CBN’s David Brody reports that John McCain is emailing conservative Christian leaders with excerpts from his books detailing McCain’s Christian faith, especially as a young man. Here’s an excerpt:
Dear Friends,
Many of you have asked about John McCain’s faith. John McCain is a strong Christian, but he believes that, in the context of the campaign, his faith is a personal issue. Excerpts directly from John McCain’s family memoir entitled, Faith of My Fathers, best explain the shaping and content of John McCain’s faith. If you would like this document formatted for printing, please do not hesitate to contact Americans of Faith at AmericansofFaith@mccain08hq.com.
Americans of Faith for John McCain
An officer must not lie, steal, or cheat– ever. He keeps his word, whatever the cost. He must not shirk his duties no matter how difficult or dangerous they are. His life is ransomed to his duty. An officer must trust his fellow officers, and expect their trust in return. He must not expect others to bear what he will not. An officer accepts the consequences of his actions. He must not hide his mistakes, nor transfer blame to others that is rightfully his. He admits his mistakes openly, and accepts whatever sanction is imposed upon him without complaint. (Page 66)
My father didn’t talk about God or the importance of religious devotion. He didn’t proselytize. But he always kept with him a tattered, dog-eared prayer book, from which he would pray aloud for an hour, on his knees, twice every day. (Page 71)
One spring, a young interrogator I had not seen before decided to practice his English by chatting amiably with me about Western religious customs. “What is Easter?” he asked me. I told him that it was the time of year we celebrated the death and resurrection of the Son of God. As I recounted the events of Christ’s passion, His crucifixion, death, resurrection, and assumption to heaven, I saw my curious interrogator furrow his brow in disbelief. “You say He died?” “Yes, He died.” “Three days, He was dead?” “Yes. Then He came alive again. People saw Him and then He went back to heaven.”
Clearly puzzled, he stared wordlessly at me for a few moments, then left the room. A short time later, he returned, his friendly manner gone, an angry resolve replacing it. “Mac Kane, the officer say you tell nothing but lies. Go back to your room,” he ordered, the mystery of my faith proving incomprehensible to him. (Page 223)
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posted August 8, 2008 at 5:43 pm
Does changing your mind count as a lie? Does voting against the party then supporting it count as cheating? McCain may not live up to his faith beliefs.
Yet for all his faults, he still strives to be a man of godly integrity. I just wish he and the GOP would allow Obama the same. Yet they want to mock him as a “false Messiah”. The more they do that the more people will look at them as the hypocrites rather than the saviors of the free world.
posted August 9, 2008 at 11:42 am
I have not read or heard anything yet that McCain seeks Christ on a daily basis or that he has a relationship with Christ. Sounds like more of a historical apreciation of a God that provided strength in tough times. Yes, this is good, but only a fraction of the Christian life.
posted August 10, 2008 at 9:24 pm
Is this supposed to be John McCain’s declaration of faith?…something he wrote in a book eons ago. John McCain must think that we are all idiots……oh yes…..I forgot Republicans pride themselves on ignorance and more importantly they go after low information voters.
The lies that McCain has been pitching recently show that he has no conscience and no relationship with God.
Well, Mr. McCain, this does not pass the faith test….try again!
posted August 11, 2008 at 2:04 am
The Faith Forum with Rick Warren on Sunday should be quite interesting. I so admire Rick Warren he not divisive like the religious right. His book The Purpose Driven-Life changed my life. All Christians should read that book. That book puts such a focus on service and doing for others. Obama is that type of Christian. He’s a doer and not just a hearer of the word of God, a Christian in action. Mr. Warren already said this will not be a Gotcha politics thing. It will cover social responsiblities as well as the only topics of abortion and gay rights that repubs want to talk about.Mr. Warren also said that what Rev. Hagee and Rev.Parsley did in endorsing a candidate was inappropriate.
posted August 11, 2008 at 9:25 am
lol. McCain’s rating should go down. An officer must not lie, steal, or cheat– ever. He’s done all of these things in the last 7 months. Some of it 2 days ago.
rofl. people on this site are justifying this because Obama flip-flops. At least Obama will tell you he changed his mind.
McCain usually claims he never said it — and then comes the video clip of him saying it.
Every time McCain bears false witness his rating should drop. Its 0 imo.
posted August 11, 2008 at 1:37 pm
May G writes:
McCain’s book excerpts are certainly a bit musty. On the other hand, might showing the role that faith played in enduring his captivity 35 years ago prove that faith has played a longstanding role in his life, that it’s not something he’s doing cynically at the 11th hour to get values votes?
posted August 11, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Hey Dan, on another blog entry, you ‘define’ values vote[r]s as only being about gay marriage and abortion. Yet nothing in McCain’s article of faith even addresses those “issues”. How come it only applies when you’re typing about Obama?
This blog is entirely too selective. A little balance please. Or is that too much tto expect from a Time Magazine staffer?
posted August 12, 2008 at 8:31 am
THIS IDIOT IS AN ATHEIST. NO MORE.