According the ever vocal John Gibson over at “Fair and Balanced” Fox News (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,155422,00.html) “The very same team that was helping to get John Kerry elected, muttering the whole time that Bush lied to get the country into a war…” are now helping Prime Minister Tony Blair in his bid for a third term by insisting that he did not lie about the war. Interesting how Bush was a conniving liar and Blair was simply mislead. But hey, don’t let the facts get in the way of an agenda, by all means!
This really shouldn’t come as a surprise. Democrats, like most politicians (I almost said “all,” but I am still optimistic that there are a few honest ones out there) get blinded by their grab for power and influence that they readily compromise integrity. They simply assume most American won’t pay attention to what is happening on the other side of the big pond. They can say one thing here and another thing over there and be growing their power bases in both places. This is all par for the political course.
The concern I have this morning is the parallel that I see between modern politicians and many evangelical leaders. Power and influence are dangerous weapons that, when possessed, can be wielded to effect far reaching change. This is just as true for evangelicals as it is for politicians. This proven fact is demonstrated throughout recent evangelical history. For the most obvious example, look at the influence that Rev. Billy Graham has had on numerous American presidents. His son and assumed heir, Franklin Graham is already beginning to wield that political power that comes as a result of his status as an evangelical leader. Jerry Falwell, Pat Buchanan, Gary Bauer, Tony Perkins, James Dobson and more recently Al Mohler, are all examples of how evangelical influence translates to political influence. This can all be well and good, even helpful to the greater cause of evangelicalism, namely the spread the gospel of faith alone in Christ alone – the good news that Christ appeased the wrath of God and opens the narrow door of heaven for all who would believe in Him alone.
The rub comes when evangelical leaders, like their political counterparts, begin to compromise their integrity, or worse, the integrity of the gospel, to gain political clout. Democratic leaders like Bob Shrum and Stan Greenberg blatantly call Bush a liar and then rush to wrap their arms around Blair precisely because it seems apparent the Blair will glide to an easy victory and the Democrats want a bit of influence with Blair and other Europeans. So what if their integrity is a bit compromised? The political clout they will gain far outweighs any potentially negative press they will get here in the States. Evangelical leaders like Dobson are doing the same thing. They are sidling up with Roman Catholics, as well as many liberal evangelicals, that deny the very claims of the gospel in the hopes of gaining political clout to effect change. Those changes would be helpful and well received by most of us evangelicals, but not at the expense of throwing the gospel out the window.
As I have commented before, (as has Steve Camp and James White much more fluently – and boldly – as I) there is nothing helpful or loving about fixing the cultural and political climate while denying the claims of the gospel – the only means to fix the real issue of lost people’s hearts. Once the evangelicals have hijacked the political system and effected the desired changes, how will they be able to come back and preach the gospel of grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone that they have marginalized for the last decade?
No doubt about it, there is much needed political change in America, starting right here in Toledo and going all the way to the Supreme Court and even the White House. I am working to effect that change in small, grass roots ways. I hope to help in some small way to get Rob Ludeman elected Mayor of Toledo. I hope to be a part of getting Kenneth Blackwell elected Governor of Ohio. But in this process, I must never compromise the heart of the Gospel or my own integrity to effect a temporal change.
May evangelicals everywhere be able to say as Paul, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation for all who believe.” (Rom 1.16)
Grace to You!
2 comments:
Hey Dave, I think you take a look at http://www.albertmohler.com/ and listen to Al Mohler's radio's program for Thursday May 5. It tittle is Christian Morality and Public Law: Should Chrisitans Be Heard In The Public Square? I havent listened to yet but it seemed like it could help in the discussion of the responsible Christians role in politics.
-John
I am sorry, but I have to post again. The doctrine of "faith alone" is not biblical. It is the made up imagination of Martin Luther who actually mistranslated the Bible passage to make the Bible say what he wanted to say. Please research this and you will see that I am correct about what Martin Luther did. He actually had the nerve to "Add" to the Bible, even though the Bible condemns such actions. Because of his lack of understanding Luther has mislead millions about that. The Bible clearly shows that faith without works is dead, and that it is possible to actually worship Christ, and still not be a true disciple, to worship Christ in vain,simply because people don't really know who Christ is, and choose to teach for commandments the doctrines of men, like the "faith olone" thing. Once you find out that Luther changed the Bible, research what else he did. He was such an anti-semite that Hitler named him specifially in Mien-Kampf as one who gave him ideas. Hitler carried out the extermination of Jews the way Martin Luther taught should happen. Which is why instead of being a reformer, instead Luther was much more a servant of Satan. Please research and discover the truth. You seem to be really caring. A caring person should know the truth. What you do after you find out what the truth is, is your responsibility. I wish you the best. Let Christ be true, and every man a liar. Look up what I have said, and see if it isn't correct. Prove all things, hold fast that which is good.
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