Former U.S. presidential candidate Ron Paul has questioned evangelical Christians who endorse war as a means of advancing America's national-security interests, calling such support "inconsistent" with Biblical principles.
In an interview with FTM Daily's Jerry Robinson, Paul, who has represented the libertarian movement within the Republican Party for the past several decades, called both war and strong-arm diplomacy "fundamentally unsound policies" and part of the United States' "compulsion" to "police the world."
But what most disturbs him, he said, is the vocal minority of Evangelical Christians who support such foreign policy stances and use unwavering support of Israel, for example, as a determining factor for any political candidate.
"It's probably been going on for a hundred years or so, that there's been a segment of the Christian faith that endorses this violence," said Paul. "It's one of the discouraging things for me because it's, to me, so inconsistent. It doesn't even make any sense to me. I was taught that the New Testament was a 'new' testament, and that we didn't have sacrifices and other things of the Old Testament. My understanding is that Jesus was the Prince of Peace, and that you weren't out looking for war."
The 79 year old former Texas representative says he cannot explain why Christ's message of peace "has not resonated with most evangelicals."
"I can't give a precise answer on why people stray," he said. "All I can do is try my very best to understand what my faith is all about and what I believe is taught by Christ."
Paul also discussed how his faith affects his political views, explaining that while he is serious about his Christianity, he has never paraded it publicly or "used it as a tool for political leverage." Rather, Paul believes that one's life and works should stand alone as demonstrations of faith.
"Let me be very clear here: I have accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior, and I endeavor every day to follow Him in all I do and in every position I advocate..[and] I think my obligation is to reflect my beliefs in my life," he explained in a previous interview.
"I like the statement in the Bible that when you're really in deep prayer you go to your closet. You don't do it out on the streets and brag about it and say, "Look how holy I am." If a person has true beliefs and is truly born again, it will be reflected in their life."
