Times like this make this blogs name, Beyond Belief, precisely well-chosen. Consider the latest remarks by U. S. Rep. Katherine Harris, R-Fla., who is running for the Senate, saying that church/state separation is a lie and that if youre not electing Christians, then, in essence, you are going to legislate sin. Thats beyond belief.Harris has been self-destructing for many months, carrying out an inept and reckless campaign to try to unseat Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla. She is widely remembered for her tactics in overseeing the 2000 presidential recount of votes of George W. Bush and Al Gore, while she was Florida Secretary of State — a matter later resolved by the U.S. Supreme Court. Harris has gotten herself into new trouble by what she said in a Q & A in the weekly journal of the Florida Baptist State Convention, dated Aug. 24.
Saying she has a 100 percent voting record that it is in sync with both the Christian Coalition and a traditional values group, Harris said that people who are the salt and light, as talked about in the Bible, should seek to become elected officials, presuming that the pepper and darkness will get into office, instead. … we have to have the faithful in government, she said. Over time, she said, that lie regarding the separation of church of state — something people have internalized — is causing them to avoid politics. And that is so wrong because God is the one who chooses our rulers. Harris said that if she and her faithful ilk are not actively involved in electing those godly men and women, and if people arent involved in helping godly men in getting elected, than (sic) were going to have a nation of secular laws.
Harris said secular laws were not what our founding fathers intended and thats (sic) certainly isnt what God intended. So its really important that members of the church know peoples stands … thats why we need the faithful and we need to take back this country. Its time that the churches get involved. Smart enough to recognized that pastors cannot endorse candidates from the pulpits (to protect their tax-exempt 501C3 status), Harris said churches should still invite politicians to speak — just talk about their faith. Likewise, there is no violation when pastors ask politicians to share they positions on gay marriage or abortion. Obviously, there are effective ways to get around things.
Harris said she has spoken to four or five churches on a Sunday, and people line up afterwards because its so important that they know. And if we dont get involved as Christians, then how could we possibly take this back? The real issues, she said, is why should people care? … If you are not electing Christians, tried and true, under public scrutiny and pressure, if youre not electing Christians, then, in essence, you are going to legislate sin. They can say that abortion is alright. They can vote to sustain gay marriage. And that will take western civilization, indeed other nations because people look to our country as one nation as under God, and whenever we legislate sin and we say abortion is permissible and we say gay unions are permissible, then average citizens who are not Christians, because they dont know better, we are leading them astray and that is wrong…. Her rambling, often incoherent, statements can be found at www.floridabaptistwitness.com/6298.article.
Harris comments received criticism, including from members of the Republican Party. But a Democrat and Jewish congresswoman from Florida, Rep. Debbie Wasserman, said she was disgusted by the comments, adding that Harris does not deserve to be a representative and that she is deeply disappointed in Representative Harris personally.”
Harris, unfortunately, is not alone in her lame thinking. This rhetoric from a “veteran” politician like that is dangerous, especially suggesting that Christians hold the key to good government. Surely, Christians, regardless of denomination, should be offended. Harris cannot speak for Christians nor insinuate that secular legislation is synonymous with sin. Thats Christian nationalism and theocracy talk. Heaven help us. Watch Harris go down in flame on election day.
