Mr. Jesus Goes to Washington

One more from the Times (yes, I suppose I am a bit smitten with the Gray Lady). This time I'm linking to Garry Wills' excellent commentary on the futility of trying to co-opt Jesus for political purposes - a very popular passtime these days. He writes:

THERE is no such thing as a "Christian politics." If it is a politics, it cannot be Christian. Jesus told Pilate: "My reign is not of this present order. If my reign were of this present order, my supporters would have fought against my being turned over to the Jews. But my reign is not here" (John 18:36). Jesus brought no political message or program.

This is a truth that needs emphasis at a time when some Democrats, fearing that the Republicans have advanced over them by the use of religion, want to respond with a claim that Jesus is really on their side. He is not.

That's a warning those of us on both sides of the aisle need to take to heart.