"Five rules of Christian Civility"

From Jim Wallis of Sojourners and God's Politics:

... So maybe we should have some rules of civility for this election. Let me suggest "Five Rules of Christian Civility."

1. We Christians should be in the pocket of no political party; but should evaluate both candidates and parties by our biblically based moral compass.
2. We don't vote on only one issue, but see biblical foundations for our concerns over many issues.
3. We advocate a consistent ethic of life from womb to tomb, and one that challenges the selective moralities of both the left and the right.
4. We will respect the integrity of our Christian brothers and sisters in their sincere efforts to apply Christian commitments to the important decisions of this election; knowing that people of faith and conscience will be voting both ways in this election year.
5. We will not attack our fellow Christians as Democratic or Republican partisans, but rather will expect and respect the practice of putting our faith first in this election year; even if we reach different conclusions.

On November 4, Christians will not be able to vote for the Kingdom of God. It is not on the ballot. Yet, there are very important choices to make which will significantly impact the common good and the health of this nation--and of the world. So we urge our Christian brothers and sisters to exercise their crucial right to vote and to apply their Christian conscience to those decisions. And in the finite and imperfect political decisions of this and any election, we promise to respect the Christian political conscience of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Link: blog.beliefnet.com/godspolitics/2008/09/obama-perkins-palin-and-a-plea.html