COMMENTARY| CNN reports on Republican nomination hopeful Rick Santorum's quest to define the right theology. If Santorum is to be believed, President Barack Obama espouses the wrong brand, whereas Santorum would consider himself as following the right Christian path. Truth be told, Jesus Christ would not participate in any Republican administration.
The Messiah defined his kingdom as one of the heart, not one of outward adornments, displays of faith and symbols. He urged his followers to pray in private. Christ's unwillingness to force mandatory outward displays of faith onto the people would put him at odds with Newt Gingrich.
The former speaker's May 1999 speech -- available from the C-SPAN video library -- suggested prayer in school would prevent school shootings. If Gingrich had his way, school prayer would soon become the norm again.
Of course, this stance on the separation of the divine and the secular also disqualifies Jesus from serving in a Santorum administration. ABC News quotes the latter as stating he does not "believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute." Would he still feel the same way if a high-ranking official was of a different religious faith?
The Associated Press outlined that Mitt Romney, too, has come out swinging against President Obama, suggesting the administration is seeking to "substitute a 'secular' agenda for one grounded in faith." The president is vilified as one who fights against religion. The odds are good Jesus would not fare too well in a Romney administration, either.
Considering the Bible counsels against "foolish, ignorant controversies" (2 Timothy 2:23-25), the Messiah would probably not go along with Romney's statements.
Granted, this look at Jesus Christ's likelihood of holding any office with the Republican Party is a bit tongue-in-cheek. As a Christian -- white and evangelical, no less -- it is odd to see Republicans speak out against Sharia law, as reported by ABC News in March but favor a Christian equivalent in so many words. You say the U.S. is a fundamentally Christian nation; even so, the Constitution limits the intrusive practice of any faith to end at one's nose tip.
Remember: We are electing a president, not an elder.




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