Is it theocracy yet?

Rob over at Realitique has been following moves being made to turn the United States into a theocracy. Time permitting, I have a post coming up based on the evangelical movement in Colorado Springs - the "evangelical Vatican" - based on the May issue of Harpers. Until then, Rob recently covered the story of Rev. Chan Chandler, pastor at East Waynesville Baptist Church in North Carolina.

Chandler resigned last week following a scandal in which he made good on a promise to kick out of the parish members who voted for John Kerry unless they repented their sins or resigned from the church.

Note to Democrats: leave your party membership cards behind when you head for the pearly gates.

Calling himself "merely the spokesperson" for "the most high," Chandler charged that Kerry was an unbeliever. Is he receiving direct communication from God? Because if he is, I want to ask him what he really thinks about people like Benny Hinn taking people's money under the charade that he can heal the sick.

Here's a precious quote from a Chandler parishioner who drank the Kool-Aid:

Chandler supporter Rhonda Trantham, 27, saw no problem with his approach. "If it's in the Bible, I believe it should be preached," she said.

Amy Sullivan at the LA Times thought that it's possible she missed the line "Thou shalt not vote Democratic" in her quick read of Leviticus, but she suggested it might be in the New Republican Standard Version of the Bible, editorializing that:

No political party gets to claim God.

What's more, Christianity teaches that no one — not Pastor Chandler or the Catholic bishops, Bill Frist or me — has the standing to judge the state of someone's soul. Jesus made this abundantly clear in the Sermon on the Mount when he warned, "Judge not, lest ye yourselves be judged."

Meanwhile, Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC) has introduced a bill (for the sixth time) called the "Houses of Worship Free Speech Restoration Act of 2005." Now before the House Ways and Means Committee, the bill would amend the Internal Revenue Code to allow houses of worship to engage in "religious free exercise and free speech activities."

Of course, non-profit organizations have always had the right to free speech of any kind, but the instant they endorse a party or candidate, they get to pay taxes just like the rest of us.

When the United States does become a Republican theocracy, only Churches of the Republican Redeemer will get tax breaks. Until then, the rest of us will follow Jesus' counsel to "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, give to God what is God's."

Finally, have yourself one last laugh before the Rapture comes and condemns all Democrats to fire and damnation for all eternity (courtesy of The Fishbowl):