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These moderates may have quoted German higher critical scholars in their books, but they also delivered altar calls when they preached. Moore detailed how the moderates cast the civil rights movement in terms of individual sin and regeneration. How, they asked, can Southern Baptists demonstrate a heart for the nations in their annual Lottie Moon offering while refusing to accept African Americans in their church membership?

Thanks in part to these theological moderates, the SBC is no longer fighting a culture war on race, Moore noted. Some might say that's because American culture has become more progressive on race relations, dragging the church along. But that viewpoint neglects ongoing SBC opposition to other progressive changes such as legalized abortion and same-sex marriage. What accounts for this difference? Moore answered by returning to his theme of prophetic populism. Even before evangelical theologians had worked out a coherent life ethic, Southern Baptist laypeople felt an "intuitional moral revulsion" to abortion that helped shift their political leanings.

Still, evangelicals strive for the respectability conferred by politicians. If anything, the taste of political success made the temptation stronger. Once the "Confederate States of America at prayer," the SBC must not define conservatism as "Fox News with prayer requests," Moore warned.

"If we want to reshape American culture, we need to give up on reshaping American culture. We need to turn to reshaping Southern Baptist churches. In order to save our influence, we must lose it."

Graham began to learn this lesson toward the end of his ministry. He alienated many supporters when he lamented the arms race of the 1980s, Wacker said. Due in part to his experience in politics, he declined to join or endorse organizations affiliated with the Religious Right. When asked in 2005 if he expected a clash of civilizations, Graham said, "I think the big conflict is with hunger and starvation and poverty." And in the end, his moves away from politics and culture-war rhetoric cemented his influence in the culture.

Collin Hansen is a CT editor at large and author of Young, Restless, Reformed: A Journalist's Journey with the New Calvinists.

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February (Web-only) 2009, Vol. 53