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Who is on God's side? (Sat Sep 15, 2007 11:13 am)

As the 2008 elections approach, many candidates cite God as the source of their positions. The media screams the importance of the "religious vote." We North Americans claim the right to judge for ourselves. But how do we discern the truth among the politicians who claim, "God is on my side?"

This may help:
"One can only do good for human beings in God's name. One can only defend God's rights, honor and glory by defending the rights, honor and glory of human beings. God does not have, or want, rights. If that seems surprising, let us say that God's right is simply the fulfillment of the rights of human beings." (WHERE IS GOD?, John Sobrino, p. 134).

Captured here is the very essence of what it means to be Christian. This is how we love God and love one another as ourselves. Defending the rights, honor, and glory of humans is the same as defending the rights, honor, and glory of God, the source of all life. As we support human dignity, improve the human condition, both in the Church and in society, we do the will of God. Jesus emphasized the dignity of the "law of love" over all other laws.

A different way to express Christ's mandate "Love one another as I have loved you", might be that it is blasphemy to abuse, kill, torture, misuse or deprive anyone in God's name. We cannot go wrong by supporting leaders, both civil and religious, who give glory to God by seeking "the fulfillment of the rights of human beings", and aggressively condemn those who do the opposite claiming, "God is on my side".

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(Bishop Geoffrey Robinson in converation with Dr Ingrid Shafer)