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 Evangelicals
Say Faith Is Now Too Political
by The Associated Press
Posted: May 5, 2008 - 8:00 am ET
(Washington) Conservative Christian leaders who believe the word
"evangelical" has lost its religious meaning plan to release a starkly
self-critical document saying the movement has become too political and has
diminished the Gospel through its approach to the culture wars.
The statement, called "An Evangelical
Manifesto," condemns Christians on the right and left for "using
faith" to express political views without regard to the truth of the Bible,
according to a draft of the document obtained by The Associated Press.
"That way faith loses its independence, Christians
become `useful idiots' for one political party or another, and the Christian
faith becomes an ideology," according to the draft.
The declaration, scheduled to be released Wednesday in
Washington, encourages Christians to be politically engaged and uphold teachings
such as traditional marriage. But the drafters say evangelicals have often
expressed "truth without love," helping create a backlash against
religion during a "generation of culture warring."
"All too often we have attacked the evils and
injustices of others," they wrote, "while we have condoned our own
sins." They argue, "we must reform our own behavior."
The document is the latest chapter in the debate among
conservative Christians about their role in public life. Most veteran leaders
believe the focus should remain on abortion and marriage, while other
evangelicals - especially in the younger generation - are pushing for a broader
agenda. The manifesto sides with those seeking a wide-range of concerns beyond
"single-issue politics."
Among the signers of the manifesto are Os Guiness, a
well-known evangelical author and speaker, and Richard Mouw, president of Fuller
Theological Seminary, a leading evangelical school in Pasadena, Calif.
Organizers declined to comment until the final document is released.
They say more than 80 evangelicals have signed the
statement, although only a few names have been released. A. Larry Ross,
spokesman for the authors, said the theologians and Christian leaders involved
are seeking to "go back to the root theological meaning of the term
evangelical."
Some champions of traditional culture war issues are not
among the supporters.
Richard Land, head of the public policy arm for the
Southern Baptist Convention, said through a spokeswoman that he has not seen the
document and was not asked to sign it.
James Dobson, the influential founder of Focus on the
Family, a Christian group in Colorado Springs, Colo., did not sign the document,
said Gary Schneeberger, a Dobson spokesman. Schneeberger would not say whether
Dobson had read the manifesto or had been asked to sign on.
Phil Burress, an Ohio activist who networks with national
evangelical leaders, said that if high-profile evangelical leaders such as
Dobson and Land don't support the document, "it's like throwing a pebble in
the ocean" and will carry no weight.
But the drafters hope they can start a movement among
evangelicals to reflect and act on the document. "We must find a new
understanding of our place in public life," the drafters wrote.
©365Gay.com 2008
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