Christian Words, Unchristian Actions

John Stoddard Klar
Pleasant Word (2006)
ISBN 1414106998
Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for Reader Views (8/06)

“Christian Words, Un-Christian Actions” challenges American Christians to search their hearts.  Is our allegiance to a nation or to the true Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ?  Do we follow our government blindly?  Mr. Klar reminds us that we are all accountable even our President.  As a Christian it is our duty to question decisions our elected officials make.  It is our duty to stand for Christ.

Mr. Klar is quick to point out the faults of America and Americans.  We are the largest producers of pornography and are the largest consumers of the stuff yet we complain about the availability.  “We want pills or $20 gimmicks to erase our waistlines instead of facing up to the biological requirement of regular exercise and a healthy, balanced diet.”  We have bigger cars and houses than anyone in the world yet demand low cost fuel. 

We follow the example of our government and spend more than we make.  We continually borrow money to feed our greed.   The National Debt is at an all time high.
”Our oblivion to our collective indebtedness is only rivaled by our misplaced faith in the dollar, the mighty greenback, a false idol which we foolishly believe can never fall, but which is already nearly worthless, vapid paper kept alive by that very faith, materialism.”

George W. Bush proclaimed to the world that he was a Born-Again-Christian.  Christians assisted in electing Mr. Bush.  Mr. Klar compares George W. Bush to a wolf in sheep’s clothing.  “Jesus told us the standard by which we are to judge another: "By their fruits shall ye know them” (Matt 7:20) Mr. Bush’s drug and alcohol use is also discussed.  Mr. Bush “should have repented of that conduct” rather than saying, “What difference does it make?”  “George Bush is politician first, Christian second, and this is easy to see if one looks beyond piety act, to actions and to the convenient timing of this man’s conversion to Christianity.”  Mr. Bush is a Bondsman, “a secret society so secret that I can’t say anything more.”  Are these the actions of a Christian?

I mostly agree with Mr. Klar’s assessment of “No Child Left Behind” legislation. “No child Left behind was an ill-considered but flashy-sounding and expensive experiment on our nation’s children.”   Mr. Klar’s accusations concerning the social welfare and poverty programs are a point where we disagree.  This is a capitalist society; it is not perfect.  It is a society where the citizens are encouraged to better themselves.  This is not a socialist country; while I see the need to help those who cannot help themselves I feel that able-bodied humans should be attempting to be independent.

Mr. Klar and I agree with on the assessment of political parties.  “What is first required is an acceptance of the simple fact that in the modern American political system, neither of the existing parties is capable of meaningful response to our condition…In a spectacular display of faith, Americans continue in their democratic/republican loyalty despite the general acknowledgement by both the man on the street and academia that the system has been co-opted by the insidious reach of self interest.”

I admit that I am a Conservative Christian and on top of that, a Republican.  Mr. Klar has made me think and reconsider some of my loyalties.  I do not agree with all that he states but it has caused me to ponder many things.  What disturbed me the most was the revelation that George W. Bush is a member of the Skull and Bones.  It is time for all Christians to stand for Christ and not for a government. 

This was not a pleasant book to read but one that all Christians should read.  It is obvious that the author is very intelligent and has thoroughly researched this topic.  Highly educated readers will enjoy this book.

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