Confessions of a Recovering Pharisee

[JWR] by Cal Thomas

When Barack Obama takes the oath of office on Jan. 20, 2009, he will do so in the 30th anniversary year of the founding of the so-called Religious Right. Born in 1979 and midwifed by the late Rev. Jerry Falwell, the Religious Right was a reincarnation of previous religious-social movements that sought moral improvement through legislation and court rulings. Those earlier movements — from abolition (successful) to Prohibition (unsuccessful) — had mixed results.

Social movements that relied mainly on political power to enforce a conservative moral code weren’t anywhere near as successful as those that focused on changing hearts. The four religious revivals, from the First Great Awakening in the 1730s and 1740s to the Fourth Great Awakening in the late 1960s and early ’70s, which touched America and instantly transformed millions of Americans (and American culture as a result), are testimony to that.

Thirty years of trying to use government to stop abortion, preserve opposite-sex marriage, improve television and movie content and transform culture into the conservative Evangelical image has failed. The question now becomes: should conservative Christians redouble their efforts, contributing more millions to radio and TV preachers and activists, or would they be wise to try something else?

I opt for trying something else.

Too many conservative Evangelicals have put too much faith in the power of government to transform culture. The futility inherent in such misplaced faith can be demonstrated by asking these activists a simple question: Does the secular left, when it holds power, persuade conservatives to live by their standards? Of course they do not. Why, then, would conservative Evangelicals expect people who do not share their worldview and view of God to accept their beliefs when they control government.

Too many conservative Evangelicals mistake political power for influence. Politicians who struggle with imposing a moral code on themselves are unlikely to succeed in their attempts to impose it on others. What is the answer, then, for conservative Evangelicals who are rightly concerned about the corrosion of culture, the indifference to the value of human life and the living arrangements of same- and opposite-sex couples?

The answer depends on the response to another question: do conservative Evangelicals want to feel good, or do they want to adopt a strategy that actually produces results? Clearly partisan politics have not achieved their objectives. Do they think they can succeed by committing themselves to 30 more years of the same?

If results are what conservative Evangelicals want, they already have a model. It is contained in the life and commands of Jesus of Nazareth. Suppose millions of conservative Evangelicals engaged in an old and proven type of radical behavior. Suppose they followed the admonition of Jesus to “love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit those in prison and care for widows and orphans,” not as ends, as so many liberals do by using government, but as a means of demonstrating G-d’s love for the whole person in order that people might seek Him?

Such a strategy could be more “transformational” than electing a new president, even the first president of color. But in order to succeed, such a strategy would not be led by charismatic figures, who would raise lots of money, be interviewed on Sunday talk shows, author books and make gobs of money.

G-d teaches in His Word that His power (if that is what conservative Evangelicals want and not their puny attempts at grabbing earthly power) is made perfect in weakness. He speaks of the tiny mustard seed, the seemingly worthless widow’s mite, of taking the last place at the table and the humbling of one’s self, the washing of feet and similar acts and attitudes; the still, small voice. How did conservative Evangelicals miss this and instead settle for a lesser power, which in reality is no power at all? When did they settle for an inferior “kingdom”?

Evangelicals are at a junction. They can take the path that will lead them to more futility and ineffective attempts to reform culture through government, or they can embrace the far more powerful methods outlined by the One they claim to follow. By following His example, they will decrease, but He will increase. They will get no credit, but they will see results. If conservative Evangelicals choose obscurity and seek to glorify G-d, they will get much of what they hope for, but can never achieve, in and through politics.

Article is here.

[From me]

Cal put into words my thoughts much better than I could articulate them.  Cal was with the Moral Majority in the beginning.  Isn’t it sad how those in charge of the Religious Right know the Bible well but don’t follow the example of our Savior.  I will always vote my convictions but I’m committed to living out my faith in daily life.  We shouldn’t be focused on winning in November every election year, we should be winning by living out our faith everyday.  

What do you think?

[HT] Bryan Riley

I keep hearing about “FAIRNESS” during the election campaign. It seems that many Christians are even falling into this trap.  Where in the Bible does it talk about fairness? The Bible does talk about treating your neighbor as yourself.  But when I read the Bible it talks about rewarding those who work hard and helping those in need.  Nowhere do I see “redistribution of wealth.”  

In Matthew 25:14-30 (NIV) it says:

Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.“After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

“The man with the two talents also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.’

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

 ”Then the man who had received the one talent came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’

“His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

” ‘Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Now we can’t earn God’s favor but God does reward those who work hard. I have had the privilege at serving at some very wealthy churches.  One church in particular had more millionaires then I’ll ever be around again.  The people there were so transformed by Jesus Christ that they were extremely generous with their money. But they chose to give to the church, missionaries, Campus Crusade, Youth For Christ, Young Life, etc…

Those who want “FAIRNESS” would “TAKE” the money away from these generous people and give it away without giving them any say so. Is that fair?  Life isn’t fair.  I’ve never made a lot of money.  I’ve never been near a 6 figure salary.  I have family members who make lots of money and they give abundantly to Christian organizations. But the “Redistribution” folks would like to “TAKE” their hard earned money and give it away.  Shouldn’t it be the person who makes the money’s job to decide how to spend it?  

From my observation believers who have been blessed with wealth are more generous than others. They just want a say so in where it goes.  If The “REDISTRIBUTION” folks have their way it will take away all incentives to work hard and give.  Why would a person want to make that extra sale if they know the government is going to have it anyway?  Why work an extra hour when you know the government is going to “TAKE” their money? That seems less “FAIR” than allowing people to show their generosity. 

I’m amazed at followers of Jesus who are buying into this philosophy.  From my study of Scripture it isn’t supported by the Bible. Life isn’t “FAIR” but God is good.

What do you think?

[Yahoo News]

Here is a foolproof way for politicians to score points with evangelical voters: Attack the media, an institution widely seen as lacking conservative Christian voices. Republican presidential hopeful John McCain and his evangelical running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin, have done just that at times during the campaign, with repeated jabs at the “liberal media.”

One way to change this perception, some church leaders, social commentators and journalists say, is for mainstream news organizations to employ — and keep — more evangelicals in their newsrooms.

“Journalism has become more of a white-collar field that draws from elite colleges,” said Terry Mattingly, director of the Washington Journalism Center for the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities and a religion columnist for Scripps Howard News Service. “While there’s been heavy gender and racial diversity … there’s a lack of cultural diversity in journalism,” including religion.

Since the 1980s, when the Christian right emerged as a powerful force in American culture and politics, evangelicals have made significant inroads in law and government by training believers to work inside secular institutions. But while the same universities that helped students launch careers in those fields are offering similar programs in journalism, they haven’t been as successful at changing the nation’s newsrooms.

“The media — journalism — remain one of the hardest fields for them to realize their power,” said D. Michael Lindsay, a sociologist at Rice University and author of “Faith in the Halls of Power.”

Case’s primary concern is that evangelicals are frequently portrayed in the media as a monolithic bloc, when in fact they are diverse politically, intellectually and theologically.

“It bothers me that when mainstream outlets want an evangelical voice, they’ve turned to Jerry Falwell orJames Dobson or Pat Robertson,” he said. “They are men of high regard and standing, but there are others who have a different take on things.”

Read more here.

[From me]

That last quote sums it up for me. I respect those men for what they have done but they don’t speak for all evangelicals.  It would be nice to hear from some different evangelicals. It would be nice to have some evangelicals who were in the mainstream media to give a balanced view.

What do you think?

[Yahoo News and Christian Post]

Less than two hours after expected Republican vice presidential candidateSarah Palin and her husband announced that their unmarried 17-year-old daughter is pregnant, evangelical leaders told U.S. News that they don’t believe the revelation will harm the GOP ticket within the conservative faith community.

“I don’t think it [hurts] at all,” saidRichard Land, president of theSouthern Baptist Convention’s Ethicsand Religious Liberty Commission, who hailed Palin’s nomination.

The media’s breathless reaction is proof that “you just don’t get it,” Land said during a U.S. News lunch roundtable here that also includedJim Wallis, president and executive director of Sojourners; Randy Brinson, founder of Redeem the Vote; and Chuck Donovan, executive vice president for the Family Research Council.

Read more here.

Reaction from religious conservatives was sympathetic.

Focus on the Family founder James Dobson issued a statement commending the Palins “for not just talking about their pro-life and pro-family values, but living them out even in the midst of trying circumstances.” He added: “Being a Christian does not mean you’re perfect. Nor does it mean your children are perfect. But it does mean there is forgiveness and restoration when we confess our imperfections to the Lord.”

Roberta Combs, president of the Christian Coalition of America called the pregnancy private. “It’s a matter that should stay in the family and they have to work through it together. My prayers go out to them.”

Added Combs: “We’re excited about the governor and think she’s going to do well.”

Mathew Staver, dean of Liberty University School of Law, said: “We’re all sinners.”

Read more here.

[From me]

I would agree with what these leaders are saying but I can’t help but wonder if they would feel the same way if it were Obama’s children or Biden’s?  I give Obama props for saying families are off limits.  That is why this shouldn’t really be an issue.  I just hope when this happens to a liberal politicians family that Evangelical leaders show the same kind of compassion. 

What do you think?