Is Rick Perry as Christian as He Thinks He Is?

America is a religious nation. Polls may differ, but most find that over 80 percent of Americans say they believe in God. Fifty percent also say they go to church on Sunday, while only half of those actually do. I guess this shows that we want to look better than we actually are, at least to the public -- if not to God, who presumably knows what we're really up to.

Most political candidates also profess their belief in God. At the same time, they rarely make a big deal of their devotion. They've probably read Matthew 6:1, which warns, "Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them."

Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who just announced he's running for president, has taken a different tack. A week before announcing his candidacy, he led a prayer meeting for evangelical Christians in Houston. The Freedom From Religion Foundation filed a lawsuit trying to stop him from participating in this rally, arguing that he was violating the First Amendment by using his position, stationery, and website to promote the event. The court dismissed the complaint, saying that the plaintiff didn't show sufficient harm to merit the injunction.

I disagree with the court's ruling. I think the governor misused his office to promote a particular religion. That might have been clearer to the judge if Perry had organized a rally in support of Islam rather than Christianity. There's no difference as far as the First Amendment is concerned.

In any case, Gov. Perry's decision to make his Christian faith a central part of his political identity opens him up to questions not usually asked of presidential candidates.

more...

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/08/is-rick-perry-as-christian-as-he-thinks-he-is/243616/


Extremism is not Christ-like love. When you hear these folks views, it gives you chills they want the world to be as shut off and closed-minded as they are. What happened to following those 2500 verses telling us to care for others, I guess they like to think that means other people, and that 'personal' charity is going to solve the poverty and need for food, jobs and shelter, instead of involving the gov't and using taxes, which the bible says to pay (not that many rich care to do).

closet they went into for their prayers, alright. As far as his practice of Christianity, I wonder what he thinks of Matthew 25:36 - I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' - New International Version (©1984). His insistence on letting the poor fend for themselves is not how I interpret that passage, but, well, who am I to say?

This needs to be said on a much larger stage than this group.
Maybe you could soften the first paragraph a bit and post this on "religion and theology". Be prepared for the backlash, but realize that this site is increasingly open to your viewpoint.

I cringe when I see things like that "prayer" revival. That has nothing to do with God or Jesus. I wrack my brain, but I can't think of a way we can reclaim Christianity from these haters.