Faith and Politics: Ever the Twain Shall Meet
(Some conservative Christian leaders are saying Evangelicals have become too political)
Here’s a ‘chicken or egg’ question: have evangelical Christians moved too far into the political sphere, or has the political sphere expanded to encompass them? I advocate the second proposition. The reason the question arises is that on Wednesday, a gathering of conservative Christian leaders plans to unveil something called “An Evangelical Manifesto.” I acknowledge freely that I have not been able to read the document in question, but from all reports its main point will be that the Christian faith has become far too intertwined with politics. Some say it has reached the point where the words ’evangelical’ and ’Republican’ are virtually interchangeable.
I don’t know that to be so with any certainty, but if it is true, I’m here to say it’s completely understandable. If one political party or another takes positions that I find anathema to my values, which are connected on a deep level to my faith, then I am naturally going to support the party that opposes those positions. I don’t care whether you call the more compatible party Republican or Motley, it would on that basis command my vote. Is this somehow different than loyalty to a party that shares my views, by and large, on an issue such as global warming? The rainforests? Affirmative action? I see no difference at all, except for the roots of my world-view, and it is not a disqualifier if my roots are nourished by faith.
From all I can gather, the ‘Manifesto’ encourages evangelicals to be politically active and to uphold scriptural teachings on such things as marriage. But the writers and signatories, some of whom I know personally as sincere, Godly people, also say that Christians have gotten so caught up in the “politics of faith” that they have expressed “truth without love”. Further, the document states, “All too often we have attacked the evils and injustices of others, while we have condoned our own sins.” Undoubtedly true, and we would all, not just Christians, profit greatly by some honest self-examination.
But I, among others, am struck by the timing here. We are headed into a crucial presidential election, and even if the writers and signers of the ‘Manifesto’ believe evangelicals have been preoccupied with “culture warring” at the expense of the gospel, this strikes me as an unfortunate time to risk dampening passion and enthusiasm. It is true the New Testament warns against “party spirit”, but I have not witnessed much of that among my Christian contemporaries. What I have seen is a determination that the voice of faith shall not be silenced or intimidated, in the marketplace of ideas or the political arena.
That arena, as mentioned above, has been expanding to take in cherished and traditional faith-based ideals. If another party insists on moving articles of faith, such as marriage between a man and a woman, into the political arena, you must realize the arena will expand to include people of faith. The only other alternative is to retreat as the arena walls push ever outward. I believe that is not what Christians are called upon to do.
Yes, whatever we do must be done in love and with an acute awareness of our own failings. But still it must be done. We face political adversaries who would make active Christianity more and more difficult; who already are attempting to undo the teachings of home and church with public school curricula that has far less to do with acquiring knowledge or learning how to think, than it does with inculcating the humanist agenda. The rare mention of Christianity and its fundamental importance to American culture tends to be at least mildly mocking and derisive in nature. There is no good reason for evangelicals meekly to submit to such things.
At the same time, we must recognize that there are evangelicals who vote Democrat, and there should be no stigma attached. Jesus’ commandment that we should “…love one another as I have loved you.”, seems simple enough, but can become puzzling when we consider how best to express that love. Certainly, kicking down the doors of benign tradition and declaring that sin is an antiquated concept fall far short of “loving”.
Some notable conservative Christian leaders are not among the 80 or so who have signed ‘An Evangelical Manifesto’. ‘Focus on the Family’s’ Doctor James Dobson, for example, has not even been sent a copy. Nor has Richard Land, public policy director for the Southern Baptist Convention. Still I must regard the ‘Manifesto’, simply based on the people who put their hand to it, as well-meant and earnest. And I cannot in fairness assume that those leaders are unaware of how broad the cultural/religious battlefront has become. I can and do disagree that Christians should largely disengage from all but a few issues, such as abortion and marriage. Though this secular world may prevail, we are assured it will be the most Pyrrhic of victories,
