Recently I’ve been reading articles at www.intellectualconservative.com. Though I find most of the articles to be quite conservative (and a little irksome), they’re both challenging and interesting. www.intellectualconservative.com also appears to foster a open forum for folks across the liberal/conservative spectrum.

The following article by Hans Zieger appears to have catalyzed some good discussion on the subject of abortion: “Roe Babies and Reagan Babies”.

As you might be able to tell from my previous post, I’ve written a frustrated rant, filled with personal insults directed toward the president and his administration — as my brother-in-law, Kevin Land, rightfully points out.

His response highlights, for me, the method we all ought to use when discussing politics. Take a deep breath and separate personal attacks from reasoned arguments. Kevin did not return sharp words with sharp words. Instead he asked, (in so many words), “Is this what Scripture calls us to do? Is this what will yield good fruit…bereating our president?” The answer is, “No, it will not yeild good fruit.” I believe Kevin responded the way Jesus would have us respond to attacks of that nature.

For me, sometimes successfully and sometimes not, I try to consider the fruits of my actions and my words. Which actions or words yield good fruit and which do not?

Even if I have used words or actions that yield bad fruit, I still have a chance to yield good fruit. This is what Jesus teaches: I still have a chance. I can still be every bit as frustrated with the Bush administration, but then carefully explain my frustration in such a way that does not insult, injure or attack others. Doing this might actually yield good fruit. It is a small seed that may fall in good soil and grow into a large tree, bearing produce that might nourish others rather than poison them with toxicity.

That said, it makes me think of one area where I’ve considered actions and their fruits: same sex couples adopting children. (I realize this is a topic upon which Kevin and I disagree, which is partly why I’ve chosen it ) I’ve known several same sex couples and seen their love for their children and the love that these children receive. Also, I’ve seen these couples involve themselves with their parishes in ways that lift up Jesus mission and vision of unconditional love…over and over and over again.

Also, I see children who have loving parents, who might have loving parents otherwise. Now, the Bible does not talk about committed same sex relationships (there was no such thing at that time), nor does it talk about same sex couples adopting children. In that context, the only same sex relationships folks knew about yielded bad fruit. But now I’m observing committed same sex relationships that yield good fruit. Is this not true? Is this not right? Should we not take each individual situation and let it be measured by its fruits rather than applying laws that, with the help of human error, have been separated from a healthy consideration of what yields good fruit or bad fruit?

Whether same sex relationships or criticisms of our president, should we not consider the fruits of our actions and words? Does condemning committed same sex relationships where these couples have adopted children yield good fruit? Do these same sex families yield good fruit? If I’ve observed good fruits, can I not trust my observations? Can I not trust the intuition and knowledge that God gave me to discern what is good fruit and what is not? My intuition tells me that personal criticisms and insults hurled at the president will yield bad fruit. Can I not use this same intutition to tell me how I ought to respond to a committed same sex couple with children?

(Significantly destructive comments are cross out )

For years since the very first day President Bush was elected I’ve been telling myself, “It’s not that bad. Oh, it’s really not that bad. Maybe he’s doing some good in a twisted sort of way.” I’ve finally reached the conclusion that President Bush is very likely the worst president this country has ever known. Contrary to popular belief, you really do have to be intelligent to be a president; it simply is not possible to run a country when you haven’t a clue about how to do it.

I guess I wouldn’t have a problem with the ignorant actions of President Bush and his like-minded administration if I honestly believed their decision making in the last few years sought to strengthen common, ordinary people. In fact, the reverse is true.

From their plan for attacking Iraq, to their tax cuts for the wealthy on the backs of the poor, their disproportioned and inappropriately awarded contracts to Halliburton, (a corporation formely headed by Vice-President Cheney), who grossly over charged for their services, I’ve seen a broad-reaching spectrum of policy making incompetence that repeatedly affirms my worst fears.

Perhaps looming largest among actions I disagree with incompetence are the administration’s attempts at improving our educational system. I’m blown away by the effective myth of a No Child Left Behind policy that is, in fact, still leaving children behind. More children are being left behind than ever before. The punishment of school districts for not meeting unrealistic, poorly informed standards, is crippling schools across the country. (Not only that, but these school districts have to pay for the measuring devices which determine their level of punishment. Schools are required to purchase Bush’s fabled tests out of their own already hobbling budgets.)

And sure, the Gulf Coast is starting to get some help now, but only after being grossly ignored, and after FEMA head, Michael Brown, finally stepped down. Brown, who was about as qualified as an equestrian judge to manage any arm of the US Government, was completely surprised by the scope of the damage in New Orleans while the rest of the nation watched the mess on TV with their mouths wide open. But job qualifications don’t matter. It’s who you know, not what you know, right? Ask Harriet Miers. Wait, some Bush supporters didn’t go for that particular display of cronyism because it didn’t satiate their wants for an assuredly conservative judicial nominee, or at least one who was conservative in all the right places.

And conservativism is all about fiscal responsibility and smaller government, right? This president who supposedly wishes to make it easier for us to pay our taxes unveiled a new Medicare prescription drug program that is causing states to pick up the tab for recent unanticipated logistical mishaps. Folks hired to answer calls in D.C. about Medicare shot from the hundreds to the thousands to handle questions from an overwrought and confused public.

I have an idea: how about if an administration that doesn’t believe in big government, stops making it bigger and more complicated. It’s almost as though the Bush administration is attempting to make a mess of the entire government assistance infrastructure to prove that privatization of everything is the best way to go after all. Hell, after Bush is through with our government, we’ll have socialists crying for privatization. Lord knows we’re already subsidizing the private sector in unimaginable ways.

Cutting taxes and shelling out corporate welfare to stimulate economic growth is a fine idea and will work for a period of time until, of course, a disregarded national debt sneaks up behind us like an unanticipated hurricane and leaves us with an uncontrollable budget deficit, not to mention that disregarding schools and middle and lower class Americans will, in fact (and I know this is a revolutionary idea) hurt the economy.

And, of course, budget deficits aren’t the only thing we get to ignore. How about disregarding climate change? Why are insurance companies preparing for the effects of global warming, while our very own White House considers the whole scientific world lost on the reality of what is really going on. What is really going on then? Tell me!

Well, if they won’t admit that things are heating up as a result of Global warming, perhaps they’ll pay attention to the greenhouse gases coming from Mr. Abramoff’s mouth. His guilty plea testimony is likely to melt a few well-established glaciers on Capitol Hill. I won’t go so far as to use the Democrats pathetic coining of the phrase, “culture of corruption,” but I will say, “Please stop taking bribes for votes!”

These days I am far less concerned about the views and perspectives of those who affiliate themselves with the Christian coalition as I am about their leaders, and their political connections.

Let’s take today’s Washington Post article with the following title: “In Ga., Abramoff Scandal Threatens a Political Ascendancy.”

Thomas B. Edsall, who wrote the article, discusses connections between Ralph Reed, former executive director of the Christian Coalition, and the late great Mr. Abramoff. The following is a poignant quote from this article:

One of the most damaging e-mails was sent by Abramoff to partner Michael Scanlon, complaining about Reed’s billing practices and expenditure claims: “He is a bad version of us! No more money for him.” Scanlon and Abramoff have pleaded guilty to defrauding clients.

I have a terrible hunch swelling up in my head. Could it be that folks who lead organizations like the Christian Coalition are less concerned about spreading the Gospel and far more concerned with acquiring money and power? I know recent Abramoff developments are merely uncovering the dark underbelly at the intersection of human nature and politics, but what stands as most startling is the fact that folks like Ralph Reed have consistently professed righteousness as their strong suit.

What’s worse is that Ralph Reed has built his power on the faith of Christians. Frankly, I am disgusted, tired, and sick of powerful politicians using devout Christians to accumulate power and wealth. Across America, Christians vote against the good of ordinary people because they support politicians who further supposed Christian ideals.

Since when are tax cuts for the wealthy, under the guise of creating a stronger economy, a significant part of Christian teachings. These tax cuts come on the backs of college students, folks who live in poverty, mothers who can’t afford healthcare for their children, and teachers who don’t have the money they need to provide their students with basic classroom needs.

“Fend for yourself” is not a Christian value, Ralph. Taking money to shut down one casino so that another one can survive is not a Christian value, Ralph. God doesn’t help those who help themselves. God helps the helpless and the poor. God takes the mighty down from their thrones and uplifts the humble of heart. God makes the last, first and sends the first to the last.

When will Christians in this country finally start voting according to Christian values instead of carefully crafted so-called Christian platforms designed by folks like Ralph Reed?

Jen and I went to Christ Episcopal Church (Albert Lea) this morning. (This is the second time we’ve gone there.) In his sermon, Rev. Young said, (and this is not a direct quote), “Instead of going all the way to the Supreme Court to get the Ten Commandments posted on the wall of a courtroom, why didn’t these folks put the same amount of energy into getting the Beatitudes posted in courtrooms.”

When I go to Christ Episcopal Church, I actually look forward to the sermon rather than dreading that I’ll have to sit through another trite, non-thoughtful blah rant about nothing. Rev. Young, both times we’ve attended there, has had risky, prophetic words to share with those who speckle the pews of his small lakeside church. I walk away from his sermon feeling like I’ve gleaned a solid sense of what being Christian is really about, rather than being confused and disillusioned by one of a thousand lessons straight out of some prefabricated seminary-safe sermon database.

Sometimes if you turn off your computer without shutting down properly it asks if you want to boot up in “safe mode.” Frankly, most pastors in mainline protestant churches boot up in “safe mode,” so as to not unnecessarily disturb the inner-workings of their church machine. Rev. Young preaches about what lives at the heart of Jesus’ teachings, a counter-cultural message that asks us to step beyond the bounds of an overwrought consumer-driven society to live amongst “the least of these” as though they where Christ themselves. Rather than “safe mode,” Rev. Young boots up in “follower mode,” as in Jesus follower…and there’s no guarantee that your poorly shut down church machine will respond favorably to that.

But being a follower of Jesus isn’t about guaranteed favorable responses.