Christian politicians (because I've been watching too much Bill Maher)
It has occurred to me, watching and reading comments from both sides of the political spectrum, that it is a fair question to ask whether a politician who bills himself as Christian is showing it in his actions. But I don't think it's fair to ask whether his policies are carrying out Christ's commands.
To the extent to which a politician agrees with libertarianism (read: for Conservatives on economic issues and Liberals on social ones), they are likely to think that the best that can reasonably be hoped for is to keep the Government from doing anything actively bad. They will therefore try to restrain the Government rather than direct it. So what we ought to ask, if we are concerned about their sincerity, is whether they as individuals live Christ-like lives. A Republican who donates large amounts of his own money to charity and a Democrat who lives Christ's teaching are much more impressive (and, not coincidentally, much rarer) than a Democrat who directs other people's tax money to charity and a Republican who legislates his interpretation of Christ's teaching on everyone else.
I can respect, though I disagree with, those who would use the government as an instrument of Christ's (or God's, if they are parts of other religions) will; but if they are doing so instead of using their own lives and resources as such instruments, there is a word for them: hypocrites. And it is the word which Jesus most commonly and most strongly used to criticize the leaders of his day.
This message brought to you by commentators who don't understand how a Christian can oppose the welfare state and/or the Defense of Marriage amendment.
To the extent to which a politician agrees with libertarianism (read: for Conservatives on economic issues and Liberals on social ones), they are likely to think that the best that can reasonably be hoped for is to keep the Government from doing anything actively bad. They will therefore try to restrain the Government rather than direct it. So what we ought to ask, if we are concerned about their sincerity, is whether they as individuals live Christ-like lives. A Republican who donates large amounts of his own money to charity and a Democrat who lives Christ's teaching are much more impressive (and, not coincidentally, much rarer) than a Democrat who directs other people's tax money to charity and a Republican who legislates his interpretation of Christ's teaching on everyone else.
I can respect, though I disagree with, those who would use the government as an instrument of Christ's (or God's, if they are parts of other religions) will; but if they are doing so instead of using their own lives and resources as such instruments, there is a word for them: hypocrites. And it is the word which Jesus most commonly and most strongly used to criticize the leaders of his day.
This message brought to you by commentators who don't understand how a Christian can oppose the welfare state and/or the Defense of Marriage amendment.