The GOP is not a church, and America's not either (8-31-04)

BeliefNet has posted a story from Jerry Falwell in which he says "The GOP is not a Church." Falwell also says,

In the complex game of politics, we must work with people who have conflicting viewpoints on momentous issues in order to secure the greater good for the nation. While we must never compromise our Bible-based values in our churches, most conservative people of faith realize that we must work with a sense of cooperation in the political realm.

It is truly astounds me whenever Falwell sounds reasonable. If he can recognize the value of living and working together with people of "conflicting viewpoints," why can't he recognize the value of the First Amendment? All the First Amendment does is recognize the value of living and working together with people of "conflicting worldviews" in order to secure the greater good for the nation.

That Falwell's reasonableness is apparent, rather than real, is revealed when he says, "as long as the Republican leadership remains chiefly pro-family, pro-life and pro-traditional marriage, we will continue to favor the party." In other words, he is saying, "l'll value diversity as long as it assists me in forcing my 'worldview' on everyone else."

If Falwell was really concerned about spreading "Christian values," he would get out of politics and focus on "the foolishness of preaching." For him, however, that would merely be "a correct premise. In reality, it doesn't work out that way." (See Episode 1 of the PBS Video, "With God on Our Side")