious left a terrific opportunity to point a long, pharisaical finger at the offender and scream HYPOCRITE! The ace in the hole for the liberal is that their measure for morality is a relative target which continues to move through the bushes. When Nancy Pelosi changes her story five times on what she actually knew about waterboarding at Gitmo, we are left with the impression that she does not subscribe to any absolute tradition of truth. If it were Sarah Palin in those shoes, the major media would be having a complete come-apart, but Nancy is a largely given a pass---her hypocrisy is routinely defined as political expediency which has a degree of acceptability to those who applaud the house built on shifting sand. Because the Bible thumpers are held to a higher level of expectation, this in itself is an admission that the left is weak in the department of exemplary living.

If the church crowd fires back at their accusers, they are immediately dispatched as mean spirited and lacking love and compassion which is considered a betrayal of their confession. Never mind that a female comedian, with a laughing President at her side, can stand in front of a White House dinner and publicly wish that Rush Limbaugh’s kidneys would quit functioning. Or others in the shadows hope that Dick Cheney would go away with his last heart attack. This is made possible because the only definition the liberal has for a mean spirit is one who disagrees with them.

Perhaps the greater tragedy is that even many religious conservatives are guilty of the same accusation that Jesus threw at the Sadducees when He said, “Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.” (Matthew 22:24) For fear of being labeled as mean, many of this alliance have retreated to an analogous fetal position of political thumb sucking. They refused to become engaged for fear of the name calling of the opposition. There is a human instinct that desires everyone to think well of them, but Jesus said, “Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! For so did their fathers to the false prophets.” (Luke 6:26) In a number of dialogues Christ reminded Israel that their historic attitude toward the prophets of God had been negative which resulted in slander, lies, beatings and even murder. The Old Testament seers were not timid men but rather spiritual soldiers who trumpeted the truth regardless of how bitter the pill may have been. They were typically despised and seldom entertained in the courts of kings or in the homes of the wealthy or popular.

Matthew 23 is a collection of 39 verses in which Jesus castigates the leaders of Israel non-stop. He accuses them of being hypocrites, illustrating it several ways and even going so far as to say, “Ye serpents, ye generations of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?” It wasn’t long after that “nice” sermon that his adversaries planned His execution. In apparent contradiction after delivering several scathing messages, Christ says while on the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” This attitude is difficult to wrap the mind around. Contrary to popular thinking, the forceful delivery of truth does not require the compromise of love and compassion.

With the enabling Spirit of Christ, the believer can wish for certain policies to fail, but at the same time pray that no person’s kidneys fail. The Christian is in the unique position of pointing out the insanities of Washington and yet may comply with the Biblical mandate to “pray for those in authority.”

The left will do all in their power to intimidate the more spiritually inclined in an effort to disengage them. The populace hated the preaching of the prophet Jeremiah so much that they concluded, “Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah:…come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words.” (Jeremiah 18:18) In the light of Bible example, those who have a high regard for its precepts have not only the option but even the responsibility to be a voice in the wilderness.

One of the most bloodthirsty leaders in the French Revolution was a ferocious character by the name of Carrier. He was largely responsible for the horrifying drowning at Nantes. One day he told a peasant of Brittany, the district noted for its strong faith: “We are going to tear down your belfries and churches.”

“That could be,” replied the Breton, “but you will have to leave the stars, and while that primer is left, we shall teach our children to spell from it in the name of God.”