Monday, June 05, 2006
Religious Speak
I’m sometimes involved on issues of human rights, as well as development. One of the things that I’m fascinated with right now is all of the writing that’s taking place on the role of religion in America. My tribe is definitely into power politics--not saying that as bad--just reality. The entire evangelical church has many issues that we should be addressing. How do we address them? What is appropriate challenge, and when do we cross the line?
Been reading a lot on this area. Jim Wallis, God’s Politics; Jon Meachum, American Gospel; Kevin Phillips, American Theocracy, and am now in the middle of Madeleine Allbright’s, The Mighty & The Almighty. These are must-reads by people engaging culture.
I hate it when people try to make Washington, Jefferson, and Adams out as evangelical evangelists. It just wasn’t so. No doubt they were awesome men--men I admire and have read many of their biographies. But, men who were way shy of evangelical. If they were, I need to come up with a new plan of salvation! I hate it when other people try to make separation of church and state a method of discrediting or sidelining any issues of faith. EVERYONE is realizing faith isn’t going away and that it has been, and will be, a key factor of international diplomacy for the next few decades.
As a result of all this, new lines are being drawn and new rules drawn up for a new world. Many, from the older evangelical ranks, love the political power and play the game as a voting block or special interest. They should be very cautious how they speak and how they are perceived--they’re messing with the political capital of a new emerging group of evangelicals and it shouldn’t be squandered or wasted needlessly.
I’m praying the emerging church will engage society thereby changing legislation versus engaging politics to fight for legislation that pits us against the very people we want most to find Jesus.
Been reading a lot on this area. Jim Wallis, God’s Politics; Jon Meachum, American Gospel; Kevin Phillips, American Theocracy, and am now in the middle of Madeleine Allbright’s, The Mighty & The Almighty. These are must-reads by people engaging culture.
I hate it when people try to make Washington, Jefferson, and Adams out as evangelical evangelists. It just wasn’t so. No doubt they were awesome men--men I admire and have read many of their biographies. But, men who were way shy of evangelical. If they were, I need to come up with a new plan of salvation! I hate it when other people try to make separation of church and state a method of discrediting or sidelining any issues of faith. EVERYONE is realizing faith isn’t going away and that it has been, and will be, a key factor of international diplomacy for the next few decades.
As a result of all this, new lines are being drawn and new rules drawn up for a new world. Many, from the older evangelical ranks, love the political power and play the game as a voting block or special interest. They should be very cautious how they speak and how they are perceived--they’re messing with the political capital of a new emerging group of evangelicals and it shouldn’t be squandered or wasted needlessly.
I’m praying the emerging church will engage society thereby changing legislation versus engaging politics to fight for legislation that pits us against the very people we want most to find Jesus.
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