Is God a Democrat Now?
The leadership of Coram Deo tries to keep our finger on the pulse of the culture. This morning an email came to us from Sojourners, a progressive Christian organization headed by Jim Wallis, author of the 2005 book God's Politics: Why the Right Gets it Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It. Here is a portion of what Mr. Wallis wrote in the email:
Wednesday morning, my phone rang, and on the other end of the line was Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. In an unprecedented invitation, he asked if I would speak to the nation in the Democrat's weekly radio broadcast this Saturday. In the past, these addresses have been given by elected officials, but the senator thought a non-partisan religious leader could speak to the moral values our nation needs. I thanked him for the invitation, and said I'd get back to him.
Whether or not to accept was a difficult decision. I work hard to maintain my independence and non-partisanship, and didn't want to be perceived as supporting one party over the other. But it was an occasion to get our message to millions of people, so I decided to accept.
Wallis goes on to further explain his reasoning. But I must admit: I'm mildly skeptical. If you think the Democratic majority leader gives away his bully pulpit without retaining any control over what's said... you don't know much about politics. Trust me, it doesn't work that way. Props to Jim for taking a major opportunity to push some biblical values. But this is the Democrats' weekly radio address. Wallis' actions leave at least a mild suspicion that evangelicalism is hopping into bed with the Democrats now. I mean, we're just getting over our ungodly affair with the Republicans. I'm not sure I can adjust to a new lover that quickly.
Moreover, a few weeks ago I quoted Gordon MacDonald's lament that Ted Haggard had risen to the place of speaking for all evangelicals - even when many Christians didn't share his views. I fear that Wallis may be perceived in the same light. For instance, he speaks of "the moral need to extricate ourselves from Iraq." I'm not sure exactly what this means, but I, for one, am not convinced that our timetable for leaving Iraq is a "moral" issue. This seems like an issue on which thinking Christians may disagree.
I suspect Wallis' motives are good. But what he perceives as an "occasion to get our message to millions of people" may in fact be an attempt by politicians to get their message out - and attach Jesus' name to it. And I don't think Jesus is in favor of that.
Maybe you have a differing point of view... and if so, please comment away. You can read the transcript of Wallis' radio address here.
Wednesday morning, my phone rang, and on the other end of the line was Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. In an unprecedented invitation, he asked if I would speak to the nation in the Democrat's weekly radio broadcast this Saturday. In the past, these addresses have been given by elected officials, but the senator thought a non-partisan religious leader could speak to the moral values our nation needs. I thanked him for the invitation, and said I'd get back to him.
Whether or not to accept was a difficult decision. I work hard to maintain my independence and non-partisanship, and didn't want to be perceived as supporting one party over the other. But it was an occasion to get our message to millions of people, so I decided to accept.
Wallis goes on to further explain his reasoning. But I must admit: I'm mildly skeptical. If you think the Democratic majority leader gives away his bully pulpit without retaining any control over what's said... you don't know much about politics. Trust me, it doesn't work that way. Props to Jim for taking a major opportunity to push some biblical values. But this is the Democrats' weekly radio address. Wallis' actions leave at least a mild suspicion that evangelicalism is hopping into bed with the Democrats now. I mean, we're just getting over our ungodly affair with the Republicans. I'm not sure I can adjust to a new lover that quickly.
Moreover, a few weeks ago I quoted Gordon MacDonald's lament that Ted Haggard had risen to the place of speaking for all evangelicals - even when many Christians didn't share his views. I fear that Wallis may be perceived in the same light. For instance, he speaks of "the moral need to extricate ourselves from Iraq." I'm not sure exactly what this means, but I, for one, am not convinced that our timetable for leaving Iraq is a "moral" issue. This seems like an issue on which thinking Christians may disagree.
I suspect Wallis' motives are good. But what he perceives as an "occasion to get our message to millions of people" may in fact be an attempt by politicians to get their message out - and attach Jesus' name to it. And I don't think Jesus is in favor of that.
Maybe you have a differing point of view... and if so, please comment away. You can read the transcript of Wallis' radio address here.
posted by Bob | 2:00 PM
1 Comments:
Good points Bob. . .no doubt we were much too "chummy" with the Far Right lately.
So, do you think we as Christians should go on a bit of a political "fast", and just address issues that are important to us outside of the political arena? I've thought this. . . .that we should just take a period of time and be away from the political sphere.
There seems to be a new religious "left". . Don Miller, Wallis, Derek Webb, . . . but so far I think they've done good at not endorsing candidates or parties.
Aaron
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