Question: What is the Christian position on teaching phonics in our public school system? Answer: Ask the Texas Christian Coalition.
I don't recall that Jesus had anything to say for or against teaching phonics in our schools or anywhere else.
But election time is drawing near, and sure enough, the new Christian Coalition Voter Guides are being sent for distribution in our churches.
Among the questions that were asked to determine if candidates are pro-family and good Christians is whether or not all Texas universities should be required to train teachers to teach phonics in our public school system.
According to the Christian Coalition Voter Guides, it also is pro-family and Christian to support the elimination of the 6.25 percent state sales tax on motor vehicles , another subject that I can't find anywhere in the Bible. And I learn from the questionnaire that there are official Christian positions on a state personal income tax, term limits for Texas judges, and even for the call for a Federal Constitutional amendment to require a congressional super-majority (3/5) to raise taxes. What do any of these things have to with being a follower of Jesus Christ?
The Christian Coalition Voter Guides are being distributed in churches across Texas. While candidates were asked to answer 72 questions, the Voter Guides focuses on six to eight of those questions, carefully selected in order to highlight one candidate over another in each race. Pastors are then asked to distribute these Voter Guides in their churches and we pastors are supposed to have the gall to stand up and tell our people that these Guides can help elect good Christians to public office.
Now, my congregation may not expect much from me but they do expect me to tell them the truth. And the truth is that these Voter Guides have a lot to do with partisan politics and very little to do with being Christian. To distribute them in on Sunday puts churches at risk.
We are at in danger of engaging in partisan political activities, which is illegal. The Federal Election Commission and the IRS are investigating the Christian Coalition for coordinating its activities with the Republican Party . By distributing the partisan materials of the Texas Christian Coalition in church, we are opening our churches to the same legal questions.
More important, we risk compromising the integrity of our message and who and what we stand for as followers of Jesus. When political organizations claim there is an official Christian position on such issues as teaching phonics, they unfaithfully politicize the Christian faith. When we do speak on more substantial issues we are dismissed as just another special interest group with a partisan political agenda.
Let there be no mistake, Christians need to be involved in politics. But let us be involved without sacrificing the integrity of Jesus Christ. Instead of allowing ourselves to be used by political partisans, why not be in a position of being able to hold both political parties' feet to the fire.
Let us help both parties be accountable by not being usurped by either party. Surely, we can be engaged with the issues without giving our soul away to one party or another.
Christians can faithfully disagree on many political issues. There many things Jesus did not talk about or even consider. Among those are income taxes, motor vehicle tax, term limits, and phonics. Perhaps Christians would be better served if they focused on the things Jesus did talk about.