Why the Democrats Can't Get Religion

By Their Fruit

Jeremy Moore
If it is Sunday, odds are better than even that some Democrat with higher ambitions is preaching to an African American church.

It's a typical campaign tactic as Democrats try to convince Americans that they are the party of values and religion, not the impostor Republicans who only care about the rich.

These speeches are typically laced with references to the Biblical Good Samaritan or to the verses in James that speak of the worthlessness of faith without works. Missing though is any reference to Matthew chapter 7, where Jesus talks about examining the worth of a man's faith by its fruit.

If we are going to talk about values, it's worth looking at the fruit of government generosity.

In current real politic, caring equals spending and it is true that Democrats are far more willing to spend money on social welfare programs.

Yet prior to the Great Society, providing for material needs was dad's responsibility, and while government has replaced his monetary role it has been loathe to replace his role in character development for the next generation.

In Camden, New Jersey, there is a 184 city-block area that is the highest recipient of welfare funds and one of the highest crime areas in the country. It also does not have a single adult male in permanent residence.

That might be a coincidence, but it is more likely the fruit of vaunted government generosity.

Democrats are equally famous for caring about education, particularly "troubled schools" that attract two types of teachers: those who could not get jobs anywhere else, and those who could have gotten jobs anywhere, but instead chose to use their skills in an area of the country where they thought they could make the biggest difference. Often, though not always, these latter teachers are motivated by a deep religious commitment.

In our current public school system, however, they are forbidden from sharing the faith that motivates them with the students or with their parents due to the separation of church and state.

Democrats trumpet this principle as if they were trying out for law review, but it does not violate a student's rights if he is forced to hear someone pray. It deeply violates his rights when he becomes a victim of violence because he believed his life was worth nothing, and the people who could have told him about God's love for him were forbidden to do so.

Democrats have it right when they say faith without deeds is worthless, but so are deeds without faith. Give a man a cup of cold water in the name of Jesus and it is done as unto Him. Give a man a cup of cold water without telling him about Jesus and he'll be thirsty again soon enough. Eventually he will feel entitled to free water, and the taxpayers will go broke providing it for him.

To the Democrats this is compassion.

They still do not get it.

Published by Jeremy Moore

Jeremy Moore is a freelance writer based in New Jersey.  View profile

5 Comments

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  • Paisley Place12/22/2007

    Jamie, what rock have you been hiding beneath? The Repugs ONLY dictate expenditures to charities as long as the repugs can control its use... Hence, no abortions, no truth when discussing protection against unwed pregnancies, no same-sex marriages, etc.... They give, yes of course they give $$$ but they hold those purse strings so tight the ropes burn in their hands until the charity relents by promising to use the anti-donation in the manner the dictator demands. Charities are not a diplomacy. They are there for whatever need is necessary. If a 14yo child is the victim of rape and wants abortion, then that child - regardless of how the repubs believe, should have access to the funds the repubs supposedly donated to perform the procedure but it doesn't happen that way. Repugs do not donate money, they dictate expenditures.

  • Paisley Place12/22/2007

    The need to proclaim aloud religious reasons for teaching at a particular school does not impress me. It is more liken to make the person feel holier than thou and as if they are attempting to earn brownie points to get into heaven. If a teacher hopes to gain my respect and admiration, they can do so by going above and beyond the call of duty as a schoolteacher (not church teacher) to ensure every student understands the lessons set forth in our educational system. A child's religious section of life is between that child and his/her parents, not a teacher in the school. It makes me more thankful there is separation of church & state. I would likely pull my child from school to homeschool rather than have someone shove their religious views down my child's throat. Throwing religion into the school system is the same as brain-washing in cults. I'll have no part of it and neither will my child.

  • Jamie K. Wilson3/22/2007

    You're not an idot. And I can spell. But that's beside the point. Very well done! More people need to realize that not only are Republicans not the devil, they are actually the most generous group of Americans out there. No one gives more to the community and to charity. They just don't think the gub'ment should enforce it. Alas, I think no one is listening. Maybe hard statistics?

  • LeeAnn Gibson1/22/2007

    Proclaiming your faith for all the world to hear with each and every good deed is the equivalent of praying like the publican. It has nothing to do with faith and compassion, only with trying to make others believe you are devoutly religious. Showing your faith through your deeds and treatment of others often speaks volumes that your verbal claims of faith will never convey. As a Christian and a Democrat, I can tell you that Democrats are no different than Republicans when it comes to faith. Some truly believe, and some just say they do when it racks up the votes. I guess you just don't get that.

  • Gregory9/7/2005

    Can I ask you what "lack of male role models" has to do with religion? They are two COMPLETELY separate things! I had a great male role model as a father, who was a devout athiest. He taught be to be good to others, to be content with what I have, to be truthful and peaceful... more than I can say for most "Christian" fathers I've met. Deeds without faith are NOT worthless. They are the greatest deeds of all! What is better - to do something out of fear of going to hell, or to do something out of the kindness of your own heart, just because? You're an idot and it's people like you who are destroying America.

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