Here's an investigative piece on whether Thompson is a member of the Church of Christ:
The 106th Congressional Record listed Thompson’s religious affiliation as “Church of Christ (Stone Campbell).” In an interview with the U.S. News and World Report this week, Thompson spokesman Mark Corallo said: “Thompson is indeed a Christian. He was baptized into the Church of Christ.”So, is this enough or do you think reporters will stake out his house on Sunday morning to see if he goes to church? Will they call the local Church of Christ churches to see if he attends? Spy on him when he's at a restaurant to see if he prays?
Corallo did not immediately return calls from the Chronicle seeking additional information about the politician and Law and Order actor’s religious background.
David Pinckley, treasurer of the Pulaski Street Church of Christ in Thompson’s hometown of Lawrenceburg, Tenn., said the two grew up together.
“We went to school together, played football, went to church for many years here in Lawrenceburg,” Pinckley told the Chronicle on Friday.
“I don’t know his religious status right now, but we were both baptized around 1951-1952 maybe,” Pinckley added. “We were either 10 or 11 years old. He was baptized at the First Street church in Lawrenceburg. It’s a non-institutional church now, but it wasn’t then.”
Thompson spoke in 1997 at a fund-raising event at Freed-Hardeman University, a Henderson, Tenn., college associated with Churches of Christ. Thompson used his speaking fee to create an endowed scholarship at Freed-Hardeman for history and political science students, said Stephen Morris, assistant professor of political science and university counsel.
The Robert and Ruth Thompson academic scholarship – named after Thompson’s parents – offers freshman scholarships worth between $2,500 and $5,000. His father died, but Ruth Thompson lives in Franklin, Tenn., and is a member of the Brentwood Church of Christ, Pinckley said. The Chronicle has received several e-mails from those who attend or have visited the Brentwood church saying Thompson has worshipped there on occasion with his mother.
BTW, Dobson backpedals (or issues a clarifying statement -- whatever) about his perception of Thompson's Christianity:
Obama is a member of the Church of Christ, does that mean evangelicals would have no problem voting for him? I doubt if Dobson will be quick to endorse him for president.Focus on the Family spokesman Gary Schneeberger said Dobson "use[s] the word 'Christian' to refer to people who are evangelical Christians," and was not expressing a personal opinion about his reaction to a Thompson candidacy.
In addition, Focus on the Family Action has issued a statement saying, "Dr. Dobson was attempting to highlight that Senator Thompson hasn't clearly communicated his religious faith, and many evangelical Christians might find this a barrier to supporting him." The statement goes on to say that Focus was "pleased to learn from his spokesperson that Senator Thompson professes to be a believer."
Religious affiliation really isn't an issue for Christians when we pick a candidate to support. All we should be looking for is if the candidate would do what we would do if we were in office. Saying they are a Christian really doesn't matter because the office has nothing to do with the church and just because someone says they're a Christian, doesn't make it so.
Luther once said that he preferred a wise Turk to a foolish Christian on the throne, there may be wisdom for us in that.
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