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Theology in the News

Emerging Theology, Liberal Politics

Does one thing lead to the other?

Collin Hansen | posted 10/06/2008 09:33AM

No observer of the emerging church was surprised to see leading voice Brian McLaren endorse Sen. Barack Obama for President. Liberal politics and emerging theology go hand in hand. But what is the connection? ...

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Help Rescue America

Posted: October 19, 2008 9:56 AM

Well of course emergent leaders will vote for the candidate that promises all sorts of Federal Gov't goodies FREE for years to come and enslaved people with them. Just think of the heaven we can create on earth!! Wow, when Obama becomes President I am sure we will never have the poor with us ever. These liberal christians are changing our motto from In God we Trust to In GOV'T we Trust. It is nothing more than idolatry disguised as helping the poor. I am sure the Gov't is immune from stealing, greed, human rights violations, abuse of the poor, and so forth. The best thing these emergant leaders can do is go live in countries in South America or Asia where Gov't controls all things and then come back and tell me what heaven they have created on earth. Ecclesiates says there is nothing new under the sun. Isreal told God Give us a King, God did and it was a sign of rejecting Him. Liberals are saying the same old song - Give us Big Gov't to trust and politicians we can render worship.

Nate	Posted: October 16, 2008 1:36 PM

The faddish Emergent movement is nothing more than the counter-revolution of the Protestant mainline. McClaren and other folk are a bit too accommodating of the current US political left. Well what i say is that this is taking the American Church "Out of the frying pan into the fire". What Christians need to do is (1) Elevate the conversation to encourace politicians to be specific and (2) Hold our governors accountable for what they are doing. If we as Christians will do those simple things, we will wake up and realize that no Church or para church organization ought to directly affiliate with a Political Party. Beyond abortion and homosexuality are policy issues of spending and corruption that tend to fester with Dem administrations. They are the party of government power and power corrupts... McClaren would do well to do God's work...not Obama and Pelosi's.

search for truth

Posted: October 14, 2008 8:09 PM

I am a follower of Jesus Christ.I am very sad and sick in my heart that some Christians will vote for Obama.some of his voters and campaign people are treating him like he is GOD.And that is very WRONG !! according to my book(The Bible) http://obamamessiah.blogspot.com/2008_06_01_archive.html But my VERY biggest beef with Obama,Are his views on abortion.He said that "I don't want my daughters "punished with a baby" Obama is the scariest candidate ever?sense when is a baby a punishment? Children are a gift from God! Obamas=(The Freedom of Choice Act)" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AR1RD2-fabA&feature=related Abortion is murder of Gods creation.(No ands,if or buts about it)! Scriptures state repeatedly that people will prosper ONLY if they obey the commandments of God.Job 36:11-12 Worldwide reports indicate that more than 40 million abortions are performed per year. May God have mercy on our souls !! http://www.abortionno.org/

Rev Herbert W Johnstok

Posted: October 11, 2008 8:45 AM


All I know is that Jesus was a tree-hugger, so I want to be a tree-hugger too. In the story of the prodigal son, the older brother represents the Republicans and the prodigal son represents the Democrats. In that story, the father represents James Dobson.

a guy

Posted: October 08, 2008 4:00 PM

Peter you say "...concern for the poor, compassion for the sinner, building a society which reflects the Kingdom of God. I've never seen anything of those in the the Religious Right. " You must have your eyes closed tightly. Spend five minutes looking at any religious right organization. www.family.org; www.sbc.net; are some starting points- look at conservative church web sites. I challenge you to spend five minutes looking at their web-sites and then try to tell me they don't have concern for the poor, compassion for the sinner, and are trying to live in obedience to God (slightly different wording for your Kingdom terminology). Open your eyes- the religious right cares just as much about suffering in this world as liberals do- they just see the problem of sin as the primary root of those problems so they tackle that one first and foremost.

Not Ashamed

Posted: October 08, 2008 3:28 AM

Why is Christianity Today making excuses for Brian McLaren's quest to devalue Christianity and Christians? Mormons do more good works then McLaren "talks" about. "McLaren may not be heavenly minded, but he is trying to do earthly good. " What a silly statement! This magazine is becoming a waste of time. Emergents just come to a point in life where they refuse to give Christ their all. I know this personally. They would rather sit around, talk, sip wine, talk, smoke a cigar, talk and complain about conservatism, missionaries, and every other church. The damage being done to young people is horrendous. They convince new believers the Bible was interpreted wrong and Brian McLaren, Chris Seay, a poet and a few others are in the process of doing it right. They even want to drop the name Christian because if offends some. Please print more Greg Laurie and others like him, who actually love Christs followers.

Mark Russell

Posted: October 07, 2008 7:41 AM

The challenge in analyzing emerging theology and the corresponding political views is that it is really a diffuse conversation and it's really hard to boil it down... Also, I'm not so sure the author really understands emerging theology. I doubt Pagitt would agree that ALL theology is temporary. Perhaps all interpretation of theology is temporary but all theology? Really? Does the author think that Pagitt thinks God is temporary? My point being that the author does not really understand emerging theology and is not really fair to it. There will be people who have varying commitments to political parties, policies, and participation. This is true in every theological camp. The emerging conversation is no exception.... Mark

Jim	Posted: October 06, 2008 9:28 PM


Outstanding article. The "emergents" are selling out to the spirit of the world and perpetuating its lies. We live in a war zone, whether they (or we) like it or not.

caveat bettor

Posted: October 06, 2008 8:59 PM

I'm all for good government (protecting lives, rights, freedoms, property; investing in infrastructure and research where the private sector can't get it done). But the social programs of the government are an opportunity cost to the church. The church allocates resources in the context of community and relationship; the government just cuts checks and presents a larger deadweight loss--those billions in campaign contributions come from somewhere. Every follower of Christ shares the same kingdom goals. Some however, feel that bigger taxes and bigger government are the way. I think that the bigger the government gets, the smaller the church will be. No free lunch.

William

Posted: October 06, 2008 6:33 PM

A couple problems with this article. The first is that Mr. Hansen does not understand perspectivalism is not an individualist concept but a communal. The issue is not how I see the world but how all of our worldviews are dependent upon those in our communities and circles of influence. The second problem is that he cites the problem of homosexuality and the Biblical teaching but later champions those who spoke out against slavery for the evil it was. But, these abolitionists went against the biblical teaching on the subject! I am not suggesting anything about homosexuality, I am point out a blind spot in Mr. Hansen's thinking. William... Also, Annie is suggesting that this situation is akin to Hitler's Germany???

George T.

Posted: October 06, 2008 5:21 PM


Politics and religion have allways gone hand in hand. It would be useful if you published the dramatic increase in prayers in NYC, since the economic collapse. And to clarify further:there is no economics that go hand in hand with politics.

NonCharon

Posted: October 06, 2008 4:21 PM

I was tracking with you until you said "But despite the emerging church's talk about community, postmodernism actually encourages greater individualism." An "extreme" anything can lead to problems. Extreme literalism, extreme objectivism (which can mistake a highly individualized subjective interpretation for "The TRUTH"). It's poor logic to equate a position with it's most radical fringes. Simply saving individuals isn't enough. I've met many a "good christian" saved by grace that unknowningly and without malice have participated in social evils because it was simply part of the culture. We must not only be saved as persons, but we must be saved in the way we relate to each other. We must be saved in what we buy, what we eat, where we work, and how we play. For many of us the salvation limited to the sweet by-and-by seems like a shell game if we are not saved in the here and now. Wilberforce opposed slavery even though it is not specifically condemned in scripture.

Josh Morgan

Posted: October 06, 2008 4:19 PM

I actually don't think liberal politics and emerging theology go hand in hand. I'm passionately emerging (and I love the organization Emergent), and I'm also a passionate, active Republican (especially for social reasons). Many people hear me talk and think I'm a liberal politically. I think the liberal thought process is usually more accurate, but their conclusions are false. In contrast, conservatives often have poor arguments, but their conclusions are correct. I'm voting for policy, what actually occurs. I may not agree with their reasoning for the policy all the time, but it's what I believe needs to happen... jacobscafe.blogspot.com

Dean	Posted: October 06, 2008 4:05 PM

Emergent leaders seem to have gained a broad hearing by refusing to use the terms “liberal” and “conservative.” Christian’s caring for creation and looking forward proactively to the coming Kingdom reign of Christ (working toward a “substantial healing” of the rift between man and nature a la Schaeffer) on this soon to be restored, reconciled, and reunited earth are conclusions of a recovered theology of nature now being taught in even the most “conservative” of seminaries and colleges. This is not “Christian environmentalism” (therefore “liberal” or “left”), but a fundamental of our core faith. If the emergent movement is compelling folks to go back to the basics of the faith and the results are caring for creation, seeing heaven ultimately as a place on earth, recognizing that capitalism can be as cruel and godless as socialism, and sacrificially attending to the needs of the poor, then in these regards at least the movement is not liberal or conservative; it is merely Christian.

J Sabo

Posted: October 06, 2008 3:57 PM

Today Christians have allowed our children to study in the books clearly written by liberals who seem to want to be politically correct than write the truth. No where in history was it that that this country was founder on secular beliefs. No where does "Separation of Church and State " exist. Our country was founded on Judao Christian principles and nothing else. Mussolini and Hitler came into power with their socialist and communist ideas.

Kevin

Posted: October 06, 2008 11:00 AM

Great article. Os Guinness in his book Prophetic Untimeliness makes the point that the more the church tries to be "relevant" the less relevant it becomes, because it tailors "truth" to conventional thinking rather than using eternal truth to critique conventional thinking (on both the Right and Left). And what is trendy today is outdated tomorrow. A timely message; IMO a defining mark of American evangelicalism is an addiction to fads and trends. No wonder some are following that logic into the Emergent movement. The church of the First Century was revolutionary. Rather than trying to accommodate Roman values, it held up an objective, timeless, universal standard against which Rome was found wanting. The church ceased to be revolutionary precisely when it made accommodation with contemporary values and politics. It also began to confuse the eternal Kingdom of God with the transient kingdoms of men. Soon Obama will be as cool as, well, Jimmy Carter.

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