An Evangelical Manifesto
Two posts in one day?!?! Can it be?!?! You bet… this is just too good not to share.
From CNN:
Conservative Christian leaders who believe the word “evangelical” has lost its religious meaning plan to release a starkly self-critical document saying the movement has become too political and has diminished the Gospel through its approach to the culture wars.
The declaration encourages Christians to uphold traditional marriage, as in this Massachusetts protest.
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.
The declaration, scheduled to be released Wednesday in Washington, encourages Christians to be politically engaged and uphold teachings such as traditional marriage. But the drafters say evangelicals have often expressed “truth without love,” helping create a backlash against religion during a “generation of culture warring.”
“All too often we have attacked the evils and injustices of others,” the statement says, “while we have condoned our own sins.” It argues, “we must reform our own behavior.”
I can’t really express how happy this makes me. This is just awesome. Read the rest of this story here.
Thanks to Dan Wallace at Parchment and Pen for initially blogging about it. I particularly liked his closing comments:
I was on the radio in Montreal last week, on the Joe Cannon Show at 940 AM. I was interviewed about the Albania manuscripts that CSNTM photographed this past summer, but the interview quickly turned to politics. Mr. Cannon asked, “If Jesus were alive today, where would his political alignments be?” I responded, “I believe he is alive today, and he is above politics.” If the Evangelical Manifesto calls on evangelicals to follow Jesus in this regard, I’m all for it. Of course, how to execute that is the trick. Evangelicals should align themselves with biblical ethics, which are never fully compatible with either political party.
Can I get an “Amen?”
This “Manifesto” is supposed to be announced in full sometime today, so keep a look out. We’ll see how effective it is.
I get annoyed with ministers that use the pulpit for political agenda. It is one thing for a minister to encourage church members to vote. However it is quite different the tell church members how to vote.
Also, I it frustrates me that some Christian groups have a few select topics that are the watershed issues for all political candidates.
Of course, I am not really a party person but rather vote issues and the character of the candidate.
“But the drafters say evangelicals have often expressed ‘truth without love,’ helping create a backlash against religion during a “generation of culture warring.”
NICE. It is cool to see that in places other than this blog. hehe.
It does seem a little…unfocused? Maybe vanilla is the word. I’ve not read the document, but it sounds like, “Okay, keep doing what you were doing, stay politically active, but not too politically active, not engaged directly with one party, and not in campaigns of hate.”
A really dramatic statement would be, “get out of politics completely.” I’m not saying it would be best for the Christian faith, but I would call that dynamic.
It is nice to see this statement addressing churches directly endorsing candidates, though.
Mmm. I feel conflicted.
Yeah Kyle, I hear ya… it can be very conflicting for me as well.
“NICE. It is cool to see that in places other than this blog. hehe”
Isn’t it? Yeah, we totally stole it from Francis Schaefer, but it is nice that others also “see the light.”
I don’t think the answer is not being involved with politics. The Christian faith is just one aspect of the Christian’s worldview, which is shaped by a number of different things (which is why Christians are Democrats, Republicans, and neither).
I’ve done some more reading about this manifesto, and i think i understand the intent a little better now. I’ll probably be posting a little later today for further discussion. This stuff is awesome…..
evangelical has become a synonym for republican. this manifesto is a wonderful step for the evangelical tradition to reclaim itself from the clutches of politics. wonderful read, i hope y’all will check it out.
another good report on this is: http://www.emergentvillage.com/weblog/whither-evangelicalism
A document bemoaning the politicization of evangelicals includes a declaration which “encourages Christians to uphold traditional marriage, as in this Massachusetts protest”? Does it also include endorsements of other points on the Republican platform?
Luke,
Amen. I’ll check out the link from Emergent Village as soon as I get a chance to…
Sam,
Welcome to the blog!
I’m sure it does, but I’m sure it also endorses aspects of the Democratic platform… I can’t remember where I heard this, but “Christianity transcends politics.” I know that one of the things that drive me crazy is “pro-lifers” who limit “pro-life” to abortion. I’m pro-life, but I resent that we don’t think that starvation, violent crime, homelessness or other “life-threatening” societal issues are not apart of that definition.
Everyone, check out the website, where you can download the entire manifesto, a summary of it, and a “study guide” (which I personally find kind of amusing).
http://evangelicalmanifesto.com/
I’ve read some of it, and initially, I really really like it. It has some heavy hitters on there (Os Guiness, Alvin Plantinga, and more), and they articulate their intent really well. It is definitely worth checking out.