Son,

We are in a time of flux. This is a difficult time for statisticians. The Media Pundits are dissecting the election statistics, trying to make sense of demographics and results. Some say Obama is about generational issues. Clinton is about gender. Edwards about populism. Huckabee about evangelism. This is not a time when these statistics are predictors - they are merely interesting after-the-fact notes.

The assumption by pundits that they can predict based on demographics is flawed. Flawed because this election is not about the selfishness of demographic affiliation - it is about rescuing the future of America. It is about the Demographic of Justice, of Domestic Tranquility, of Common Defense, of General Welfare, and the Blessings of Liberty.

Son,

Take a look at the State of the World. Look at the role of religion in world events. Look at the disparity of faiths represented by the candidates for President of the United States. Who or what is running this show?

The term, Anti- Christ, is mentioned in the Bible very briefly. I think it is in the Book of Revelation - that insanely metaphorical diatribe of apocalypse. Various leaders of man throughout history have been granted the title - usually the losers of wars. The winner gets to write the history books. The Anti-Christ mantra is consistently used in current events to demonize anyone who opposes the current popular social message. Just convenient name calling, trash talk.

Son,

I appreciate your struggle with the variety of means that Jesus is presented.  These are confusing times.  People who have become successful in America are conflicted - the traditional message of suffering no longer fits their lifestyle.  The ministers of the Prosperity Gospel seek to find an audience among the wealthy - why do you suppose that is?

But we are conflicted.  Much of the gospel of Jesus is about giving to others, about forgiveness, about suffering.  This message played well with the impoverished early Americans.  They took their struggling lot in life to mean that they were fulfilling the challenge of Christianity - they were wrong.  As the followers of the other extreme - the followers of the Prosperity Gospel are wrong.

Dad,

We have written much here about faith and action, lifestyle and religion. I want to revisit the conversation about the Prosperity Gospel. I spent much of my formative years rolling my eyes at the public face of Christianity. The public face of religion in general, as a matter of fact. In the last five years, I have learned much about life and teachings of Jesus and about the history and traditions of His Church. I have experienced the benefit of conviction, and I am better off for my relationship with my faith and my church. I still find myself struggling not to roll my eyes at the public face of Christianity.