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Christianity Today, November, 2008 |

Evangelical Moderates

Are they becoming less conservative? Or are they just saying so?

Sarah Pulliam | posted 10/14/2008 03:30PM

Some observers and insiders say evangelicals are less politically conservative than they used to be. Others say evangelicals have the same political views that they have had for years.

The answer may be ...

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OpenEyes

Posted: October 28, 2008 11:30 AM

I stongly against abortion and gay marriage. But do not think that a president's job description should be confined by these two issues. It's like hiring a CEO for Microsoft to replace Gates and the job description is "pro-life and against gay-marriage." I've been involving in local votes to against bills that are pro-choice or pro-gay-marriage. But always wondering how many Evangelical Christians care about these issues enought to participating in these kind of votes locally, state by state. But when it comes to presidencial selection, Christians want a president who is pro-life to take care of the issue for themselves, and so they do not need to do anything else in 4 or 8 years; but the job description of a president is far more complex than Just pro-life and anti-gay-marriage. There are issues related to the US economy, the global economy, the US's political strength in a global stage competing with China, Russia and India...etc. These are also important issues to think about.

Joe	Posted: October 27, 2008 10:28 AM


To be true to the tune of this article, why do we have the label "evangelicals" or "Christians" because the terms are too "exclusive" and "single-issued". While we are on the same subject, I am not sure what "Christianity" (as in ChristianityToday) means to "Christians".

Dr Christian Chan

Posted: October 26, 2008 3:49 AM


The God of Israel with punish the American electorate and evagelicals for helping to elect a Black Nationalist Marxist as president! It proves even American evagelicals are motivated by GREED (money) not God & Country and will all be punished by God!

Chris

Posted: October 24, 2008 10:57 PM

For some reason we seem to think that God favors the Republcan party and shuns the Democrats. If He favored Republicans why has George Bush been one of the worst presidents we ever had....I voted for him twice, but, I will not be fooled this time. Additionally, since his tenure in office our nation has been so divided and seems to be falling between the cracks. Hopefully, we all know that He doesn't favor either party; both parties have challenges within their platform that are questionable. In this election I do believe that it is God's will for Barack to be the next president of the United States of America.

Big Mac

Posted: October 24, 2008 3:53 PM


Please hear the word of God: "My son, fear the Lord and the king; do not associate with those who are given to change, for their calamity will rise suddenly, and who knows the ruin that comes from both of them?" Proverbs 24:21,22

K.	Posted: October 15, 2008 5:01 PM


By and large, moderates tend to be well-educated and reasonable people who avoid the extremes and faulty thinking of the liberals and conservatives, although they tend to be conservative on moral issues. Moderates also tend to emphasize proper interpretation of the Bible, such as putting verses back into context and looking at the cultural context of which Paul and the others were writing.

Keith Lohnes

Posted: October 15, 2008 3:35 PM

In Canada registered voters are not identified by party. In a sense we are all independents. Individuals can take out membership in a political party and influence party policy and activities that way. We have broad choices with 3 national parties, plus some smaller parties. An evangelical prime minister, Steven Harper, was just re-elected to a second term in yesterday's election won by the Conservative Party of Canada. Abortion was not a campaign issue in any of the 3 national parties. Increasingly abortion is best dealt with outside party affiliation as a moral, not political issue.

Gregory Chase

Posted: October 15, 2008 1:30 PM

Even though I have been identified with the Republican Party, my alliegence is with Jesus and His kingdom above all. I have often been disappointed with politics an politicians but never with Jesus. Some might interpret me to be a moderate because of my stands on the prisoner, the poor and tne immigrant. But I only subscribe to to Christ's teaching concerning the treatment of those less fortunate than me. I do not like labels because they never tell the whole story. Only a Bible believing, Christ follower identifies who I am. I will vote for the Republican ticket because it most closely resembles what I believe. That does not mean that I like everything the ticket represents but it is closest to my convictions.

Gary	Posted: October 15, 2008 12:56 PM

For me, I have not usually considered the abortion issue to be the sole determining factor for whom I have voted. This time around, however, I am making it a central factor. And for me, a candidate such as Barack Obama who has no conscience about leaving an infant to die that has survived an attempted abortion and who states he would not "punish" his daughter with such a situation has compromised himself into the horrifying and inhumane position of infanticide. How a Christian could ever support or endorse such a heinous position is beyond reason.

Millie

Posted: October 15, 2008 10:26 AM


Amen Johnny! I have been saying for years a true Christian cannot support either party unequivocally because neither party embraces the whole of scripture. God tells us to obey all of his commands, not to pick and choose based on a political affiliation

Paul	Posted: October 15, 2008 10:26 AM

I am one of those Evangelicals who has moved from a single issue (ie my revulsion of abortion) to consider that Jesus had much to say about many other critical issues such as the care for the poor, the sick, the widow, the orphan, the prisoner, and with that I have moved beyond the single issue to consider all the teachings of Jesus. So, with that, I would consider myself a “moderate” and am becoming less “conservative.” What is so sad is that the single issue Evangelical cannot accept those who are not and their attacks are very unchristian.

A Hermit

Posted: October 15, 2008 10:01 AM

Christ did not follow any idol-olgy. While both 'conservatives' and 'liberals' have valid concerns, that one subscibes to being a 'conservative' or 'liberal' is idolatrous. The reality of Christ transcends any philosophy, any set of 'moral standards'. Many who trumpet loudest about 'family values' ignore the fact that more families are destoyed through inhuman, greedy, materialistic economic policies and actions subservient to the almight idol of profit than through 'gay marriage'. Those same policies threaten ALL life, not just the unborn, through greedy mindless destruction of the creation whose life we share (now often termed 'the environment'). Many liberals can't distinguish freedom from licentiousness, ignoring fundamental human realities and responsibilities. Both liberals and conservatives should be looking at the logs in their own eyes, seeking God's truth, rather than trying to 'win' the 'debate'.

mjrjolt

Posted: October 14, 2008 9:00 PM


Religious moderates are the same as political moderates. They relish NOT taking a stand and like to be thought of as "enlightened" and "open-minded." Their minds certainly are "OPEN." And more often than not, when they finally have to choose sides, they cast their vote as "liberals." Most moderates are nothing more than liberals in disguise.

Vince

Posted: October 14, 2008 8:09 PM

Throughout our history the defininition of conservative or liberal has changed over time from one generation to another. I beleive that striving to think and act Biblically is what is most critical. As a Believer I think that is where I tend to struggle and fail the most. So much of what our Biblical thinking is blinded or at war w/ our micro-cultures, our place in American culture and our financial goals. Focusing on and doing what Christ and the Holy Spirit calls us to seems to be missed when we discuss politics, fianances and gov't.

The G

Posted: October 14, 2008 8:08 PM


What does Rome have to do with Jerusalem. Jesus wasn't worried about politics. Nether should we. Our emphasis must be Christ in ALL things, EVERYWHERE, and at ALL times. Doing a Romans 13 on me, won't cut it. Jesus can only dominate a culture when individuals really are dominated by Jesus Himself.

Jeri	Posted: October 14, 2008 7:33 PM


Actually, I'm no longer at home in either party. Unfortunately the system is not set up for a third party. What is one to do?

William Miller

Posted: October 14, 2008 5:46 PM


Jesus was killed by the establishment for being a radical. He was a thorn in the side of those in charge. To follow Jesus means to use your judgement, love God, love your neighbor, and embrace change.

Johnny

Posted: October 14, 2008 3:45 PM

I'm glad Christians are fleeing party identification. We should vote the issues, not the party. No party is right on all issues (or wrong on all issues) and it's about time we wised up to that. The Democrats are rife with militant secularism. The Republicans espouse Social Darwinism's law of the jungle. Neither is something Christians should support. Parties are worldly organizations and should not be given our devotion. As for "John" who twists Jesus' words about our love for Him out of context to claim we must be either hot or cold politically (either hyper-liberal or hyper-conservative, I assume), I see no biblical evidence to support that claim. I think compromise, compassion, and reason (rather than dogmatism and petty turf battles) is the answer to our nation's ills.

Lindy Scott

Posted: October 14, 2008 3:40 PM

The terms "conservative," "moderate," and "liberal" are almost meaningless if there is not a more clear context. Are rural Mennonites conservative because they are against abortion or liberal because they oppose all wars? If evangelicals opposed the war in Iraq (as I did) because it failed to meet all of the major criteria of Just War Theory, is that a liberal or conservative position? A better question is: Do our political positions line up with the Lordship of Jesus and authority of Scripture? I believe it is more helpful to examine all of the major issues, one by one, using our best Christian thinking and action. At times this might lead us to a "liberal" position, such as making adequate health care available for all, while at other times it might lead us to a conservative position, such as living within our budget, as a family and as a nation. Labels of conservative and liberal have tended to box us in. We must affirm that loyalty to Jesus is our greatest allegiance.

john	Posted: October 14, 2008 2:41 PM

Political moderates are just as they say. They will not take a firm stand in their lives, and as a result, when the going gets tough, they will wilt just like the do in politics. It seems they are middle of the road types. Jesus said something about hot or cold. As a result, I have the same question about their relation with a real and living God that Jesus Christ had in that setting. No name calling, just using the Biblical guidelines.

Surfingirl

Posted: October 14, 2008 2:40 PM

Research and knowing the history behind the current political issues helps the voter to vote their conscience: "Abortion and the Conscience of the Nation" was written, Copyright 1983 by President Ronald Reagan. In this book Reagan, Malcolm and other humanitarians warned of "The Humane Holocaust" a clear example is the "Evangelical Moderate's" people who want to meet JESUS on their TERMS not his" Clinton appointee, San Fransico US Justice, Phyllis Hamilton reasoned, "Women's Choice is Paramount and the Unborns Pain Irrelevant" June 2004. Rejects Bush BAN on Partial Birth Abortions. Legislation moves to protect the Unborn "personhood": "Unborn Victim's of Violence Protection Act" to date: Senator's have rejected the BAN on Partial Birth Abortions and the LIVE INFANT ACT" and NOT ANY OF DEBATES HAVE ALLOWED AMERICANS THE RIGHT TO KNOW WHO THAT PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WILLS TO VOTE PRO-CHOICE THROUGH TO BIRTH.

JohnW

Posted: October 14, 2008 10:04 AM


The Institute on Religion and Democracy is a group with a far right divisive agenda, so what David Sheaffer says should be suspect.

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