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SCP to field candidate in General Election
The Scottish Christian Party is hoping to field a candidate in the forthcoming general election and a contest is to held in the early new year to select a candidate.
 A £30,000 campaign war chest has been promised to the Scottish Christian Party (SCP) candidate fighting the Western Isles constituency in the forthcoming general election. The party’s political candidate will be chosen in February after a US-style Open Primary contest open to all islanders.
This is thought to be just the second time the American system of allow all voters in an area to select a prospective candidate for an election in the UK. The first was in August when the Sarah Wollaston was picked to fight the Totnes seat for the 2010 general election for the Conservatives.
The candidate selection will be conducted by a secure internet vote and via a computerised telephone poll. The primary will be organised and controlled by the Electoral Reform Service though its £30,000 cost will be borne by the party.
Voting in the Primary will be between Thursday 21 January and Thursday 11 February 2010.
 Christian Party leader Rev. George Hargreaves who stood in the Western Isles as a SCP candidate for the Western Isles at the last general election pledged the campaign cash saying: “We are in it to win it. “Whoever wins the prize will be well resourced.”
“The £30,000 campaign fund is the maximum allowed under the law and we are spending a similar amount on the Primary."
The successful candidate will have a rented campaign office at his disposal in a prime spot in Cromwell Street in Stornoway town centre. The party plans to fight the SNP after blaming the Nationalists for launching a controversial Sabbath ferry into Lewis this summer while Sabbath trading is another issue troubling the party. Rev. Hargreaves has stated:
“In 2010 and 2011 the Scottish Christian Party shall run election campaigns based on building on the strengths of the Western Isles, not destroying them. We intend to see the people of the Western Isles united behind it uniqueness, not divided by its diversity.”
Mr. Hargreaves also believes that the Calman report could benefit the Scottish islands. He said that the 10 pence (income) tax should be used to advantage for the Western Isles and peripheral islands to attract new business and attract population to the islands
The presence of the Scottish Christian Party in the Western Isles election fight could well upset the two-horse race between the SNP and Labour. It will also impact on any opportunity or desire that there might be for a local Christian to stand as an independent.
 In the 2007 elections for the Scottish Parliament Mr. Murdo Murray, a former Technical Director with Western Isles Council stood as a List Candidate for the SCP.
Mr. Murray participated in a recent on-line discussion regarding the Sunday sailing issue and the wider subject of Christian representation in the political process.
 In the course of the discussion Christians Together interviewed Mr. Murray on a range of issues affecting the Western Isles. It is understood that Mr. Murray was not present at a recent public meeting in Stornoway hosted by Rev. Hargreaves.
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Christians Together, 24/12/2009
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John Parker (Guest) |
09/01/2010 10:02 |
The problem for any 'Christian' party lies in the definition of that term. It could (on the one hand) be seen as merely supportive of 'Christian values' in which case its policies will be 'value-centred'. In this case there will inevitably be division (at some future date) because values differ from person to person. If 'love' is a value then same-sex marriages should be permissible along with conventional heterosexual marriage. Indeed it could be argued that polygamy should also be permitted.
However if the term 'Christian' means 'followers of Christ and God's word' then that closely defines what a party with this name would believe. And that party would (if Jesus' words are anything to go by) run counter to prevailing (and popular) trends i.e. the party would lack popular appeal and support.
There is also the question of course about the extent of Jesus's involvement with the prevailing political authorities of His day. The only major contact he had was at the end of his life - and that was when they crucified him on trumped-up charges.
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Alec (Guest) |
09/01/2010 10:15 |
"The radical stone them and burn them approach does not appeal to the majority of Christians"
Phew, thats a relief..... I would suggest it doesnt appeal to much of the secular population either.....
(Is this April the 1st by any chance?)
Anyway, some of you guys, esp the homophobic ones might want to look in your own backyards a bit first - Christianity and politics isnt exactly a pretty picture right now is it?
I am of course referring to the appalling hypocrisy of the Iris Robinson / toyboy affair
Apart for making christianity look ridiculous, it also has implications for the whole NI peace process. If the DUP falls apart over this, Sinn Fein becomes the majority party.
Mind you evangelical hypocrisy is hardly new. Ted Haggard did it in spectacular fashion a few years ago - and of course the whole thing blew up when, wait for it, Dawkins was on tour in the States! The timing couldnt be worse
And then there is the lovely Todd Bentley, the latest greatest "big thing" - turned out to be another chancer (although anyone with an atom of discernment could have spotted that a mile off)
Of course the SCP and its supporters being True Evangelicals (TM) would never get involved in affairs or stuff like that would they now?
Meanwhile secularists and neo-atheists are rubbing their hands in glee.
Politics and Religion is a dangerous mix.
Let Christians work through established parties - most of the existing parties have had honourable members of parliament making a stand for many a year -on all sides of the spectrum
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Peter Carr |
09/01/2010 12:46 |
Alec, if you (or I) want to find fault in human beings (including Christians) we won't have to look too far. Sin is a problem for us all;
Romans 3:23 (New International Version)
"...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..."
It is always sad when Christians (of all shades) fall from grace publicly. It also sadder when fellow Christians (of all shades) are quick to condemn them;
Genesis 4:7 (New International Version)
"If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."
All Christians have responsibility to control sin in our lives, which includes the sin of judging;
Matt 7: 1 - 2 " "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
But you are right, anyone standing for SCP on an evangelical ticket, needs to be aware of the pitfalls!!
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Peter Carr |
09/01/2010 12:51 |
John said, "However if the term 'Christian' means 'followers of Christ and God's word' then that closely defines what a party with this name would believe. And that party would (if Jesus' words are anything to go by) run counter to prevailing (and popular) trends i.e. the party would lack popular appeal and support"
That's right John, hence I argued strongly last year that if SCP are to have any success in today's culture, then it needs to be on a moral rather than an evangelical ticket!
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Andrea Mac |
09/01/2010 15:02 |
Alec,
I it not also the case that many people align themselves to some religious group purely for their own agenda but who have not an ounce of true belief in God? Anyone can call themselves a Christian but it doesn't mean a thing to God. He only ever looks at the heart, as should we.
I don't understand why the world always demands answers from Christians when someone seriously transgresses and is known to occasionally attend church/mass or whatever. If I were to claim that I was the Pope's daughter, would that place a responsibility on him to prove otherwise.
We can't always be trying to defend ourselves against those who disgrace themselves and display our 'label'. Rather we should live as God tells us to and the world will see the difference for themselves.
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John Parker (Guest) |
09/01/2010 15:19 |
Hi Peter, you said -
"That's right John, hence I argued strongly last year that if SCP are to have any success in today's culture, then it needs to be on a moral rather than an evangelical ticket!"
The problem is that the Taliban claim to be fighting on a moral ticket also. If a party fights on a moral ticket then we have to ask the question "Who's morals?" And once we do, Christians are obliged to say "God's morals as defined in the Bible." So I'm afraid that there is a 'no-win' situation facing a (truly) Christian party.
Widen the appeal (by becoming a 'moral' party) and you are open to anything. And this is not to mention the catastrophic consequences if there is a slip.
Imagine if the lady in N. Ireland was heading up a 'morals-based' party. That party would be now be effectively dead.
On the other hand if it is an (evangelical/Biblical) Christian party then it has a very narrow appeal (Jesus talked about the 'narrow gate' and few who find it.)
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Peter Carr |
09/01/2010 15:46 |
So, according to you John, the SCP are dead in the water! They cannot possibly hope to win on either an evangelical or a moral ticket. And further more if Christians cannot live by God's standards, then does it not make a mockery of the bible? Surley God has made it possible for us to live by the standards He has set?
2 Pet 1: 3 "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness."
1 Pet 2: 11 - 12 "Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us."
If God's word is true, then winning on a moral ticket should be possible!!
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Peter Carr |
09/01/2010 18:31 |
Alec said, "So any party that tries to take a moral stand,is going to be heavily scrutinised by its opponents - they will be looking for the slightest slip up."
Yes, but all of the other parties are miles ahead when it comes to moral slip ups etc. A party taking a biblical moral standpoint would be promoting God's standards, which Christians should be more familiar with than others!!
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John Parker (Guest) |
09/01/2010 19:26 |
Peter said:
"So, according to you John, the SCP are dead in the water! They cannot possibly hope to win on either an evangelical or a moral ticket."
Yup! I think thats what I was saying.
Peter, you also said:
"And further more if Christians cannot live by God's standards, then does it not make a mockery of the bible? Surley God has made it possible for us to live by the standards He has set?"
Well we didn't. Read about Adam and Eve. We are utterly incapable of living by God's standards. That's why Jesus had to die.
But the 'Christian' party thing is not about theology it's about logic.
If a party is based on 'morals' (and a party can't be moral, only people can be moral) the question must be "Whose morals?"
You just can't be merely 'moral' without defining morality.
And if it's based on the Christian belief system it is not going to attract voters.
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Peter Carr |
09/01/2010 20:27 |
John said, "Well we didn't. Read about Adam and Eve. We are utterly incapable of living by God's standards. That's why Jesus had to die."
So, are you saying that sanctification for the Christian/Christian party is a myth?
1 John 5:3 (New International Version)
"This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome..."
John also said, "And if it's based on the Christian belief system it is not going to attract voters."
So, does that mean that God's moral laws count for nothing?
Eccl 3:11 (New International Version)
"He has also set eternity in the hearts of men..."
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