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Christianity Today, November, 2007 |

The Evangelical Elite

Michael Lindsay says adherents of the movement can now be found in powerful positions in every niche of American life.

Interview by Tim Stafford | posted 11/16/2007 08:38AM

For decades, evangelicals have lamented their lack of representation or respect in politics, media, education, and business. Michael Lindsay, a sociology professor at Rice University, says that's no longer ...

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Anonymous

Posted: November 27, 2007 4:20 AM

Believers rising to power in the secular world is not new. Read about Esther, Joseph in Egypt, Daniel and the three Hebrew children. In each instance, God had a plan or a reason for putting certain people in certain situations. Isaiah 9: 1-7 talks about 'the government shall be upon his shoulders:' There is a mature Christmas message for those who would prayerfully study this passage. The Lord bless you. Marie

pete	Posted: November 22, 2007 7:43 AM


Maybe its something to do with the way the church models its self on buisness. The sad thing for me is that the church seems to reflect the society its in rather than the other way round. The most challenging comment I heard recently was that the church should stop trying to be relevant and start trying to be unique!! i.e the we should be leading and the world following. I think Jesus did that.

jimcoons

Posted: November 21, 2007 10:34 AM

I am one of these "elites" that retired early and left the profit motive behind for international ministry and teaching. Many of my friends are wealthy and enjoying sharing that wealth in various nations around the world. We are not "joiners" and prefer to be under the radar. Most of us find the church has a very low threshold for risk and a great love for status, ceremony and tradition - all of which we find of little practical value.

Steve

Posted: November 20, 2007 8:31 AM

I am a communications manager for a large, global corporation, and work with a wide variety of people at all organization levels. I've been in this line of work for 20+ years. The best executives / leaders, I've observed, are those who are quick to ask questions (they make no pretense of knowing everything) and if they sense they're not getting pushback when discussing an issue or course of action, will explicitly ask for it. They also want to know about the issues as early as possible (and of course what's being done to minimize those risks). In my several experiences working with church committees, I've found this sort of open discussion to be generally suspect. This is exacerbated by the fact that developing clear communications means asking lots of questions, especially about the underlying assumptions. I've met some church goers and church leaders who understand this need and welcome the approach, but for the most part people become defensive and even antagonistic.

Andy Westbrook

Posted: November 19, 2007 4:19 PM

I would be interested to know how many christians understand the differences between a "leader" and a "servant leader". To many, through a marketable form of evangelsim, Jesus has become an enterprise. The mainstream faith based organizations are spiritually blind to what those on the receiving end are really looking for-even their own enemies. People want doers in the field as well as listeners. It should be a privilege to personally serve a broken home child who has nothing as much as it is to serve the most elite CEO sitting on the other side of the table. How many "leaders" are willing to daily pray for their competitors so that they may be blessed with peace?

Dean	Posted: November 19, 2007 10:34 AM

I think Robert pegged it right! The comment of billionaire Dick DeVos was telling. When he talked about being in a small group and rubbing shoulders with a family that was against the wall financially, I thought he would say something like, "So I was made aware of a family in my church that I could help." Instead, he simply said that he now understands better how the other half lives -- actually having to pray for their daily bread. How does he think "God provides"? He does not send dollars from heaven! He has people with means -- like DeVos -- respond to the needs of those who don't! Why do we need to go way back to R. G. LeTourneau to find an evangelical "elite" who totally switched the tithe concept by living on only 10% of his income, and giving the rest to God? The modern type seem to believe that the most they ought to do is make money and give around 10% -- if even that. A sad commentary.

Robert

Posted: November 18, 2007 12:57 PM

RJR_fan - I've read the work of Chilton, including "Productive Christians in an Age of Guilt Manipulators" and found it to be a shrill justification of the "pull yourself up by the boot straps" religion that is antithetical to the teachings of Jesus. This is not to endorse Snider's books, but to point out the obvious, material blessing is fortuitous and determined not by one's faith, but the fortuity of one's birth. That American Christians are so obviously blind to this reality is a tribute to their selfish belief that God has some how blessed them with abundance while he has some how forgotten to bless those who were not fortunate enough to have been born into a Western, Liberal Democracy which rewards discipline, hard word, entrepreneurial pursuits and risk taking, as well as the exploitation of less sophisticated people without access to credit, capital and subject to the corrupt behavior of their political leaders who deny them the opportunities we have in democratic countries.

r.e.d

Posted: November 17, 2007 7:59 PM

As a seminary graduate and big firm NYC law partner I find this article as well as several of the comments highly offensive. My income puts me in the top 1% of income earners in the US and my status as a lawyer at one of the top NYC law firms certainly would qualify me as an "evangelical elite" though I would not for one second consider myself as such. In fact one of the primary reasons I left the ministry for law school was I found it repulsive that I was called upon to give "special" treatment to the folks to whom I ministered who where high income earners so they would open up their wallets more generously. The reason I went to divinity school, rather than law school to begin with was because I was willing to forgo status and a large salary to minister to work with and minister to all believers regardless of social class or professional status. My experience is not unique, and the Lindsay, Stafford and CT have been so seduced by power, fame, money and influence saddens

August K. Viekman

Posted: November 17, 2007 5:09 PM

Many years ago, during my first tenure as Chairman of a Board of Elders, I thought much about the reason why our local business and professional leaders were unavailable for service to the Boards and committees of the church. I concluded that it is because of our structural and procedural inefficencies in the governing of our local church. If, on my level, I felt exasperated I could recognize why business and professional leaders could not bring themselves to tolerate the careless attitude, wasted time, and reluctance to make critical decisions that has characterized much of our local church governing bodies. There is not the dedication to the task, as defined in Scripture, that characterizes the elite leaders and does not capture their goal oriented imaginations. The article states it clearly; the elite leaders are more comfortable in the company of other elite leaders.

Greg	Posted: November 17, 2007 5:04 PM


I think there is a place in culture and society for these elites. As long as they aren't embrassed to say they are 'born again' they will be fine. Most are wealthy and white. Guess which denomination? Reformed I am sure or episcopalan. BTW pentecostals and charismatics are very anti-intellectual thats why they aren't in this group. Their pastors don't encourage it..

Kristy

Posted: November 17, 2007 12:04 PM

I'm so glad someone was brave enough to tackle this issue. As followers of Christ, we are all called to live a life of balance - avoiding extremes of all sorts. I tried for several years to keep myself and my family in a hermetically sealed Christian environment. This led to a degree of spiritual snobbery in me that I'm sure was unpleasing to my Savior. As much as I claimed to "love my neighbor" and "love my brother in Christ", if someone did't follow my same convictions, I'd secretly turn up my super spiritual nose and "tsk, tsk" that person. God was faithful to open my eyes and renew a spirit of love and grace in my heart. It is ESSENTIAL that we ALL as the body of Christ, maintain a humble and teachable spirit. This is even more crucial to those whom God has blessed with a position of great influence. "To whom much is given, much will be required."

tony	Posted: November 17, 2007 11:13 AM


Christianity is Dead! Long live Christianity!

Graham UK

Posted: November 17, 2007 12:47 AM

I am so glad to read this article as it reveals a lot in terms of attitude. When we call ourselves Christians and describe a selection of brotherhood and sisterhood as 'elite' I am profoundly sad. It takes me to the poverty-stricken areas in time and location where men and women were so poor they looked at their colour, race, etc to elevate themselves. Read some Martin Luther King my friends. God has no favourites, no elite; when a bunch of people say they are right and everyone else is wrong I am reminded of the Pharisee and the tax collector! We can only ever be a bunch of sinners trying to get it right. Final thought leads me to observe that the most persuasvive mission is delivered in the ordinariness of every day good work. Like the yeast; the leven working quietly and unseen. Yes we can be called to be a shining light but THE LIGHT chose to wash feet NOT become part of the 'elite'. God help and bless us all.

Jim	Posted: November 16, 2007 8:38 PM

very interesting. I've observed many of these things living in DC all my life. "The Fellowship" here in DC is very self-consciously anti-local church. They are deeply ingrained in the corridors of power but there is huge compromise to keep all the acces. There's no prophetic edge but much bragging about how influential they are. That influence is just not in DC but all over the world. It's like they say they love Jesus but they really can't stand his wife, the church, the bride of Christ.

Raymond Takashi Swenson

Posted: November 16, 2007 7:17 PM

Perhaps a comparison can be useful. Mitt Romney has drawn attention to "elite Mormons" in politics, business and academia. Like Romney, many attended Harvard, Stanford, etc. Here are differences: Latter-day Saints attend congregations based on their geographic location, so elite Mormons attend church with Mormons of all economic levels. There is no gap between elite Mormons and pastors because the elite Mormons ARE the pastors, serving as part-time (20+ hours a week) unpaid temporary leaders (up to 5 years). Romney headed a congregation and then all congregations in Boston, ministering to the poor and spiritually troubled and overseeing missionary efforts. Church finances are equalized for all congregations to promote brotherhood. Most elite Mormons served two years as missionaries, and many of Romney's peers donate 3 years to lead 150-200 young missionaries overseas. Senior Church leaders (apostles, etc.) are called from these elites! The Mormon elites ARE the Mormon leaders.

sergey

Posted: November 16, 2007 4:00 PM


For you say, "I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing. You do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor and blind, and naked." Wake up people. Elite either christian or otherwise always make people jealous. Because, its wrong. I am sure elite don't want to be called elite because while calling them elite we at the same time separate ourself poor from "them" rich.

RJR_fan

Posted: November 16, 2007 1:57 PM


"However, believers, elite or not, are comfortable with owning 2nd homes, etc. while hundreds of millions of their fellow believers, members of God's worldwide family, brothers and sisters in Christ, don't have a roof over their heads, adequate clothing to wear or even food to eat ... " I strongly recommend David Chilton's book "Productive Christians in an Age of Guilt Manipulators."

Taylor

Posted: November 16, 2007 1:35 PM


Here is an interesting, related article from a few days ago. http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/november/31.33.html

Charles

Posted: November 16, 2007 12:48 PM

From sociological/psychological/economic points of view the subjects seem to be doing what they can. Then, aren't we all? Perhaps the book reads differently, but the author's (rather than the subjects?) focus seems to be how the subjects reflect the traditional church. Like a previous donor I am concerned that the standards displayed weren't the standards of Jesus. Jesus and the apostles could deal confortably with the rich, but it would be a stretch to say they were "ambivalent" about people with riches.

Luke	Posted: November 16, 2007 12:46 PM

Overall, I appreciated the insights that this article provided. However, I was disappointed with the general idea that the local church is out-of-step or out-dated so to speak. Granted no church is perfect and every church is challenged to grow and move forward. But I feel it's niave/irresponsible to conclude that because these certain evangelicals place a lesser importance on their local churches that somehow local churches and their pastors are out-of-step. Ok? I'm a local church pastor and I cannot tell you how much I am solicited weekly by all these extra-church organizations and their board members. By in large, I have not found these "certain evangelicals" expressing a desire to spend time with me in any way that won't cost me and/or my church money, and lots of it... Oftentimes it feels like everyone wants the money, time and members of the local church but no one wants the church. In closing, I'm willing to help bridge the gap but please, a little more grace..?

Bette

Posted: November 16, 2007 12:29 PM

And God put each of these people where they are so they can be salt and light in their area of influence. I understand why there's not much connection with the local church. I'm not a part of the elite, but I do have a Type-A, entrepreneurial personality--and the scars to prove that most pastors prefer members not to be too good at what they do for the church. The earlier comments in this link show that their members kind of feel the same way. It's sad.

Diane

Posted: November 16, 2007 12:16 PM

The accumulation and exercise of market and political POWER in this tells me that "Evangelical" is a series of "networks" that "operate" just like the Vatican. The focus of all such "networking" always ends up in the tangled mess of men struggling/manipulating for power and authority in desired territories. And that always results in the true Mission--Jesus Christ's Salvific Work and spreading on the Gospel--taking a back seat to the marketing strategies of men trying to gain followers for themselves and their sphere of influence. These evangelicals should never condemn the Pope or Vatican "networks" . . because they are doing the very same thing.

Carlos

Posted: November 16, 2007 12:16 PM

Sadly, it is an embarassment to Christians everywhere how our North American Gospel Entrepeneurs flaunt their welath and 'filthy lucre'. Moreover, that most of these same prosperity preachers and celebrities so closely identify with the right wing of the War Party yet proclaim to be "right to life" while viciously denying the rights of minorities and healthcare and assistance to the poor is outrageous, if not blasphemous. Our nation is long overdue for judgment and we may be, in fact, beginning to reap what we have sowed. Lord have mercy on us.

Lee	Posted: November 16, 2007 12:09 PM


Evangelical elite??!! Was Jesus Christ among the "elite"?

Robert

Posted: November 16, 2007 11:32 AM

Evangelical not troubled by the concept of "Evangelical Elites" should be. The issue is not about the sincerity of one's faith. Nor is it about Christianity penetrating the all facets of society. The problem is the existence of celebrity pastors, divinity school professors, musicians and/or authors and the extension of that mindset to non-professional believers. There is o reason to get into whether Christians, elite of not, should own 2nd homes or have drivers. However, believers, elite or not, are comfortable with owning 2nd homes, etc. while hundreds of millions of their fellow believers, members of God's worldwide family, brothers and sisters in Christ, don't have a roof over their heads, adequate clothing to wear or even food to eat, you have to wonder exactly how such elite believers are using their Rolodexes to further the kingdom of God, to do the sorts of things Jesus actually asked us to do, ie, to love our neighbors, to care for the orphans and widows, etc.

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