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Thursday, March 5, 2009

Op-Ed: Moderates Make Me Want to Vomit!

H/T Fort Hard Knox.
By Jenn Sierra

Hey, that’s not my idea. That came from God:

“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth…” - Revelation 3:15, 16 NKJV

I’ve been hearing lately from so many people who seem to believe that being a political “moderate,” during a time when our country is being destroyed is somehow a virtue. Some even have the gall to say, “Moderation in all things!” when challenged on this issue, as if their “moderation” is somehow condoned by God.

When asked, most of these “moderates,” couldn’t tell you where that phrase is in the Bible, or what the original context of it is. All they know is that it gives them a convenient excuse to occasionally postulate and opine on political events from their comfortable armchairs, but never actually take a stand or do anything - all supposedly with the blessing of their Creator.

Well, here’s that verse in the Bible - keep in mind that the chapter these verses are contained in was written to a bunch of very passionate, very radical (my our current definition of the word) church workers, evangelists, and ministers:
“Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.
“Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” - Philippians 4:4-6 NKJV
The “moderation” Paul was talking about in these scriptures had nothing to do with refraining from getting too excited, or radical about anything. Paul, after all, was one of the most passionate Christians in history - he wrote a large portion of the New Testament, and was eventually beheaded for his fervor for God. The “moderation” spoken of in this passage relates to selflessness - eschewing an over-reliance on the things of this world for the work of God.

Political “moderates,” want to dabble a little on the right, then a little on the left. They want to try to stay popular with their friends on both sides of the fence. They want to avoid taking a stance on any issues for which they will be held responsible. Many simply enjoy amusing themselves by heckling and ridiculing those who are sincerely passionate about their beliefs, while never espousing any real beliefs or convictions of their own.

Political “moderates” often still haven’t decided on their way to the polls how they are going to vote. They end up making their decision based on some irrelevant “feeling,” or “whim,” or “funny” cartoon they read on the way. After they’ve voted they are not able to defend their decision in a way that makes sense to anyone - if, indeed, they can even remember who they voted for.

Much like the Christians in Name Only that John the Revelator wrote about in Revelations chapter 3, these political moderates are neither liberal nor conservative, and they make those of us (often on both sides) who have taken a stand want to puke. We wish they would just poop or get off the pot, already. We encourage them to quit straddling the fence - They look so silly there.

Politicians who dream of somehow reconciling the two very different visions for the future (one based on values, traditions, lessons learned by history, respect for our Creator, and the other based on the self-centerdness of man usurping the role of God and finding fulfillment in humanistic pursuits) are misguided.

There are some things you can’t reconcile: Oil and water, good and evil, left and right. Some things are opposites, and efforts to please everyone on both sides are doomed from the onset.

Moderates - quit deluding yourselves. You don’t look cute or clever. You look ignorant, and wish-washy. Political moderation is not a virtue - it’s simply a form of cowardice. It’s not an intellectually “elite” position; it’s a foolish one…which reminds me of another Bible quote about vomit:
“As a dog returns to his own vomit, so a fool repeats his folly. Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” -Proverbs 26:11, 12 NKJV