False Teaching

There's a term for what they do.  It's called "binding the conscience" and it involves either declaring a sin where there is none, or implying that salvation depends on obeying the Law.  It is one of the most dangerous things a Christian can do to another, because it attempts to create doubt about salvation.  I only wonder why so-called Conservative Christians aren't out front condemning this false teaching.

Here are a few examples that directly attempt to bind the conscience of Christians who are politically liberal:

Tony Perkins (November 2011):  "Any Christian that voted for Obama in 2008 should be repenting in the next election."

James Dobson (Larry King Live, 11/22/06): "But it's interesting to me that those, again, on the more liberal end of the spectrum are often those who have no value system...."

Ann Coulter (interview with Christian Post, 10/2/12):  "I'm sure there are people who consider themselves Democrats, maybe even liberals, who are good Christians, but if so I do not think they understand the tenants [sic] of those two organizations."

There are plenty of other conservatives who have done the same in a less direct way, but still unmistakably implying that a Christian can't be a liberal (or vice versa).  Franklin Graham, Mike Huckabee, Rick Santorum, Michelle Bachmann, and others come to mind.

Fortunately, scripture is not on their side:  "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus...." (1 Timothy 2:5).  Whenever some right winger tries to bind the conscience, take comfort in this verse.  Anyone who is trying to make you doubt your faith is "turning to a different gospel" (Galatians 1:6).

And, forgive my mild sacrilege by "adding" to Romans 8:38-39:  "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor Tony Perkins nor James Dobson nor Ann Coulter nor Franklin Graham nor Rick Santorum nor Mike Huckabee nor Michele Bachmann, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."