Who Speaks for America's Evangelicals?
Carlos printable version print page     Bookmark and Share
Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 12:48:15 PM EST
Some are resisting the idea that evangelicals are evolving and expanding their political interests. Frank Pastore, a popular radio host in the Los Angeles region, writes:
Liberals are predictably doing everything they can to win in 2008. Everyone knows a key part of their strategy is to "get religion" and trick as many Christians as possible to care less about the Bible, abortion and gay marriage and more about liberal policy positions: secularism, socialism, bigger government and higher taxes.

This includes spinning conservative Christians with the yarn that their brand of Christianity is now obsolete and that "everyone important" is buying the "new and improved" progressive, emergent, sensitive, conscientious brand of Christianity that these new liberal Christians are selling. And, in order to become "cool, popular and relevant" once again, old Christian dogs will have to learn new liberal tricks.

Nonsense. [   ]

After he quotes from an author who believes that Rick Warren, Bill Hybels, Joel Hunter, T.D. Jakes, and Frank Page are the new leaders of a renewed evangelical movement, Pastore responds:

And, as far as answering the question, "Who speaks for America's evangelicals?" I asked listeners to my daily radio show on KKLA to name the Christian leaders they most respect.

It was no surprise to me the most common names were the national ministries we carry on our station. Why? Because these guys know how to teach the Bible.

For Christians, what's most important isn't the politics, it's the Text.

The leaders that were named? Chuck Swindoll, John MacArthur, Charles Stanley and Alistair Begg.

And the number one answer, far and away, to the question, "Who is the most respected Christian leader today?"

James Dobson.

So, when you ask "Who Speaks for America's Evangelicals?" you've got to insert the word "conservative." James Dobson is still the person who speaks for the majority of America's "conservative" evangelicals.




Display:
about "Why Al Qaeda Supports the Emergent Church" you can read more wisdom from Frank Pastore at
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/FrankPastore/2007/07/22/why_al _qaeda_supports_the_emergent_church?page=full&comments=true


by Carlos on Wed Sep 05, 2007 at 12:53:09 PM EST

Articles like these are frustrating.  It's confusing when journalists/bloggers/authors fail to distinguish between theologically liberal and theologically conservative evangelicals and politically liberal and politically conservative evangelicals.  

To what extent will the voting behavior of your average conservative white evangelical (read: not fundamentalist) change in '08?

You know, the Christianity Today crowd....

I'm hopeful especially if Republicans nominate pro-choice Rudy.  Richard Land is right about one thing.  Take abortion off the table and the younger generation of conservative evangelicals might flock to the Democratic Party.  

Nevertheless, there is a growing number of moderate evangelicals (Emergent, Post-Denominational types) who are trying to reclaim the evangelical mantle from dogmatic Christian Right types like Mohler and Land.   And hopefully in due time,  I and other Baptists will feel comfortable calling ourselves evangelicals once again....

by Big Daddy Weave on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 03:52:39 AM EST

I agree. The voting patterns may change more dramatically if the final choice is between Giuliani and Obama. I doubt white evangelicals will once again support a republican candidate at 80% levels.

by Carlos on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 12:26:23 PM EST
Parent


Interesting article you're linking to. I found the comments under Pastore's article very depressing and exhausting. References to Barak Obama as a Hitler-like murderer, and venomous hatred of homosexuals who are always implied to be agents of evil political change, never fellow human beings or Americans most of whom have no real agenda other than to be accepted--which is to say effectively left alone.

by IseFire on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 11:03:35 AM EST
comments. Thanks for reporting back on what you read. Depressing and disturbing indeed.

by Carlos on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 12:28:52 PM EST
Parent


Years ago a story was told of a simple black preacher emerging from slavery, who stood up and proclaimed as he waved his Bible, "This good book sure does shed a lot of light on these commentaries." Unfortunately, the evangelical community has become so media savy, that articulate and charsmatic voices have cast a very dark shadow over the light of scripture. Sadly passionate love for God's Word, and commitment to follow Christianity may have little connection with either a knowledge of Basic Biblical teachings and themes, or even a limited understanding of the life, ministry, teachings, and friendships of Jesus. Evangelicalism has become enamored with "Christianity", "Christian lifestyle" and "Christian leaders" all while ignoring Jesus and His Father who is revealed in the work and passion of Jesus ministry. Wouldn't it be interesting if God's word as revealed through his spirit were to speak to and for evangelicals. Pray that just such a church would emerge.

by chaplain on Thu Sep 06, 2007 at 10:04:06 PM EST


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