Back in December vice president Dick Cheney's chief of staff, I. Lewis "Scooter' Libby Jr. was indicted by a grand jury for obstruction of justice, perjury, and making false statements.

You may ask, 'so how does that affect us as Christians'? More ways than one.

I don't care to get into a debate about the Iraq war, President Bush as president, Cheney, etc. What I want us to look at is honesty and integrity. Just as we looked at it regarding the Abramoff Scandal.

The issue is not even if Libby is guilty of the charges, there will be a trial to determine this issue. What concerns me is the response of many conservative talk show hosts and others that are adamant to defend the war and President Bush.

More than one conservative has claimed that the 'leaks' by Libby did not break the law and since he could not break the law, those who are out to get the administration, got other charges filed against Libby.

Even if the above is true, that is not my concern. My concern is that many conservatives want to lessen the charges that are against Libby. The same ones who condemned Clinton for lying to the Grand Jury and supported his impeachment, try to make Libby into a victim of a witch hunt.

The last I knew it is against the law to lie to a Grand Jury whether you are a Democrat or Republican. Whether you support the war and President Bush or not.

Many of these conservative talk show hosts claim to be Christians. Here is a real problem. Men claiming to be Christians, but finding ways to lessen lying and obstruction of justice. Here is something to think about. Why are not Christians calling up these talk shows and telling them they are very disturbed to hear them call themselves Christians and yet justify sinful actions. Just like how they have defended Rush Limbaugh as a poor victim of drug abuse. The hypocrisy is crazy. I would call myself a conservative and mostly vote Republican, but I will never justify sin.

You may say they are just talk show hosts. Well, here is the problem. Pastors and churches through out our nation are continuously trying to find excuses for sin, lessening sin, and ignoring the Bible's call to holiness. We all know of evangelists who have been accused of wrongdoing. Some will say they are not guilty of the accusations against them. This may be true, but the Bible I read says we should not even have an appearance of evil.

I know it is not popular in the world or even in the church to speak on holiness. It is not popular to call sin, sin. Yes, abusing prescription drugs is sin and there is no justification for it. Greed is sin. Lying is sin. Cheating on your taxes is sin. Being a famous evangelist and using God's money unwisely or selfishly is sin. Yes there is forgiveness, if we truly repent. But justifying our sin is not repentance.

Pastor's who refuse to call sin, sin because it is not popular are sinning. Church members who continue to support pastor's who justify sin, are also sinning.

So, is Libby guilty? That is for a jury to decide. The bigger question is this: are we as conservative Christians at times guilty of being hypocritical in our position against sin? Is perjury sin when it is a Democrat and 'unfair charges' when it is a Republican? Is it a sin for Bill Gates to have so much money, but unfair charges when an evangelist abuses the donations his ministry receives? Something to think about.