Evangelicals Say Religion has Become Too Political
[Guest post by DRJ]
The AP reports that 80 as-yet unidentified conservative Christian leaders have signed a statement that will be released Wednesday saying the evangelical movement has become too politicized and has diminished the Gospel:
“The statement, called “An Evangelical Manifesto,” condemns Christians on the right and left for “using faith” to express political views without regard to the truth of the Bible, according to a draft of the document obtained Friday by The Associated Press.
“That way faith loses its independence, Christians become `useful idiots’ for one political party or another, and the Christian faith becomes an ideology,” according to the draft.”
Well, duh. And whose fault is this?
— DRJ
To the extent that this is true, keep in mind which end of the political spectrum the issuers inhabit — and the (un)likelihood of a similar statement ever issuing from those on the other end.
porkopolitan (b3d276) — 5/2/2008 @ 8:24 pmActually, a number of evangelical leaders, such as Chuck Colson, have been consistently saying this since 2004 that I’m aware of; others, such as James Dobson, disagree.
The basic argument is that tying too closely to any political party risks the same fate for evangelicals that blacks have in the Democratic Party: being taken for granted.
SDN (038ed0) — 5/2/2008 @ 8:36 pmThe only authentic evangelicalism is that which proclaims the evangel, the good news. Salvation doesn’t come by political action. Now that the great dinosaurs are passing from the scene, maybe the movement will get back to basics.
Jack (aea3ff) — 5/2/2008 @ 9:27 pmThere have been religious folk on the left end of the spectrum, too. Obvious example is liberation theology. The Berrigans and Father Drinan. And for all his ranting, Reverend Wright isn’t all that much different than some political Christians on the right, who have made their own really stupid statements about chickens coming home to roost.
Politics demeans and debases faith. As it does most everything else. Kind of like putting an altar in a sausage factory.
Kevin Murphy (0b2493) — 5/3/2008 @ 1:13 amI blame Bush.
And Cheney.
And Rove.
And the International Zionist Conspiracy.
David
David J Harr (b77e07) — 5/3/2008 @ 1:41 amKind of like putting an altar in a sausage factory.
Isnt an altar supposed to change the sausage factory? Isnt salt supposed to season and influence the taste of the food? Isnt light supposed to change darkness? Salt is of no use in the bag, it needs to be removed from the bag and put in the soup. But when it fails to change the taste of the soup, then it has lost its savor and is good for nothing than to be done away with. The essence of evangelism in politics is not to be overcome by the corruption therein but to change it. To transform it into a force for good on earth.
Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Mat 5:15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
love2008 (d2a57f) — 5/3/2008 @ 5:56 amDavid – Don’t forget:
Halliburton
And Fox News
And Rush Limbaugh
And Proctor & Gamble
And Kyoto
daleyrocks (906622) — 5/3/2008 @ 6:03 amNo, daleyrocks, it is not Kyoto that is the problem:
Another Drew (8018ee) — 5/3/2008 @ 8:30 amIt is the lack of implementation of Kyoto!
Kyoto will save the World!
All bow to Kyoto!
AD – I blame Kyoto because Clinton signed Kyoto but did not send it to the Senate because they told him it was a non starter. Kyoto is the evangelical religion of the left, religion of science, crushing of dissent, potential ruination of out capitalist system and nanny state control of our lives.
Nuke the Whales!
daleyrocks (906622) — 5/3/2008 @ 10:12 amreligion has been political since constantine. the christian god was invented by man as an aid in ruling the people “render unto caesar…”
assistant devil's advocate (393fee) — 5/3/2008 @ 10:25 amThat bumper-sticker actually read:
“NUKE GAY WHALES”
And, my point on Kyoto was that its’ inclusion in that list was inconsistent – an illogical progression sort of, in the same manner as 24/7/365; which, logically, should be 24/7/52.
I don’t disagree that Kyoto is a religious icon of the Left. They have so many, that some people forget which ones’ we are supposed to genuflect to. This is one that should be a personal suppository for AlGore.
Another Drew (8018ee) — 5/3/2008 @ 10:31 am#10
love2008 (d2a57f) — 5/3/2008 @ 10:33 amDid you say God was “invented” by man?
Yeh, he did.
That really stands theology on its’ head, doesn’t it?
Another Drew (8018ee) — 5/3/2008 @ 10:35 amADA, what an interesting view of history, christianity being “invented” 300 years before its need by Constantine. Neat trick on Constantine’s part.
SPQR (26be8b) — 5/3/2008 @ 10:36 amI guess it explains why he goes by the name “devils advocate”. Really doing a good job for him arent you? The devil must be proud of you.
love2008 (d2a57f) — 5/3/2008 @ 10:46 amIt is really annoying seeing Falwell’s 9/11 comment compared to Wright’s. Falwell made his comment one time, in the heat of the moment, on 9/11. He made the statement with sorrow and regret, not shouting in anger. He didn’t take the side of the terrorists and justify their evil actions, and later he apologized on-air in the most sincere apology I’ve even seen from a public figure.
Wright, by contrast makes this statement repeatedly in prepared sermons, in a spirit of hatred and anger against his own country. He takes the side of the terrorists and when he is taken to task for his divisive words, he yells them out again, defiant and uncaring what effect his words may have.
Falwell had a reputation for being an angry, hateful man, but that is because everything you ever heard about him came from the mainstream media who hated him for waking religious America up to the dangers of the progressive agenda in the 70s. It was the media who were angry and hateful, not Falwell. If you ever saw Falwell himself speak, he was full of humor, compassion and love for America and for his enemies. The guy was not a shouting, overwrought televangelist type.
Doc Rampage (01f543) — 5/3/2008 @ 10:55 amLeftist contempt is one of projection –
They condemn in others (whether or not they have been expressed by others) what they dislike about their own most innermost holdings that they cannot acknowledge with any honesty.
A fraudulent ideology expressed my immature, bothersome individuals who would be beneath contempt if they were not so vocal.
Another Drew (8018ee) — 5/3/2008 @ 11:13 amreligion has been political since constantine. the christian god was invented by man as an aid in ruling the people “render unto caesar…”
ADA, if I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a hundred times: stay off threads discussing religion until you have knowledge backed up by facts.
You haven’t once failed to embarrass yourself with a blinding ignorance display.
Paul (266a05) — 5/3/2008 @ 11:37 amFalwell and Wright represent the two faces of this arguement. They are in no way similar and any attempt to cast them in the same light is mischievious.
love2008 (d2a57f) — 5/3/2008 @ 11:39 amA Manifesto?
I have shrill alarm bells, klaxons and marching blue screens of death swirling around my head…
Shenanigans! I call it!
I’m giving odds that this is a thinly-veiled ploy by the left, replete with marginal “Christian” players, a carefully shielded group doing the writing and the mainstream completely out of the loop.
This stinks out loud. “Manifesto”? Not in Conservative Real Christian Land.
Anon 1:50 (29c08b) — 5/3/2008 @ 5:50 pmI don’t think blame can be assigned simply. Often, Christians will let non-Christians determine the terms of the debate, including the definition of Christianity. This means that the non-Christians say something like, “You can’t be a Christian and believe in evolution.” The Christians then respond by arguing against evolution rather than by arguing that this conception of Christianity is false. This is true to some extent of all groups of people. So I don’t think we can ascribe the politicization of evangelicalism solely to the evangelicals.
Tragic Clown Dog (638317) — 5/4/2008 @ 5:54 am