I've always seen a distinction between our church and contemporary evangelical alternatives in how we approach our faith. While several denominations subscribe to the sound-bites-of-fire-and-brimstone-coupled-with-ostracizing-independent-thinkers school of religion the church has always encouraged discussion and independent thought.

We make this clear at first contact with a nonmember that wishes to be taught. In the end personal conviction born of ones own communication with ones God is what matters. And God has made it abundantly clear that he expects us to do our own thinking if we expect to be helped.

Regretfully there has always been a contingent that is willing to turn of their brains and live of of their primary level understanding of the gospel for life. These same people have a tendency to apply this principle in all walks of life making them prime targets for propaganda.

This is why uniting with evangelicals in political campaigns is so dangerous. A lot of members with shallow understanding of the gospel start absorbing the evangelical mindset and evangelical talking points, believing that they are official church stances. I have seen members bring up how evolution is against the gospel, how public healthcare is against the gospel, how certain things that are commandments should be made illegal etc. All these things have in common that the church has never spoken on the subject. No revelation has been given. The church is not against the theory of evolution. Never has been. The church is not republican. Never has been (In fact about 100 years ago it was considered unthinkable to vote anything but democrat if you were a member. Republicans used to be our greatest persecutors.)

I wish people would realize that the republican candidate at the stand railing against abortion and gay marriage has no intention of actually following through on his claims. In fact he doesn't care about it one bit. He just wants your vote. The republicans had control of congress for 12 years 6 of which they also had the presidency. Did they do a single thing about it? No. In fact it was during that period that gay marriage became legal in the places it has been. The lesson here is: Look at actions, not talking points. A politicians righteousness is not determined by if he professes a similar belief as you on a fringe topic.