“A phobia is a type of anxiety disorder. It is a strong, irrational fear of something that poses little or no real danger.” – MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine
There’s another pseudo-phobia gaining traction in political arenas when it comes to Christian doctrine.
During a recent confirmation hearing, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont raised eyebrows as he pressed Russell Vought, President Trump’s nominee for deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget, about his Christian beliefs.
Vought, in a blog post for his alma mater, stated:
Muslims do not simply have a deficient theology. They do not know God because they have rejected Jesus Christ his Son, and they stand condemned. In John 8:19, “Jesus answered, ‘You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” In Luke 10:16, Jesus says, “The one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.” And in John 3:18, Jesus says, “Whoever believes in [the Son] is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”
Vought’s beliefs were the highlights of Sen. Sanders’ questions (see video):
“Do you believe people in the Muslim religion stand condemned?” Sanders asked. “What about Jews? Do they stand condemned, too?”
“I’m a Christian,” Vought repeatedly responded.
“I understand you are a Christian,” Sanders said, raising his voice. “But there are other people who have different religions in this country and around the world. In your judgment, do you think that people who are not Christians are going to be condemned?”
“I believe that all individuals are made in the image of God and are worthy of dignity and respect regardless of their religious beliefs,” Vought said, while also emphasizing “the centrality of Jesus Christ in salvation.”
“This nominee is really not someone who this country is supposed to be about,” Sanders said, announcing that he’d vote against him.
Is it “Islamophobic”, as Sanders implied, for a Christian to believe that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation and to escape eternal condemnation?
Critics of Sanders’ line of religious questioning have called attention to the U.S. Constitution, Article VI, which states:
…no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.
What are your thoughts, Team Jesus?
The standards of God, Christian doctrine and beliefs are becoming less and less popular in mainstream society. Yet, we are not shocked, but stand even firmer in our faith. According to 2 Timothy 4:3:
For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions.
Don’t be discouraged by the world’s benevolence with the word phobia where there is a difference in beliefs. Continue to honor God, stand firm on His promises, and follow Christ’s example of love.
We can love and disagree without fear.
