CHOOSE SIDES

IN THE WAR OF WORDS BETWEEN TRADITIONAL AND MODERATE EVANGELICALS HOW DOES COMMON SENSE OR MORALITY SEE THROUGH THE FOG? HERE ARE SOME WORDS, REPRESENTING ISSUES ON WHICH THE TWO SIDES OPPOSE EACH OTHER. THEY WERE USED IN A RECENT ARTICLE ON THE GREAT 'DIVIDE' IN EVANGELICAL CHURCHES.

MODERATES FORM THEIR RANKS AROUND: DEBT RELIEF FOR POOR COUNTRIES, FAIR-TRADE COFFEE, GLOBAL WARMING, IMMIGRATION, MINIMUM WAGE, ACCUSATIONS OF EXTREMISM, INFREQUENT CHURCH ATTENDANCE, GAY MARRIAGE, ABORTION, MEGA CHURCHES.

TRADITIONALISTS RALLY ABOUT: LEGITIMACY OF THE BIBLE, A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS, PROSELYTIZING, CONSERVATISM, PRIVATE CHARITY.

HOW AM I TO CHOOSE THE WINNING SIDE? EASY. THE ARTICLE WAS WRITTEN BY WOMAN WITH A HYPHENATED NAME AND QUOTED A MS. FOR AUTHORITY. TWO STRIKES AGAINST THE OPPOSITION BECAUSE OF THEIR 'LIBERATED' PERSUASION. NOW TO PICK OUT THE DAMNING PHRASE. THE THIRD STRIKE WHICH PUTS 'MODERATES' OUT OF CONTENTION WAS THE ADMISSION OF "INFREQUENT CHURCH ATTENDANCE."

WHAT WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE? A DEVOUT WORSHIPER AND BELIEVER IN THE POWER OF GOD WITH A GUN TO THE HEAD OF YOUR ENEMY OR A MODERATE, THAT IS, LIBERAL, WHO JUST WANTS TO 'DIALOGUE WITH YOUR ADVERSARY?
CASE CLOSED.