In response to Alice R. Lingbeck's letter (1/1/04) asking why Christians are so reviled in our nation I offer this.

It is not Christianity, nor Christ, nor even his teachings or philosophies that non-Christians abhor. It is when materialistic, greedy, power hungry politicians use Christianity as a means to discriminate and enforce their personally preferred way of life onto others that we speak up and point out the hypocrisy and arrogance of such oppression.

Christians by their very nature are members of a SPIRITUAL government! The whole point Jesus was making was that you should have absolutely no part of the MATERIAL goverments of this earth! Render unto Caesar what is Caesars! OBEY your worldly leaders, and certainly don't BECOME them. Because ONLY by living an authentic spiritual life will you be able to transcend the sinful influences of the material world.

Christianity was never meant to be a political movement nor a theory of government. In fact, it MUST be absolutely seperate and aloof from worldly politics in order to be effective as an authentic spiritual path.

It's not that hard to understand. It's very clear in the New Testament:

Romans 13:1-7 (New International Version)

New International Version (NIV)

Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

Romans 13

Submission to the Authorities

¹Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. ²Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. ³For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. ⁴For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. ⁵Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. ⁶This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. ⁷Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

Christians are to be SUBJECT to the ruling material authorities - i.e. the Government because their kingdom is of the spirit, NOT of this world. They aren't supposed to waste their energies trying to make laws and reform the masses. That's missing the point ENTIRELY!

According to Jesus himself, the world and its governments are completely unimportant to the Christian, for his or her direction is SPIRITUAL, not MATERIAL.

Christianty has lost this most important principle but NEEDS DESPERATELY to regain it in order to be a valid, authentic SPIRITUAL path.

If Christianity concerns itself with worldy politics, it is nothing more than another imperfect human political movement.

It is only when you become a SPIRITUAL CHRISTIAN, and leave behind the concept of being a MATERIAL CHRISTIAN that the doors to the SPIRITUAL KINGDOM open up for you.

It's that simple. It's right in front of you. All you have to do it walk through the door.

- Anai