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All or Nothing

Rick Warren is throwing a huge HIV/AIDS Conference that starts today. I'm really excited about the new attention and focus on AIDS that this will bring to Christians. But then, zealous Christians end up stealing the spotlight and the positive attention this Conference can bring by creating this tension.

The problem: Barack Obama is scheduled to speak and he shouldn't be able to because, "You cannot fight one evil while justifying another." This evil is his pro-choice position. So, if you disagree on one point with a particular Christian community, you are completely disqualified from speaking or helping that group? Let's not forget that Obama is himself a Christian.

This all or nothing ideology is unfortunately present in many Christian communities. It turns church into an elitist club of only the precious few who have the whole truth. Self-righteousness and self-promotion rule the day and everyone not in the group is an outsider who is seen as the enemy.

I'm just glad that God doesn't treat us this way. If God held an all or nothing standard there would be no Christians living today. What if God banished us from a relationship with him if we believed something wrong about him? If we sinned just once? We'd all be lost.

Thank God that the prayer, "I believe, help my unbelief" is accepted by Him.
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Comments

j said…
Amen!!
3:06 AM
Marcel said…
Interesting article, Trevor. His ending statement (through a spokesperson) is an eyebrow raiser. He states that we can "come together with one voice to honor the entirety of Christ's teachings by working to eradicate the scourge of AIDS, poverty and other challenges we all can agree must be met."

Hmmm, except killing babies. Maybe I have my blinders on to think all Christians understand the sanctity of life as followers of The One who came to give life and give it more abundantly.
5:06 AM
Bulworth said…
"...except killing babies."

Is all abortion "killing babies"? How about in cases where the mother's life is at stake? What about first trimester abortions? At what stage is a blastocyst, embryo or fetus a "baby"? And if any and all abortion at whatever time and for whatever reason amounts to "killing babies" than should women who obtain them be subject to first degree murder charges?

How about agreeing on the need to reduce abortions, including ensuring access to birth control?

Oddly enough, most if not all of the gang upset with Rick Warren because of Obama's abortion stance are equally opposed to the use of birth control.

So, finding common ground to eradicate the "killing of babies" is more complicated than the use of inflammatory language would suggest.
3:45 PM
erica said…
anyone believe in the freedom of choice?
i know God does.
9:45 AM
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