http://www.dailypilot.com/articles/2008/01/19/religion/dpt-intheory12.txt

 

 

http://www.dailypilot.com/articles/2008/04/03/religion/dpt-spiritualguidance03292008.txt

 

 

http://www.templeisaiahoc.org/

(...as published in the Daily Pilot)

 

 

IN THEORY:

Has religion become too political?

 

[Published: Friday, February 8, 2008 10:17 PM PST]

 

 

Daily Pilot: "Former President Jimmy Carter recently organized a meeting of Baptists in Atlanta in an attempt to bridge the liberal-conservative rift in his church. Many church leaders attended, but the Southern Baptist Convention balked, and the church's President Frank Page denounced what he viewed was the gathering's "smoke-screen left-wing liberal agenda." Do you think the political divide in the faith community can be healed, or will it grow further apart?"

 

 

Pastor Tomlinson: I think that the divide in the faith community will continue to grow, but I do not believe the divide is political, but rather theological.

 

The Gospel message is that Jesus Christ gave his life to save sinners. It has nothing to do with a person's political views.

 

I cannot speak on the issues within the Southern Baptist Denomination, having never been associated with a denomination, but always a part of an independent local church.

 

The Bible teaches that the religious division will center on a church's decision to either stay true to the gospel message of the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, or its apostasy into a political and social message instead of the pure gospel.

 

 

Pastor Dwight Tomlinson

 

Liberty Baptist Church

 

Newport Beach

 

 

(more articles)