Christians

At some time during their lives, the following people have publicly identified themselves as Christian.   Inclusion in this list does not indicate approval or disapproval of the person, of their orthodoxy or lack of it, or of their actions.  Some of those listed may surprise you.  Readers are encouraged to suggest persons who should be included on this list.  This is a recurring segment in this blog.

Leonard James Callaghan, Baron Callaghan of Cardiff: (b. 1912, England - d. 2005) Prime Minister of the United Kingdom 1976 - 1979. Baptist, converted to Atheist.

Margaret Hilda Roberts Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher: (b. 1925, England - d. 2013) 

Prime Minister of the United Kingdom 1979 - 1990. Methodist, converted to Anglican.

Sir John Major: (b 1943, England) Prime Minister of the United Kingdom 1990 - 1997, Anglican

Anthony Charles Lynton Blair: (b 1953, England) Prime Minister of the United Kingdom 1997 - 2007, Anglican, converted to Roman Catholic

James  Gordon Brown: (b. 1951, England) Prime Minister of the United Kingdom 2007 - 2010, Church of Scotland

Show Your Faith

The political race for governor, and numerous other political positions, in Alabama is about to get hot and heavy. In an article in The Birmingham News, Rabbi Jonathan Miller of Temple Emanuel in Birmingham decries the tendency of the local politicians to "out-Jesus" one another. Here in the Bible Belt, that can be important.

Miller's criticism reflects the tension between "talk" and "do." He uses the Christians in Muslim Bangladesh as an example of Christians who are "doing."

"I wish our politicians would act on their Christian faith. Christians are a blessing to the world. ... do what Jesus would do if Jesus were in office. ... Put away the rhetoric. Don't talk for Jesus. Instead, be like Jesus. Serve like Jesus. Show us your faith."

Miller, Jonathan, "Politicians should act like Jesus," The Birmingham News, 8 Aug 2010, pp. 2F, 4F.

Governor Mark Sanford should be fired.

     On 6 July 2009, South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford (an avowed Christian and a "family values" politician) was censured by the South Carolina Republican Party for his week-long unexplained absence from the state which his staff thought was a hiking trip in the Appalachian Mountains.  The truth was that he was in Argentina visiting his mistress of several years.  He should resign or face impeachment, conviction, and removal from office, but not for his admitted marital infidelity.

     He joins a long line of public officials who have gotten caught up in sexual immorality. Sex is readily available from many sources to those who have money or positions of power.  The temptation to abuse a position of power for sex (or money, or influence, or whatever) seems to be almost impossible to resist.

     However, calls for Sanford's resignation because of his philandering are misplaced.  Even full-blown libertinism would be not be grounds for dismissal or resignation.  A governor's job description does not require that he or she be a good person or act properly (as long as no ethics laws are violated).  Many politicians have survived worse scandals than the one in which Sanford is embroiled.

     The reason Sanford should step down is his unexplained and unexcused absence from his job for six days.  It's called dereliction of duty and abandonment of position (and possibly, misuse of public funds).  Ask your boss what would happen to you failed to show up for work for six days with no explanation.  Multiply that by responsibility for thousands of employees, millions of dollars in programs, and responsibility for oversight of the state national guard and civil defense.