Booing God

By Weylan Deaver

In recent years, the Democratic party in America has abandoned all respect for the Bible’s teaching on marriage, life’s sanctity, and sin in general. In their official party platform for 2008, they were hanging onto God by a thread when they mentioned him once in stating, “We need a government that stands up for the hopes, values, and interests of working people, and gives everyone willing to work hard the chance to make the most of their God-given potential.” Notice, that was no call for anyone to worship God. It was no call for anyone to thank God or even respect him. Rather, it was a statement about needing big government to take care of little people, with a passing reference to God.

In the initial 2012 Democratic party platform, God rated no mention at all, with the statement reading, “We gather to reclaim the basic bargain that built the largest middle class and the most prosperous nation on Earth — the simple principle that in America, hard work should pay off, responsibility should be rewarded, and each one of us should be able to go as far as our talent and drive take us.” Rather than credit God with blessing America into the most prosperous country, Democrats think it resulted from something they term a “basic bargain.”

On September 5, the chair of the platform drafting committee suggested “God” be put back into the platform’s language, as well as an acknowledgment that Jerusalem is “the capital of Israel.” The head of the Democratic National Convention then put the matter to a voice vote and, after a third try, declared the motions passed (even though two-thirds were clearly not in favor). What followed was some loud and angry booing, which speaks with much volume about the heart of that political party.

Why would anyone boo the mention of God? Perhaps some objectors were Muslims who reject the God of the Bible, but some who booed simply want nothing to do with God, period. A godless people feel free to pursue their selfish lusts without needing to worry about being judged by a righteous Creator who hates sin. The sad truth is, plenty of people want to live like a troop of baboons, not worrying about right vs. wrong, not wrestling with a conscience, not thinking about heaven and hell, never thanking or listening to their Maker.

Though the mention of God engenders debate, there are uncontested issues dear to the Democratic heart: a woman’s ability to legally kill her unborn child, and a man’s right to fornicate with another man while calling it “marriage.” The innocent are annihilated, the perverse are applauded, and a morally bankrupt party loves to have it so.

It is precisely as Paul described the wicked: “And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done” (Rom. 1:28, ESV). In verses 26-31 Paul condemns homosexuality as godless, dishonorable, unnatural, shameless, and erroneous, mentioning also several sins related to abortion, including murder, malice, arrogance, heartlessness, ruthlessness, and being disobedient to parents.

Those who “boo” God are no better than those who wagged their heads at Jesus on the cross (Matt. 27:39). No culture has the right to endorse what God condemns, and does so at its own peril. In defining family and morality in a civil society, the New Testament and the Democratic party could not be at greater odds. If those in the political sphere wish not to be rebuked by Christians, then they should stick to politics. Calling an issue “political” or “social” does not make it non-moral. And politicians who venture where the Bible speaks ought not be surprised when Bible-believers have something to say about it.