Cal Thomas, a conservative political columnist and evangelical Christian, has written an excellent article about the future of the “Religious Right” on its upcoming 30th anniversary as a movement (HT: Peter Kirk).
Here are some excerpts:
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? [...]
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? [...]
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?
Thomas concludes:
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.”
Amen!
* * * * *
Update: thanks to Steve, it appears that the main argument of this article is the same premise as Thomas’ and Ed Dobson’s book, Blinded by Might.
2 Comments
I read this wonderful article today and did something I haven’t done in while-actually cut it out of the paper. The ‘top down’ approach of legislating morality and culture has failed and agree the ‘bottom up’ approach is the basic tenent of which Jesus’ teachings were based. The hard right moralists pushing this agenda hide behind an altruistic mantra, but I am afraid that power,intolerance and ego supercede their stated cause.As proven over and over it proves to be a hypocritical position to take. Excellent article that should be required reading and an excellent reminder to us ‘bottom feeders’ that we are on the right path.
Thanks for the comments, Brian – I may take your lead and print out the article as well! Or pick up the book. I’ve really gotten disgusted by the RR’s representation of Christianity, especially in the political arena, and this article was a breath of fresh air.
Let’s get back to our “bottom feeder” faith-and-works roots rather than listening to self-serving rhetoric!