The Party of Cain
Let's look at how utterly ridiculous this is. The passage Dean refers to is from the story of Cain and Abel. Cain and Abel were the children of Adam and Eve. Cain worked the soil while Abel tended the flock. Abel brought a bounty from his flock's firstborn as an offering to God. Cain took his time and offered God some fruit. God was pleased with Abel's offering and disappointed with Cain's. Filled with jealousy, Cain killed Abel.
God said to Cain, "Where is your brother, Abel?"
Cain responded, "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?"
I'm not exactly sure what kind of analogy Dean was trying to make here. Is he saying this verse means we are commanded by God to be our brother's keeper? Is he trying to say the Democratic party thinks like Cain? I honestly don't get this analogy. All I see is Cain being dumb enough to think he can lie and mouth off to God. Perhaps in that sense this is a fitting verse coming from Howard Dean.
The Democratic party is befudded ever since losing the 2004 election to the "values voters." They think they can attract the evangelical vote just like they attract the union vote. Have your picture taken with some prominent leaders and drop a few Bible verses in a couple speeches and the mind-numb evangelicals will wonder why they ever voted for those evil Republicans.
They sell evangelicals short. They view us as mindless sheep simply following the shepard. It doesn't occur to them our faith defines us. Our walk with God guides us. But we are not stupid. We know the Bible and how to apply it. When democrats misuse Bible verses, they do themselves more harm than good.
Dean claims the verse he quoted was the first question in the bible. He is incorrect. It's not even the first question in Genesis 4 (God asking Cain where his brother was?). The first question in the Bible came much earlier. After Adam and Eve ate the fruit from the forbidden tree, they realized they were naked and hid from God. God came into the garden and asked, "Adam, where art thou?" That was the first question. God seeking Adam. God wanting man to be with Him. I don't know where Howard Dean is in his walk with the Lord, but I know he says he is a follower of Jesus Christ. He has openly admitted he does not attend church, but claims he prays every day. I don't understand how anyone could claim to be a follower of Christ and not understand the need to worship and praise Him in His church. As an evangelical, it doesn't make sense to me. It also doesn't make sense to me how anyone who claims to follow Christ can favor abortion and gay marriage. This is why Dean does not have the support of the Christian vote. And until he realizes that it doesn't matter how many religious leaders he meets for photo ops. It doesn't matter how many Bible verses he recites. His attempts to sway us with smoke and mirrors will only serve to alienate us further.