The Religious Left??? Um....

So here in Ohio we've got a Religious Left revival going on. A PAC called "We Believe Ohio," made up of left-leaning pastors and their ilk, is starting to get "energized," like the Religious Right, and get involved in political issues. Their big things? Anti-war and anti-poverty. There are just a few--a few, mind you--problems with their approach.

In no particular order:
1) Um, anti-war is great, but that's not something that the Bible condones. Yes, Jesus speaks about forgiveness, but that doesn't mean that we just get kicked around. The Bible, and a few denominations, Catholics included, believe in "Just War" theory. Yeah, war is, in the words of the CCC "the total absence of God's love." But sometimes the defense of innocent people justifies war. Where would these people have been during WWII? The Civil War? Hello? Most religious people in the past have been for war (see the Civil War and the abolitionist movement) once it is clear that it's the only way to go.

2) Anti-Poverty. Also great. I think we can all agree on that. But, um, aren't there more important things? Doesn't the bible (i.e, Paul's 2nd letter to the Thessalonians) speak of the "teach a man to fish" maxim? We can't just expect the government, or the church, or whoever, to constantly provide for people. That's not in the Bible and it's not approved by the Bible. Sure, we are to be charitable. But charitable doesn't mean handouts, handouts, handouts.

3) You cannot be really religious and be pro-choice, pro-euthanasia, and all the other anti-life positions the Left takes. It is impossible. "Thou Shalt Not Kill" is a commandment , not a suggestion. We are not to take innocent life. (This is not contradicting point #1 because in war you try not to take innocent life, unless you're a terrorist, in which case you don't care.) How can we speak of protecting others if we don't protect babies? If we don't protect the elderly and the sick? Huh? If we don't value the life God has created?

I'm sorry, but as long as the Left holds positions that are clearly the antithesis of what the Bible and Christianity say, then the Religiou Left is about as credible as Elmo and Oscar the Grouch (and that's probably an insult to them.).