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One of the greatest tragedies in our day is the willingness of evangelical leaders to forsake their calling and enter into the field of politics and call it cultural engagement. There is no doubt that we evangelicals should involve ourselves in cultural engagement and indeed politics. The problem lies in the notion that we can actually change the world through politics. The political arena must always take a back seat to the gospel. It is the gospel alone that can change hearts and those who have a call to the gospel ministry forsake that call when they confuse being salt and light with being political pundits. If we are going to speak to and in the political arena, we must do so with gospel words, not mere political words. Our message is Christ, not the Republican ideal or what passes for Republicanism these days.
According to Agape Press, “Dr. Jerry Falwell is defending his decision to invite Arizona Senator John McCain to speak at Liberty University's spring commencement ceremony….The invitation from Liberty Chancellor Jerry Falwell may come as a surprise to some conservatives, considering McCain's past opposition to the Federal Marriage Amendment, his support for embryonic stem-cell research, and his recent cameo appearance on the raunchy, nudity-filled movie Wedding Crashers. But Dr. Falwell said he wanted to invite a ‘dominant Christian leader of the free world.’” In what sense can McCain be considered a “dominant Christian leader?” Without being uncharitable, might we even question whether or not he is indeed a Christian? No doubt some will accuse us of being judgmental and harsh. However, the reality is that when we simply accept someone’s claim without biblical judgment or fruit examination, we say more about God than we say about the individual in question. We say that God in saving sinners has no real power to change lives. We say that Christ and His blood are weak and ineffective. We say that the Holy Spirit may want to work but in reality His hands are tied. We do not say so much about an individual who supports stem-cell research and appears in nudity-filled movies when we say that he is a Christian leader but we do in fact say much about God. The problem is that we lie about God in so doing. In one sense, Falwell is one of the good guys. He has preached Christ fearlessly in many contexts. And yet, his pragmatic bent, theological weakness, and trust in political might comes through here. “Some trust in chariots and some trust in horses but we shall trust in the Name of the Lord our God (Ps. 20:7).” Surely, that verse has not escaped Falwell’s notice. Christians too often forget that ends do not justify means. Moreover, with current Republicans, desired ends are not even achieved. Falwell noted, “There are several very good pro-life, pro-family candidates who are vying for the White House, and I thought I would invite one of them who's an American hero, a military hero, who's a U.S. Senator, and who, very frankly, is at the moment the frontrunner.” In what sense is McCain truly pro-life? His record and statements on abortion are ambiguous at best and compromised in fact. His support of embryonic stem-cell research is enough to put him outside of the pro-life camp. His comments regarding how he would handle his daughter and the question of abortion if she desired such reveal a lack of true commitment to biblical principle. The truth is that Falwell revealed his rationale regarding McCain: “at the moment [he is] the frontrunner.” Further, “That doesn't mean we're endorsing Senator McCain, but it does mean we're taking a very close look.” Well Jerry, it’s becoming more difficult to view you as an evangelical leader, though perhaps, not so difficult to view you as a Republican leader. The Moral Majority is good as far as it goes, but, it’s not the gospel. Is support of McCain in keeping with the gospel? Or, dare we ask, with his latest movie appearance, does he even represent the type of candidate The Moral Majority would support? “According to Dr. Falwell, Senator McCain assured him during a telephone conversation earlier this week that if federal courts were to toss out state amendments protecting traditional marriage, he would be ‘a champion and a leader’ for a Federal Marriage Amendment.” That’s great. But, may we ask, where are our champions and leaders for the gospel of Jesus Christ? Shakespeare was apparently right: politics makes strange bedfellows. |
Written by 'Guest' on 2006-05-11 21:17:52
I believe it is a dangerous precedent to combine religious and political leadership in a nation that serves as a model of religious and cultural pluralities. I am a religious person and am content living in a country where I have religious freedom....when religion is politicized in any manner it can ignite a firestorm of emotionalal reaction that might lead to chaos. | Written by 'Guest' on 2006-05-15 05:16:34
Jesus was not a republican, so why are so many people who call themselves Christians, intent on voting only republican?
For far too long, the republicans and democrats have controlled politics, yet our personal freedoms have been diminishing over the years. The church helped to elect GWB in 2004, and the only result we have seen is more babies being murdered, homosexual marriage becoming more prevelant, and our servicemen being killed in a foreign country while at home we suffer an invasion from the south due to lack of border control. To top it off, our 'republican' administration wants to allow these criminals forgiveness and citizenship.
Why not consider voting 3rd party to let the politicians know that the American people are not satisified with the jobs that either of them are doing.
It's time for a change, let's make it sooner than later. |
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