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Christianity Today, March, 2009 |

A Dream That Won't Die

The meaning of the election; the work yet to be done.

Philip Yancey | posted 3/02/2009 10:47AM

On November 4, 2008, I boarded a plane for Memphis just before polling places closed in the East. Stepping off the plane three hours later, I asked the first person I saw, an African American baggage ...

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Redfox

Posted: March 14, 2009 1:03 PM

As an American born in Africa, I am always intrigued - how black do you have to be to be accepted as 'black'? Half? What a silly generalization, even sillier to accord great achievement to Obama's election. Time Christian leaders focussed on the same things Jesus did - salvation, Godliness and caring for the poor, and so on - not kicking the 'Romans' around. Quite racist to attribute it as 'special for black man' to become president - don't you think? Or is that 'quite special for an almost white man' (whatever that means)? The world outside the US love Obama - probably because the stand to benefit - pity the poor fools who will pay for it.

Robyn

Posted: March 12, 2009 12:45 PM


Outstanding article. Thank you.

soardlc

Posted: March 12, 2009 5:19 AM


I'm so grateful for such a thoughtful and meaningful article. Yes, Reverend Hawley, the religious leaders manipulated, plotted and schemed in the death of Jesus Christ. Is this happening again for His sheep? It seems that so many religious followers are doing just that! Barak Obama declared Jesus as his Savior.

Lynne

Posted: March 11, 2009 2:25 PM


Racism has been a cancer destroying the life of America and a blot on its soul. I am white but feel that America and Christianity is finally living up to our rhetoric.

Tom	Posted: March 11, 2009 1:01 PM

Nice article. Although we shouldn't pat ourselves on the back too quickly. There is still so much to overcome in our own country. President Obama is only human, but there is a potential of greatness in him - as in us all. We are only human afterall - works in progress. However, President Obama seems like a fine man and a fine Christian man. But he has a difficult job ahead of him. President Obama, his family and our country are my prayers.

Sosa	Posted: March 10, 2009 2:10 PM

I'm sad to see anyone refer to President Obama's "christianity". Could a Christian truly retract all the legislation meant to reing in abortion? Obama fully supports the legalization of abortion; no true Christian could feel that way. And before anyone says "what about people who die in war, poverty, etc.?" Yes, that is tragic too and any Christian I know is also wanting to end those things, but abortion kills more people (millions) than war and poverty combined (thousands), so as God's children we should be working heartily to make something illegal that breaks God's heart. I like President Obama, but pray that God will also break his heart over the taking of unborn's lives before it's too late.

Pam	Posted: March 06, 2009 7:06 PM


Mr. Yancey, whenever I'm about to give up, you gave me hope in the Evangelical church. Amen.

Montjoie

Posted: March 05, 2009 4:03 PM

Typically touchy-feely, half thought out Yancey tripe. For one thing, it's not "access to the corridors of power" that people are upset about. It's big government, and what that means for economic prosperity, religious observance, charity and freedom that has people -- and the markets, freaked. But it feels right, so I guess it's okay. Oh yeah, and we should work from the bottom up, too. Whatever that means.

Patrick Gann

Posted: March 05, 2009 10:48 AM

Fact: elections are worthless now, as mainstream Republicans and Democrats serve the same purposes, and the real powers that be could care less which of the two parties win. They're both statist, they both think America ought to be "Team America: World Police," they're both generally satisfied with the status quo. The work yet to be done is far more radical than anything you'll ever hear on CNN *or* FOX.

Joe	Posted: March 05, 2009 6:59 AM

As an "unrecognized minority, I think we are spending too much time talking about racial tensions. There is no questions that there has been racial discrimination in this country. Which country and people does not? Overall, and especially today, America is still the most friendly towards all races. In fact, it is other racial groups that are much more concerned about, and make decisions, based on skin color and not content of the character.

Jim	Posted: March 04, 2009 4:27 PM

It is ironic that Obama's election as a milestone in our countries progress in civil rights while Obama is moving to promote destruction of human life in the womb, recinding individual conscience rights of medical professionals who do not want to be involved in abortion, and he has promised to push FOCA type legislation which will not allow individual states the right to regulate the abortion industry. Think of the rights of the unborn and of the christians and others who believe in the dignity or all human life. He, in an authoritarian, intolerant, manner is supressing or denying their rights. A sad irony Phil!

chris

Posted: March 04, 2009 4:21 PM

I was surprised by Philip’s monochromatic perspective.So the election of Obama has brought democracy to all? I think this is an astounding conclusion. Sure this election had a major historical element, but as an African American, I was one of those who voted my conviction over the cultural tug. While many are heading to Mount Rushmore and start chiseling his presence, I am praying that our social and economic infrastructure will survive the blunt hammering of this new administration. Sadly, I believe that the unintended consequences will be dire. I do agree that the wilderness experience will be good for the church as we will again discover our true source of power.

g b trammell

Posted: March 04, 2009 1:11 PM


Great article My question: when will be equally happy about equality for womer

AR Douglas

Posted: March 04, 2009 10:13 AM

Outstanding! A friend and pastor forwarded the link to this article to me and it definitely gave me reason to pause and be encouraged. I am African American, Christian and live in the South and often feel marginalized by the Evangelical community because of my political beliefs. I feel that I'm less accepted by the spiritual community because of what box I check on a ballot. Because of this, I had been slowly withdrawing from the fellowship of other believers. However, your article has made me realize that I should continue to do the work of the Lord and let my focus remain on community outreach, helping other and professing my faith. The rest will fall away.

Dale Fincher

Posted: March 04, 2009 10:01 AM

The civil rights movement in America was built on Biblical ideas. What made the battle difficult was that many who claimed to follow the Bible, put their prejudice against it. To their shame. When it comes to Hinduism, you won't find a way to eradicate the caste system without tinkering with Hinduism itself. The caste system will remain whether you start at the top or the bottom. Hinduism is the obstacle in India. Prejudice was the obstacle in the USA. By the way, Ravi Zacharias is a decedent of the Brahmin cast. The top down does work in getting the message to a nation... but that have to be willing to give up the problem first.

Even the Elect?

Posted: March 04, 2009 9:27 AM

I can understand PY's view on the new president; he has publicly repented for a past filled with racism. During the election, people in the pro-life and/or anti-socialism crowd were called "racists" over and over again -- most of us for the first time in our lives -- because we didn't support this "hollow man." Sheepinwolf'sclothing is correct: This election was about nothing but race. Faith and reason had no place for people hungry for a president who was the right color, regardless of his policies. PY and CT should repent in sackcloth and ashes for promoting the Godless pro-abortion / gay union / stem cell research / socialist beliefs of this man.

homebuilding

Posted: March 04, 2009 12:07 AM

Thank you Philip Yancey, for your comments and thank your CT for publishing them. When I think of all of the scoundrels that Christians have aligned themselves with: Tom Delay, George W Bush and many others just because they spouted the comfortable language of demonizing anyone not aligned with the Old Southern Baptist GOP credo--I shudder and I cringe. I voted for a Christian man who is more than willing to give a hearing to those not totally aligned with himself. I am pleased to have his leadership to guide us out of the phony "christian" world domination/no tax is the best government methods that have been primary in many church circles since 1980. It's time for the church to lead on matters of justice--I'm still waiting. In the meantime, a true Christian in the White House is a good thing.

RonB51

Posted: March 03, 2009 7:56 PM


I never voted for anyone at any level because of his or her ethnicity. While the author is putting Obama's skin color above whether he can do the job or not is juvenile. Maybe we should go back and read about Jesus' response to the Roman soldier.

Malcolm

Posted: March 03, 2009 1:59 PM

Its not about the color of one's skin, but the content of one's character, right Phil? Then why is it all you will talk about is Pres. Obama's color? What about his ideas, actions, and policies? Does that matter in your Boomeresque baloney, or are you just running cover to distract from talking about it. What about Obama's radicalism --his neo-Marxist policies, his deceptions and manipulations of language, and particularly Christian terms. This article could have been written by the DNC or another hack, but instead its in a sycophant "Christian" publication.

unpartisan de MLJ

Posted: March 03, 2009 1:49 PM

On the issues of the most vital importance for evangelicals: abortion and gay rights we must oppose Obama. On issues of less importance such as the environment, universal healthcare and promotion of health and responsibility we must stand with the President. On issues where the gospel is NOT at sake nor our sanctification we must submit and follow the administration no matter what our political leanings are. But our loyalty is not to Obama, America, the RNC, the DNC, Bush, Reagan, Liberalism, Conservativism, Israel, ect... it is principally the kingdom of God and how it manifests itself in the local church. Let the church focus on the Gospel and let us leave economic policy to politicians.

Collis

Posted: March 03, 2009 11:48 AM

Thank you for a well written perspective. Throughout the Christian history there has always been the challenge between living a spirit lead life and one that's man directed. In the time of our racist history and also during the time of the missionary outreach in India there is a glaring simialrity. We Christians want to affect change that allows us to maintian a certain level of societal comfort. Change can only come when we submit ourselves completely to the route that God wants to take in order to change things. Let Jonah be an example we can look at. Many times we think we are doing good but it is truly in our self interest.

Diane

Posted: March 03, 2009 11:32 AM

This is a well-written, thoughtful article. I hope for a society of Christian people who do not see the color of skin as a negative, but as a positive recognition of the grace of God who created us all. I also hope for Christians who do not see anyone "different" as bad. Members of my church have told me that I am not welcome there because I had an Obama sticker on my car. I don't live in the South, so we all need to re-examine our lives and our prejudices and ask God to heal us.

Dale W

Posted: March 03, 2009 9:56 AM

Thanks! Once again the Yancey pen has spoken for my heart. I was trained in the Baptist version of Bob Jones (not quite as racist) in Chattanooga, TN, and watched smoke rising over the city's skyline in the aftermath of MLK's death. The fear I felt in that context of hatred cemented my objectification of black human beings. I was like Monroe and "Romans 1". What they are feeling and expressing now and what I felt and expressed in the 60's and 70's is heart blinding fear. May the love of Christ and the truth of Scripture rescue all of us from our fears and motivate us to make the difference we can in these exceedingly opportune days. There is nothing more anti Christian than our "Christian" tongues speaking for our blinded hearts.

William White

Posted: March 03, 2009 8:47 AM

I really enjoyed the article and enjoyed the comments that were spoken. Me being a African American Christian raised in the inner city. I some time feel like society does not see us as evangelicals because our belief in issues in the government are different. But when you constantly watch generation of kids go from poor to poorer, and drugs and alcohol destroy your community, and your schools loose more and more money, while others in the country seem to get more and gain more. We as a people look for the government to help even the playing field. I know we look at some policy as against God, but we have to remember all sin is against God and if we would look more at individual sin we will see a different view of our purpose in the World I believe. Thanks for this time, and every one walk in God's word.

Rev. Ruth Hawley-Lowry

Posted: March 03, 2009 8:42 AM

Yancey's work continues to bless. Yet, for a pastor who has worked in cross-cultural settings for 20 years, this piece is timid. We in the white church have yet to grapple with Dr. King’s three prophetic calls against militarism, poverty, and racism. Our racism continues to perpetuate the 12 million children who are raised in poverty and the 40 million incarcerated African American males (most for non-violent crimes that would have been dismissed had my brothers been in similar positions). We have NOT come that far because we don’t WANT to—and because we benefit from the structures as they presently exist. King continued the work that Ghandi began in India because one of Ghandi’s great regrets was that the approach of non-violence was not propagated as much as he had hoped. And yet these two great men of peace were murdered violently because such Love is met with hate—yes, even in the Church. Remember, it was the religious leaders who participated in even the death of Jesus Christ.

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