"Reaching out vs. Ideological Purity"?

I caught part of an interview on Fox News on 25 May where some strategist was discussing the rift in the Republican Party and how they might recover from their stunning losses (which I predicted) in November. He stated--correctly--that the split in the party right now is between those feel the party needs to "reach out", "find a way to speak to Hispanics and African-Americans" and those who feel the party needs to get back to and stick to its ideological purity. It was the strategist's opinion that the Republican Party simply won't be a player until it can include others.

Well, my friends, the fact is that the Republican Party has strayed from the "ideological purity" for some time and has been, essentially, Democrat-Lite. But here's what angers me about people like this strategist...and those who are on the "reach out" leg of the Republican Party. Do you realize that the Democrats ARE sticking to their own ideological purity? What Obama is doing now that he has full control should make it quite clear what that ideology is, and I pity your ignorance if you don't see it for what it is.

Let me ask you this: Do you think God sticks to ideological purity? Let me help you out, here...YES, He absolutely does. And He expects no less of us. Our execution of this ideological purity--that is, holiness--sucks most of the time, but we are no less responsible to strive for it.

Here's what people like this strategist totally miss: We shouldn't be relaxing our ideological purity, but rather we should be helping others understand what that means and show them that they actually benefit from that purity. We make them believers. Folks, I am far from perfect--I miss God's mark so badly so many times I am probably one of the chief abusers of His grace. It's not for lack of trying, though. The thing is, God makes exclusive claims, is very exclusive on the criteria for salvation, a relationship with Him. But the invitation is decidedly inclusive. I don't think it's anything amazing or damaging for a political party that believes in certain core, traditional--usually quite Biblical--values to decide to adhere to them. What they need to do now is develop the message that explains in sensible terms why those values mean something and why others benefit from them.

Sadly, the reason I have been an Independent for a few years, now, is because the Republican Party has NOT stuck to those values and, in some cases, has outright misrepresented itself. I remain convinced that in these last days the hot and the cold are becoming more defined, and the lukewarm are being spat out. It's about time.