Lefties

I was surfing the web tonight, in a very successful attempt to avoid doing the self-assessment portion of my performance evaluation, and I found a blog that someone I used to work with publishes. I won't bother mentioning it, mainly because it was filled with lots of stuff that was incredibly hateful and offensive to me. As a Christian, I have certain beliefs about God and Jesus Christ that mean everything to me. This blog belittles those beliefs and considers me to be just another right-wing fundamentalist Christian freak. The funny thing about all of this is that I worked with this guy for years. We hung out together after hours, had some good times, and shared a lot of common interests. But for some strange reason, the topics of religion and politics never came up. I guess it was good that they didn't, because we definitely would have had a major debate. People often assume that I must be a Democrat or a liberal. They look at my last name and assume quite a bit. I wonder how many people would be surprised to know the following things about me:

• I never have had alcohol. (Unless you count communion wine.)
• I go to church (almost) every Sunday.
• I believe in the Bible 100 percent.
• I don't believe that humans are causing global warming.
• I am against illegal immigration, even though I am part Hispanic.
• I believe that parents should have the right to use vouchers to go to a school of their choice, even though I used to be a public school teacher.
• I don't believe in affirmative action, even though I probably have benefited from it.
• I think abortion is absolutely wrong.
• I don't believe in evolution.
• I think the government should be doing only about 10 percent of what it currently does.
• I believe Christianity is the way to heaven.
• I could see myself as a pastor.
• I think English should be the national language of the United States.
• I agree with most of the views of Michael Savage.
• I believe Jesus will return during my children's lifetime.

So does that make me some NASCAR-loving, backwoods redneck? Am I somehow stupid and unenlightened? (I would hope that my Yale degree would say otherwise.) And what would those people who worked with me back in Austin for so long say if they saw this list?

I pray for people who have hardened their heart to the Gospel. By subscribing to the idea that moral relativism is cool, they've made it easier to promote all sorts of things that clearly are against what God has told us for thousands of years is wrong. (Oh yeah-- I didn't mention that one: I think there actually is an absolute standard for what is right and what is wrong. God has written that on our hearts.)

Now, does any of this mean I'm perfect? Far from it. Because I believe all of these things, it helps me to know that I have a spot in heaven because of Jesus and not because of what I've done or not done. Is it logical? Can it be explained? Not in any way except through faith. There is that voice in me that tells me to be still and know that Jesus is Lord. And I do. It's as simple as that.

So, all you liberal, hating ex-coworkers of mine-- now you know. Hate me if you will; it's not like we're that close anymore anyway.