And you will know them by their fruit...

Matthew 7:16-20

15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.

16 By their fruits you will know them. Do you gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles?

17 Even so, every good tree produces good fruit; but the corrupt tree produces evil fruit.

18 A good tree can't produce evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree produce good fruit.

19 Every tree that doesn't grow good fruit is cut down, and thrown into the fire.

20 Therefore, by their fruits you will know them.

How do you judge a man’s spirituality? You can’t, because no man knows another’s heart. But you can get a pretty good idea of his sincerity where spiritual matters are concerned by watching his deeds.

The Religious Right, Conservative Christians, Christian Coalition. Whatever you call them, they are all the same group. They are a political group, NOT a Christian or religious group. They have hijacked the term “Christian” in order to gain more power and money.

They are Pharisees.

They have only two issues: abortion and homosexuality, to the exclusion of all others. They are rabid and don’t play well with others. So when you see “Christian Coalition”, know that you are seeing a political group with a political agenda, neither christian nor religious. And you will know them by their fruit...even if you don't believe, this is still a wise way to judge character.

Having said that, I bring you this

Famed pastor defends invitation to Obama

Famed pastor and best-selling author Rick Warren on Wednesday defended his invitation to Sen. Barack Obama to speak at his church despite objections from some evangelicals who oppose the Democrat's support for abortion rights.

Obama is one of nearly 60 speakers scheduled to address the second annual Global Summit on AIDS and the Church beginning Thursday at Warren's Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif.

The Illinois Democrat will be joined by a potential 2008 White House rival — Republican Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas — and is urging unity to fight AIDS despite differences on other issues.

Conservative evangelical Rob Schenck, president of the National Clergy Council, e-mailed reporters Tuesday to protest the visit because of Obama's support of abortion rights. "Senator Obama's policies represent the antithesis of biblical ethics and morality, not to mention supreme American values," Schenck wrote.

"Supreme American Values"...something about that phrase gives me a chill. Apparently Supreme American Values include backbiting, sniping, and politicizing the nightmare that is the AIDS crisis. It is obvious to anyone with a brain that Obama scares the snot out of the Right and they will do anything to keep him out of the spotlight, even to the detriment of AIDS victims. But I digress...

Saddleback responded with a statement acknowledging "strong opposition" to Obama's participation. The church said participants were invited because of their knowledge of HIV/AIDS and that Warren, author of "The Purpose Driven Life," opposes Obama's position on abortion and other issues.

"Our goal has been to put people together who normally won't even speak to each other," the Saddleback statement said. "We do not expect all participants in the summit discussion to agree with all of our evangelical beliefs. However, the HIV/AIDS pandemic cannot be fought by evangelicals alone. It will take the cooperation of all — government, business, NGOs and the church."

Obama declined an interview request. But in a statement, he said while he respects differing views on abortion, he hopes for unity "to honor the entirety of Christ's teachings by working to eradicate the scourge of AIDS, poverty and other challenges we all can agree must be met.

"It is that spirit which has allowed me to work together — and pray together — with some of my conservative colleagues in the Senate to make progress on a range of key issues facing America," Obama's said.




Read on...