What the story of Jesus' temptation says about the Christian culture wars

Thank you for the great share brother Chip

An interesting read...here's my counterpoint.

The author has a great thesis, binding a rather obvious truth-spiritual power is not the same as political power. Where he errs (in my opinion), is in failing to appreciate the fact that the clash between the spiritual and the secular in this nation isn't about Christians seeking political control...so much as it is about Christians' fears that politics will create a nation hostile to the spiritual. This is exacerbated by the widely held belief (largely supported by historical fact) that the United States has always been; intended or not, a bastion of Christian principle. We "Evangelicals" are keenly aware that our nation was not founded as a "Christian nation" per se...but that doesn't mean we're comfortable with it becoming antagonistic to fundamentalist Christianity.

I say this somewhat with fingers crossed however; as there are points the author makes I do agree with...almost. Yes, I regard the vitriolic and sophomoric competition for who can shout the loudest, profane. No, I'm not yet ready to believe that the "Christian" thing to do today is to make (mostly empty) threats against ideological adversaries. However, neither am I convinced that the "Christ like" thing to do is to hide one's head in the sand... while the whole of Western Civilization appears to be falling into perversion and avarice.

I could be wrong, but this is what I think: I believe the intellectual arm of the so-called "progressive" movement is trying to neuter Christian outrage by turning our own principles against us. I believe they want one half of the Christian world fawning in an attempt to appear compassionate...while the other half is whipped into a discrediting and self-destructive frenzy. What they don't want...and probably consider a great threat, are Christians who are trying to find a way to embody the teachings of Christ in Matthew 12, and other passages. We are in the world, despite being apart from it...and will answer for every thought and deed.

A lot of our founding history was steeped in Christian beliefs and an acknowledgement of God our Father and Jesus our Savior. So was Washington wrong to order a day of fasting and prayer when he took command of the Continental Army? Was it wrong form a Chaplains Corps to provide moral direction to soldiers? Was it wrong for abolitionist to back Lincoln to end the evil of slavery? Was it wrong when Wilberforce and other Christians sought power in England to end slavery? I think abortion is evil. Is it wrong to seek to place those into power ho will end the evil? Christians by example and following the ethics of Christ ended baby abandonment, ended the gladiators games where human life was an entertainment etc. Should we abandon those efforts?