A Significant Shift
I hate to bump my last post so quickly. Hopefully some of you will scroll down to read it. While this post runs in the same vein, I thought it was appropriate to get it posted on Super Tuesday.
A significant shift has occurred among American Christians (or is it Christian Americans?). Barna's latest research indicates that a majority of Christians will likely vote democratic this year.
Here's an excerpt:
A significant shift has occurred among American Christians (or is it Christian Americans?). Barna's latest research indicates that a majority of Christians will likely vote democratic this year.
Here's an excerpt:
Today we have a greater proportion of faith-driven voters who are concerned about issues that are often thought of as 'liberal' social policy concerns, such as poverty and health care. Abortion and family protection remain significant issues to the faith constituency, but they are not the only issues that matter to the group - or even the driving issues.
Labels: Christians, evangelicals, justice, politics, theology
posted by Eric Livingston at
2/05/2008
10 Comments:
I think these research findings show two things.
1. There is such a watered down, social justice version of the Christian faith and scripture that is being spouted by people with big microphones that has allowed foundations to be built on sand instead of rock. "Life isn't fair. Poor me." Christians have compartmentalized their hearts and have been/are being encouraged to do so from the pulpit. Feel-good, no need to worry about repentance/ sin/satan/hell, foundationless walks... thank you Joel Osteen. No accountability.
2. The reality is that there is no candidate that Christians should support. I don't believe in a "lesser of two evils" mentality. Someone will get elected... that's obvious. But it won't be because of my vote, because none of the candidates are worry of my vote, or yours.
http://www.votechooser.com/
I was shocked to learn I favor Mitt Romney over Mike Huckabee
Hey Brian. Actually the Barna research shows that among evangelicals (which would include Joel Osteen followers and other "Health and Wealth" Gospel preachers) there is still a strong republican following. Barna says that 56% of evangelicals will vote republican and 22% will go democrat. I think that brand of the gospel is watered down and narcissitic as you say, but in my mind that is exactly opposite of social justice issues.
The reason for this shift in Christian politics from republican to democrats, I think, is because we are finally understanding that the gospel is fundamentally about justice, mercy, and love. Then, it would make sense that someone who has set their life after these Jesus values would shift their votes towards candidates who seem to represent those issues. We've finally made it over the hump to be more concerned with these values, than trying to legislate morality.
The votechooser.com device lines me up with Barack, then Hillary, then McCain.
A better device is at http://www.kieskompas-usa.nl/page/0/thema+s/ which puts me very near Richardson and Edwards (both withdrawn). Among active candidates, I'm closest to Hillary, but when I drill down to the issues with which I'm most concerned (health care, war, peace promotion, environment) then I slide closer to Obama.
Based on that one, I am closest to McCain and furthest away from Barack Obama. Not surprised with Obama... shocked I was so close to McCain.
The gospel is about mercy and love, however it is NOT about justification of sin, which I think many confuse with the oh so hot topic of the decade "social justice."
When we compromise the standards set forth by Jesus in the Gospels and Paul in the Epistles, we compromise God's mercy and love.
It's not about legislating morality, it's about adhering to God's word and Jesus' teachings in scripture. We are called to live our life for Christ and to spread His word to all the world. We can't let politics limit that.
And we cannot allow those who step into the pulpit (or office) to water down the message of God through His word and Son to avoid hurting feelings or convicting people for how they live their lives. It is our job to hold each other up AND accountable.
I guess I just don't see the correlation you're making between justification of sin and social justice issues. Maybe we don't have the same thing in mind when we say "social justice". I'm thinking about issues like health care, how we treat the poor, the sick, the alien, the outcasts of society. I think Jesus was pretty clear in his teachings on those points. So, in the way I'm thinking about social justice, it wouldn't have anything to do with justifying sin.
In fact, by caring for the poor, the sick, and "the least of these", we are upholding the very standard that Jesus set forth in the gospel. Was there any other standard he instituted besides loving God and our neighbor?
Do you see Hillary REALLY worried about anything but Power? This woman promotes abortion and very liberal ideas. The "least of these are unborn children". Also, they promote taking more of hard working people's money and give to the "lazy of these". If you want a government that takes care of "the least of these" go live in country with social health care. See how long it takes to get medical care. It is the church's responsiblity to take care of these not the government. Democrats want more government in our lives. They promote antiChristian morals and beliefs. Only the naive will believe that the government can solve poverty and the decline of morals in this country. As a christian how can you support candidates that promote gay marriage and abortion? No where in the Bible does it say the government is to take care of the widows, orphans and poor. It tell followers of Christ to do this. These were the jobs the deacons were to oversee.
Eric,
I think we are arguing the same point, but from a different angle. Abortion, homosexuality, promiscuity, and unaccountability are so intwined with the social justice movement that poverty and peace unfortunately get lost in the mix. I find it hard to believe that any politician is not for peace and the reduction/elimination of world hunger and poverty. But because all these things get lumped together, assumptions are made when politicians choose one or two issues to FOCUS on in an election year. The assumtion is that since you are focusing are one, you don't care about the other.
Personally, I just don't see how any Christian could in good faith support any nominee who is a cheerleader the justification of abortion, same-sex marriage, and promiscuity.
Because to me, following Jesus is about more than personal code of morality. God has always been interested in saving communities (see throughout the OT and John 3.16). In order to save the world, Jesus showed us that we need to love one another. Jesus' message has less to do with a morality that gets us into heaven when we die, and more to do with loving and healing those who are hurting in the world.
Ah yes... the hot-button words of this season of social justice, progressive Christianity, and the distortion of the Holy Scriptures: "Personal code of morality".
If Jesus' words on how we are called to live our life are a "personal code of morality" then sign me up. You can't pick "love and heal the hurting world" and wash your hands of Jesus' own words of life-living and accountability... Matthew 5:17-20, 27-30, 31-32; Matthew 7:21-23; Matthew 10:22, 34-39; Matthew 11:20-24; Matthew 15:10-20; Matthew 18:15-17; Mark 10:1-12... and on and on and on. You have to know and see the FULL STORY, not just the parts that you happen to be passionate about.
Yes, we need to love and heal those who need it, AND it must be done in the name of Jesus Christ. We don't love and heal these people, then say be on your way. That is just the beginning. We are ALSO called to educate, or in some cases, RE-EDUCATE, them in the words of our Lord Jesus Christ who calls us to live a certain way, who calls us to allow our hearts to be transformed, and who calls us to lift each other up and hold each other ACCOUNTABLE so we might receive salvation through the cross.
It's not a moral code. That is a poisoning this world has given to God's word because they don't like what is said and it doesn't allow them to live their life the way THEY want to.
God's word has not changed, nor has the message.
I guess we can agree to disagree, but man I tell you, in my observation (and please don't take offense) you seem to be headed down a theological path very similar to what is happening in the Episcopal Church right now. A departure from the Holy Scritpures and the teachings of Jesus because of "social justice", and it concerns me.
With that, I will leave it alone.
I may not have been clear there. I was saying the idea of watering down the scriptures to some personal code of morality is an unhealthy thing.
I also think our understandings of "social justice" must vary greatly. Don't think we're using the same vocabulary in this conversation. My point is that in loving and accepting one another, we live out the gospel.
I'm not sure what's going on in the Episcopal church, but if they're developing greater concern for the marginalized of the society, then I think they're on the right track.
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