"Christians become 'useful idiots' for one political party or another"

[KSinTX]

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/05/02/evangelicals.ap/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

(AP) -- 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 declaration encourages Christians to uphold traditional marriage, as in this Massachusetts protest.

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 Friday 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," the statement says, "while we have condoned our own sins." It argues, "we must reform our own behavior."

[vickitulsa]

1. Well ........ THIS could be interesting!

Certainly there is plenty of reason for these folks to re-examine their behavior and try to gain some perspective on how they've handled the "culture wars" they're talking about, especially in recent times.

But I have a feeling the final draft of this document may well end up promoting behavior that is just as bad as what has gone before -- just taking another tack.

"All too often we have attacked the evils and injustices of others," the statement says, "while we have condoned our own sins." It argues, "we must reform our own behavior."

They've sure got THAT right, at least!

Now let's see if such a statement even makes it to the final version of their document. I just have a feeling some of their higher-up editors will take a big red pen to a comment like that and water it down so much it loses all its punch -- and accuracy.

Well, at least someone in that arena sees what is going on and is TRYING to wake up the rest. Doubt it will work, though. Too many are already caught up in rigid behavior that is typical of a great many religious folks, and they've been immersed in politics, fooling themselves, and doing bad things for quite a while now. They've had a big taste of their power, too.

I can't see them suddenly switching off all that negativity and their critical attitudes and reforming themselves.

It's a nice thought, though.


"Useful idiots," indeed! I like that! :D

[KSinTX]

2. You make an important point about the breadth of this reform

The bigs such as Land and Dobson aren't signed on and some have speculated that this will mean it will be limited in scope as a result. But it does signal a desire to break from the grandstanding, and not just on the right. There is uniform criticism leveled here at religous leaders on the left as well.

I can only hope that this is at least a first of hopefully many more steps to get out of the business of business and politics and getting back to the spiritual ministry.

I don't mind my President having the Chaplain pray for the nation, I just don't think it's either his place to do so or have others make it a litmus test. I find that all rather frightening!

[Maccagirl]

3. The RW declared the "culture war" while the Left/Progressives

just blinked in astonishment. "Useful idiots for one political party or another..."? When did the evangelicals ever support anyone with a "D" after their name?

After reading the whole thing it sounds like CYA to me-and I don't care or want a mea culpa from Dobson et al for all the harm they have done. The best thing they could do is go away.