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Christianity Today, May, 2007 |

One-Size Politics Doesn't Fit All

Evangelical social reform is a many-splendored thing.

A Christianity Today editorial | posted 4/23/2007 08:45AM

These are anxious days in the trenches of the culture war. The Federal Marriage Amendment is dead. A rollback of President Bush's restrictions on embryonic stem-cell research appears likely after he leaves ...

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Larry

Posted: May 02, 2007 6:00 PM

Thank you for the great article, Sin seems still to be the problem that rots a community and a nation and a globe. And while good laws must be made (and followed), we should keep in mind that our prime directive is to live Christ and that the power to do good is in Him. He offers the renewal of heart and life that, if held to, will do more to affect positive change around the world than all the well-(or not so well)-intentioned political wrangling ever could. And if it seems that the tide is not turning fast enough, we should look in the mirror to find out what exactly the world is seeing. Are we a body living the directive to, "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Mak(ing) every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace?" Or have we been led astray, believing that salvation can be found in another name?

Hannah

Posted: April 27, 2007 3:31 PM


Thank you for not putting us all into a box. God has freed us to think and with different experiences (and perspectives) which give us different passions. We shouldn't assume that our own passion is the most important one. Thank you for communicating that.

Lloyd

Posted: April 27, 2007 7:43 AM

Thanks for this editorial. Evangelicals do have differing views on politics and other areas. Thanks for acknowleding that. We need to find a way to show love to one another and be a witness in spite of our differences. It would also be good for those who disagree with global warming to better explain their position. To say it is not proven is one answer, but we can take steps to improve the environment. If we work to improve the enviroment, we will be taking the same or similar steps that those who believe in global warming would have us take and we will be making the air cleaner to breathe. My daughter has asthma, so that becomes more personal. Does our theology drive our politics or does our political views drive our theology?

MarkCole

Posted: April 25, 2007 2:05 PM

President Ronald Reagan once argued that since we don't know for sure if an fetus is a living soul, it is better to err on the side of life and save its life - rather than err on the side that it isn't - and make no attempt to protect the unborn life. I think the same argument goes with global warming. If the global warming scientists are correct - then we have saved maybe hundreds of thousands of lives. If the global warming scientists are incorrect, and we do creation-care anyway - well, no lives will be lost, and we will have cleaner air to breathe! As an evangelical - I believe we need to support the poor who are suffering the most from global warming, instead of the interests of the rich - let me pollute - big business! I also believe James Dobson should accept Jim Wallis's challenge to a debate about the evangelical political agenda.

BF	Posted: April 24, 2007 10:28 PM


Thank you.... i consider this one of the best articles i've read on CT. I'm conservitive... i am charged in the Bible with stewardship of the earth God created. If the GOP won't admit the problem exists in time to realisticly do something positive about it, they are not my friends and i am forced to look otherwhere for partners to solve these problems. As Christ Jesus would have us do.

Roger

Posted: April 24, 2007 4:53 PM

The arguments in this editorial are pretty weak. Yes, I agree that at some point evangelicals might justifiable take a position on global warming. Let's be clear that Cizik has been evasive at best in making clear that he is speaking personally. Many of my secular friends in Washington are totally perplexed trying to align Cizik's statements with statements of the NAE Board that NAE does not at this time have a position on global warming. In fact they have reported to me that in at least one venue Cizik specifically noted he was trying to shape and lead the board, not to stay within its guidance. Is this his mandate?? As an executive of an industrial company, I never had the privilege of expressing private views in the context of my official duties. When Cizik is on his own time in his own living room he can say what he chooses to his guests. Never should an executive of an organization speak in public of his privately held views that differ from the organization's views.

A Hermit

Posted: April 24, 2007 4:51 PM

This article is good to provoke thought; however, while global warming is indeed a 'moral' issue, it isn't the root sin. Many of our society's ills come from love of money and the placing of ones material desires (as opposed to needs) over service to and love of one's neighbors. That is a root cause of abortions as well. Our society is based not on 'serve God first, and all other things will follow', but 'serve money, and all other things will follow.' Most Christians are blind to their participation in this idolatry. Liberals are wrong to focus on 'global warming' as the problem; Rev. Dobson is wrong to ignore the problem, and root cause altogether.

Doreen

Posted: April 24, 2007 4:12 PM


Thank you. Very well stated. When are we going to agree to disagree? And fear is always at the bottom of defensiveness and anger. What are we afraid of? God is still sovreign. We are given responsibiliies and have been invited to join Jesus Christ in where He is working in this world, however, God does not "need" us in order to bring in His kingdom. He is ALL knwing, ALL powerful, and everywhere.

Jadell

Posted: April 24, 2007 8:12 AM


Nice job, CT editorial. "This faith-hostile context makes productive debate...ever more difficult...." We need to talk to, not shout at, each other about these things.

Ron	Posted: April 24, 2007 5:54 AM

The letter from "Andy" is a good example of a Christian who is so busy throwing barbs at other Christians ("the foolish and misguided... Jimmy Carter") that they cannot accept that we evangelicals are pluralistic and multifaceted. To expect every other Christian to agree with your political agenda is a sign of pride and egocentrism. The center core of our belief should remain accepting and loving Jesus Christ as the son of God and then attempting to emulate his perfection, which is a struggle for all of us sinners since we see through a veil darkly. As someone who has voted for many Republicans and Democrats in my life, I have no illusion that my votes were more wise than my fellow Christian's, and, unfortunately, in retrospect my political efforts were often foolish and guided more by my personal biases than attempting to advance God's work on earth. May God help us realize that diversity of political viewpoints are to be welcomed and how prone we are to be manipulated if we do not.

Anonymous

Posted: April 23, 2007 4:44 PM


This article was pretty good but showed bias toward the left. This is really shown in the quotation from Paul taken out of context. Paul was talking about our functions and spiritual gifts not our stances on political issues. Please if you use scripture use it correctly

Stan Baldwin

Posted: April 23, 2007 4:38 PM

A very good editorial (I don't award 5 stars; writings could always be better.) I think it's palpably harmful, if not evil, for Christians to pontificate about their moral opinions being the same as God's, while other people's convictions are despicable. Not only has the evangelical cadre that is in control of the agenda in this country set back conservatism for a generation but it has also brought scorn upon the whole Chrstian community. Thank God, more and more evangelicals are having the courage to speak out. Go NAE!

Curt	Posted: April 23, 2007 3:20 PM

This was an excellent editorial. I am often offended by the media-hungry people who claim to speak for me. The regrettable situation among public evangelicals today is that they are more absorbed in the ins and outs of party politics than they are the letters of Paul. He is a reliable counselor on proper Christian conduct. Too many of these people want to use Paul to condemn others, while failing to recogize how far short they fall of his standard for appropriate behavior between Christians.

Robin

Posted: April 23, 2007 2:43 PM

I am glad that professing christians are having the courage to speak out about issues other than doctrine and biblical theology,however the strength of most pastors is in their puplit only. Once they get outside of their expertise there are problems. I would prefer a committed christian who works for Dept of Interior or USGS to speak on issues of global warming. I like FOF but lets face it,their strength is family issues only. I don't look to Dobson for committments to global warming. I love President Bush but he is our commander in chief not our pastor in chief. If christians want to get involved in politics good. Go to law shool or study international relations. Don't go to seminary.

Andy	Posted: April 23, 2007 2:35 PM

Global warming is not proven and furthermore has not even been shown to be harmful. Climate has changed radically over the past thousand years. It was warmer than it is today for the Vikings between 800 and 1100 AD. The "Little Ice Age ", roughly between 1350 and 1750 brought shorter growing seasons and crop failure. I suppose that is what the great weather prophet, Al Gore wants. Heck, it would leave fewer people to consume fossil fuel credits. Let's just turn over the whole store to the loving but hopelessly corrupt and stupid United Nations. Committee of Public Safety anyone! My fellow Evangelicals that made the "Call to Civic Responsibility" have shown themselves as foolish and misguided as Jimmy Carter. Jimmy Carter author of the North Korean nuclear agreement (that sure worked great) and moral equivalency between the Palestinians (who would rather kill Jews than have their own country) and the Israelis.

Bill	Posted: April 23, 2007 2:10 PM

Yes, thank you indeed. The notion that the issue should be addressed scientifically, rathern than theologically is novel. There are many who would say the same thing about stem cell research, evolution, and other issues Dobson would be reluctant to be deferential to scientists on. Besides, the scientists are largely in agreement about the need to minimize greenhouse emmissions. The question is what are we, as a society, willing to give up to do so. And that, is a question of values. I hope Dobson doesn't think its too late for Christians to speak authoritatively on that subject!

Danny

Posted: April 23, 2007 1:07 PM

The article is correct that the Bible addresses all aspects of the political arena, including economics, war, environment, and the "moral" issues of abortion and others. However, the scripture that is used to show that the diversity of right, left, and center is good is taken out of context. The context of the verse is spiritual gifts. The fact is that there is a Christian worldview when it comes to political issues across the board. Although abortion and gay marriage are important issues, we too often neglect the other ones. For instance, the Bible has more to say on economics than it does abortion. Yet evangelicals treat economics as it weren't a "moral" issue. Why are we not calling out against unjust economic policies such as inflation, for example? Do we forget what the founders knew, that men are self-interested, and therefore, big government is not a good thing? We need to get back in the Bible, and we need to remember why the founding fathers did what they did.

Kim	Posted: April 23, 2007 1:00 PM


I thank God daily that I am personally not one of those who says they represent the evangelical faction of society. I am simply me, a born again believer in Jesus Christ doing my best with His help, to follow Him. That's tough enough at times in our society. Culture wars aren't new. Jesus said, "Follow me."

Juanita

Posted: April 23, 2007 12:30 PM

I agree. I remember the shock I felt as a teenager in the late sixties when I discovered that a Senator who passed all other tests for 'evangelical' came out against the Vietnam War. I could not comprehend at that point that Christians had any other position than supporting that war. We owe our teenagers and each other the experience of seeing and hearing civil and informed discussion of all of these issues. How else to we learn the process of 'thinking through' an issue?

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