Christians and the Right Wing

A prayer request at choir practice the other night prompts this post. A choir member asked prayer because the Department of Homeland Security supposedly has targeted American veterans and Christians. Doubting that this person had actually read this report, and because I believe in reading primary sources, I found the report online. Though it is no longer on the DHS website, a Google search will locate it.

In searching for the report I noticed all kinds of wild reactions to it, mostly critical. However, I was not surprised when I read the report. Rather than being wild and guilty of the criticisms by Christians and other conservatives, I found the report to be very measured and carefully written. It does not accuse American military veterans of anything. It does not accuse Christians of anything. It does take note of right wing extremist groups in the country. It carefully defines rightwing extremism as "those movements, and adherents that are primarily hate-oriented (based on hatred of particular religious, racial or ethnic groups) and those that are mainly antigovernment, rejecting federal authority in favor of state or local authority or rejecting government authority entirely." This may include "groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration."

The fact that some Christians and conservative commentators find the report troubling indicates that they have not read the report carefully or do not know how to read with comprehension. Their reactions to this report are totally uncalled for. The reactions of members of Congress are also uncalled for. Who cannot admit to the presence of extreme right wing groups in this country that fit the definition in the report? The report notes their existence, identifies some of their activities, notes how some military veterans have been drawn to these groups, and wonders if this could be a pattern for the present and future. American military veterans are no more pure and above board than any one else. The report does not paint every veteran with tar (I certainly don't feel tarred). It just expresses concern that some of them could be drawn in. Christians are not specifically named in the report. But we all know the actions of some opponents of abortion. If all Christians feel condemned by that, they need to ask themselves, why.

Christians who spread negative comments about this report without reading it are guilty of breaking the commandment against bearing false witness and not speaking the truth. They are also guilty of listening to others without reading and thinking about the matter. There is no excuse in this day and age for not locating the report and reading it for themselves. Talk show hosts and advocacy groups all have agendas. To listen to them but not to read the document in question is plain stupid and results in the kind of misinformation that one reads on the internet.