Posted on 01/12/2007 11:43:16 PM PST by JohnHuang2
For the Christian left to claim connection to true Christianity is to deny its leftist tendencies, and for them to claim connection to the aims of the political left is to deny its Christianity.
They seem to share more anger for fellow Christians than they do toward evil. And this reality, while unexplainable, is nevertheless present and growing in influence.
This week I entertained one of the main spokesmen for the movement, Dr. Tony Campolo. I asked him directly why his new book, "Letters to a Young Evangelical," seemed to have such great disdain for the Christian right.
He responded, "It's the sense that they come across as judgmental, they come across as being the people who have the whole answer to everything and are not willing to give [credulity] to any other point of view, and it's that absolute closed mind set that emerges from that context."
Dr. Campolo went on to complain, as is also reflected in his book, that in the 2004 election cycle there were ballot initiatives across 11 states to ratify marriage as a relationship between a man and a woman: "In almost every case in the marriage initiatives, the ballot measures were used to deny gays all kinds of other rights." When asked for proof of this assertion, he cited two examples, neither of which held weight under even simple scrutiny – and he admitted as much to at least one of them.
Another key figure to this group is Jim Wallis, who preaches the gospel of helping the impoverished wherever he goes. His claim is that this is the single focus issue of his life's work. He and Campolo both do so interestingly enough while complaining that the Christian right is only a "two issue" group – abortion and gays.
Neither is truthfully representing their positions in doing so, however. Both are on record opposing the efforts to defend biblical marriage from being redefined. Both viewed the state ballot initiatives as insincere, merely meant to gin up an angry evangelical riot in the voting booth. Both have branched out to embrace the false issue of humanity-caused global warming. Both also supported the Christian left's newest star, Rick Warren, in the controversy his stubbornness dug himself into by insisting upon the right to have Barack Obama give advice at Warren's recent AIDS conference.
All three men shun the thought of biblically based Christians standing firm against the creeping peril of evil in our culture. "Be more tolerant," they would advise. "Reach out with love and understanding, not judgment and division."
The Christian left is rife with such belief.
Unity, forgiveness, mercy and constant appeasement are to be more highly favored than righteousness, holiness, faithfulness and obedience.
In doing so, the Christian left also claims to align itself with liberal ideas for the cause of helping the poor, the oppressed and the downtrodden. When I asked Campolo for an example, he actually cited "a woman's right ... to vote." What is this, 1920?
If Wallis, Warren and/or Campolo are reading this now, please hear this. There is a divide between liberals and conservatives over the relief of poverty, the easing of suffering and setting the enslaved free. The divide is not the substance, however, but rather the methods.
The American political left believes that only Americans should have the right to live in freedom – thus their hesitation and belligerence in advancing freedom in other corners of the globe. But is not freedom a gift from God, for his creation? The American political left is not concerned with the freedom and liberation of the unborn child, but they will speak at length about the evil of slavery that ended in the 1800s. It was not leftists that marched for full civil rights in the 1960s, and it was not Democrats who granted civil rights in the 1870s.
Wallis and company will argue for the relief of poverty but give political support to liberals in America who seek to keep the poor impoverished and dependent upon government for the well-being of their family and future. Conservatives are the ones who wish to see taxes reduced so that government revenues increase and safety net programs are insured – even as lower taxes improve the economy so fewer people need those government programs.
And who was it that brought relief in record supply to Tsunami and Katrina victims? Not the leftist academics, spoiled Hollywood starlets or the National Organization for Women.
It was the Bible-believing, faith-practicing, church-going religious right.
For biblical Christians to associate themselves in any way with the progressive leftists in America today is to associate oil with water.
So take your pick. Choose to be a faithful, biblically centered Christian, or a godless, amoral leftist – but the two do not go together.
Not if you're sincere.
Kevin McCullough is heard daily in New York City, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware on WMCA 570 at 2 p.m.
I think my tagline sums it up nicely....
Hooah!
He responded, "It's the sense that they come across as judgmental, they come across as being the people who have the whole answer to everything and are not willing to give [credulity] to any other point of view, and it's that absolute closed mind set that emerges from that context."
Gee, that sounds pretty judgmental of Christian Conservatives, and we all know how liberals are NEVER judgmental. *cough*
What the "christian" left fails to grasp is that evangelicals don't believe they have the whole answer...the Bible has the whole answer, and it's the bible that the "christian" left has rejected, hence their hatred of conservative, Bible believing Christians. The truth is there for them to see if only they'd accept God's word on it.
Dr. Tony Campolo
HA HA HA, that's about all he/they can do with any consistency
The Religious Left hates the book of Genesis, it summarily dissolves all of their arguments, even on a secular level...
Ah, yes, the culture of secularist "non-judgementalism." These are the people who trade truth for a lie-----WILLINGLY. Can you imagine the absoulute sheer arrogance of those who have "whole" answers?
Alright, might as well go for it here. If you believe in the Bible as the inerrant word of God then you must believe evil is rampant around us spiritually. This evil lies to people and what I believe has happened is since the 60's we let our guard down and now that lie has just permeated this society. Too bad more of us are not more wise to listen to the Truth rather than these selfish lies. I don't exclude myself in some cases from this, I'm just here to say I recognize it.(
The quote by the author of Letters To A Young Evangelical is just classic of liberals, independants, moderates, rinos, libertarians, and some repubs - I have a guy in my office who is one of the nicest, caring, funny dudes I have ever met, but has this exact mentality. I pray my actions and words are able to influence his thinking on this matter, and I will ask for your payers on the matter. Thanks.
The fight has come upon us, we must act accordingly by fighting back in the way God expects us too. I don't think that means laying our "swords" on the ground.
For the past 3 or 4 years have pleaded for someone to direct me and my family to an Evangelical Church. Haven't found one yet.
By allowing [p]MSNBC, FOX, CNN to pigeonhole Christians as "evangelicals," Christianity becomes a cult that "threatens" hard-working, tax-paying, child-rearing Americans!
I think, with the exception of "constant appeasement", all of these characteristics are important in the Christian realm. It is the Christian left's "constant appeasement" of non-Christian doctrines and beliefs that are damaging from the first group, as is the implicit and concomitant religious pride that can accompany the "righteousness" of the second group.
I almost thought you had provided an outstanding definition of a Muslim, but then I would be tempted to identify liberal Christians as having the mind of fundamental Muslims.
Some of the ugliest email's I have received have come from the extreme Christian left. One jerk told me that my sons were doomed to hell and it would have been better if I had been born barren. According to this idiot I have a special place in hell for raising son's who are in the Military.
Great opportunity. For those who remain in fellowship with God through faith in Christ, for every cursing, there is a blessing.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Let me know, either here or in FReep mail, what city you are in and I will try to help you find an Evangelical Church.
So, while we are busy fighting a war against fanatics who've managed to blend politics with religion, we are busy religionizing politics?
Or are we politicizing religion?
One doesn't exist. Methodists, Baptist, Catholic, Assembly of God, Churches of Christ, nondenominational, Cowboy Churches, and on and on and on.
But, no Evangelical...sorry.
Morality and all of its associated ideals are rooted entirely in the presupposition some higher power defines what is correct for human behavior.
But, since we are all properly obeying the * modern interpretation * of the First Amendment, good & evil isn't the question... Good & bad, right & wrong, etc., etc., ad nausea; are all inherently religious ideals.
The modern interpretation of the First Amendment (according to the liberal-tarians) says government must exorcise all traces of religion and theism from itself. Therefore, government must never consider issues of morality and right and wrong...
So, it becomes a question of benefits versus costs. Fetus killing has its benefits to society, especially if you like to sleep late on Saturdays. But it also has its costs as well. Society (by which I mean, whoever manages to seize power) needs to evaluate these costs and decide accordingly.
The mythical rights of men and women are also meaningless. The very concept of rights is also founded in religion. Since the enlightened person is freed from any superstitions about some "God," they are free from having to worry about "rights." Only raw power counts and humans are just meat puppets for the powerful...
I find it interesting that the religious right clamors for the right to "teach the 'controversy'" in the case of creationism, but actively discounts views of Christianity that are different than it's own. It's the same group that also has their suspicions on whether Catholics are real Christians or not if they don't agree on certain political or religious issues.
I'm always suspicious of anyone or any group that claims to define Christianity according to their own whims. If the left wants to be Christians, the world will be a better place.
"Be more tolerant," they would advise. "Reach out with love and understanding, not judgment and division."
It seems the definition of "tolerance" has changed. It used to mean putting up with people whose opinions or ways differ from one's own.
Tony (and the rest of the libs) now believe that tolerance means WHOLLY EMBRACING and PROMOTING opinions and ways different from one's own.
Every Christian I know IS reaching out with love and understanding. That we are not embracing and promoting homosexuality and abortion and socialism is the problem, and why we are called judgemental and divisive.
You rarely hear liberals speak of Jesus or His teachings...except in the negative ("Jesus never said anything about homosexual marriage" eg). They tend to be real uncomfortable around those who actually believe in the incarnation, though many will lie about that if confronted. The ELCA Lutheran Church, for one, is full of preachers who talk among themselves(and the initiated) about the "Jesus myth." The ECUSA refused to endorse the assertion that Jesus is the one way to the Lord, directly repudiating scripture.
No, Jesus makes these folks verry uncomfortable, and they resent bitterly those who rock their little boats. And that is why they hate "evangelicals."
Just so, but "tolerance" in itself is not much of a virtue. Rather, it devolves into acquiescence in the absence of virtue.
I'm fascinated by the people, like Jim Wallis and Tony Campolo, who call themselves "red-letter Christians." They claim to teach what Jesus taught, thus avoiding the writing of Paul. They say that Jesus was concerned about taking care of "the poor." I searched a concordance for what Jesus said about the "poor." Jesus said absolutely nothing about feeding the poor. He preached the gospel to the "poor." Jesus said that the "poor" would always be with us, and that we should be poor in spirit (humble). Jesus once challenged a rich young man to give his wealth to the poor (thus exposing the man's sinful greed and that he couldn't EARN his acceptance before God). That's it. Jesus NEVER told people to feed the poor. The liberal religious left is telling a bunch of lies, and people can easily prove it. Just do a search of the gospels, using a concordance, and search for "poor." People may be surprised.
Christianity doesn't need the left (though the left may benefit from Christianity), but what McCullough is doing is similar to what people do when they cite Pat Robertson or Jerry Falwell as reasons not to believe in Christianity or to hate evangelicals.
"Them against us" is a dreary constant of politics, but in religion there's something to be said for seeing past the ideological differences to what people may have in common. It doesn't mean you give in to their views, just that you can see beyond the polarization.
Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!
Beware the wolf in sheep's clothing. They are not of the flock and do not pray for but prey upon the flock.
I have been teaching the Book of Genesis for 4 years at the Air Force Academy Community Chapel...tomorrow we will start chapter 4. After 30 years in the ministry, I still can't believe it took me so long to get into this wonderful book. Every Christian should be taught this book...without exception!
I would respond that the Christian left is only a "two issue" group – perversion and Socialism
I'm happy to join you in prayer for your coworker.
A Bible verse (or part of one) springs to mind: "many shall come in my name...". It warns about false prophets IIRC.
The so-called Christian left can be numbered among Satan's minions, even if they themselves are not aware of it.
And, germaine to this thread, the "Christian Left" rejects the historicity, for the most part, of the Book of Genesis.
"...they come across as being the people who have the whole answer to everything and are not willing to give [credulity] to any other point of view, and it's that absolute closed mind set that emerges from that context."
hmmm. I would say that pretty much describes Jesus. I guess it SHOULD describe his true followers.
The most religiously intolerant man that ever lived was Jesus: "No one come to the Father but through Me." If one is not willing to believe that statement, one is simply, by definition, not a Christian.
Incorrect.
Google the First Evangelical Free Church to find one in your area.
I cannot reiterate enough that the "holy grail" for the Left is their homosexual idolatry.
The term evangelical is slowly been changed via the MSM to refer a cult with radical, hateful, extreme beliefs which goes against--again this is MSM propoganda--what America stands for.
Heads up. Take it or leave it...
It may not fit in with your shtick but it does exist.
Find a different line.
Everyone who attends an EVANGELICAL COVENANT church (www.covchurch.org) should take note of this. These are like having Teddy Kennedy speak to your youth group or church. (well, MAYBE not quite that bad ... yet) Tony Campolo, Bart Campolo, Jim Wallis, Brian Mclaren, Doug Pagitt, Sojourners, Rick Warren etc are all VERY ingrained in the Evangelical Covenant denomination and being promoted everywhere. It's being liberalized very quickly and still very subtly. If more people would do more research, these denominations embracing this spiritual harlotry would be exposed to the naive conservative members who keep on forking over the money like good little Christians.
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