Q and A with Jim Wallis ('christian' marxist alert)

Boston Globe ^ | 2-17-08 | Michael Paulson

[Terriergal]

An increasingly influential religious leader explains why evangelicals should worry less about abortion and gay marriage, and more about the poor.

...

Among the most prominent champions of a new evangelical agenda is Jim Wallis, the chief executive of Sojourners, a Washington-based organization that advocates for a Christian approach to social justice issues.

Wallis began his activism in the civil rights and anti-war movements, and has long been a critic of the religious right, writing books, giving speeches, and publishing the Sojourners magazine to exhort Christians to pay more attention to the poor. But his profile increased dramatically with the publication of his 2005 book, "God's Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It," which landed him on the New York Times bestseller list for four months and vaulted him into prominence as a media commentator about religion and public life. His latest book, "The Great Awakening: Reviving Faith & Politics in a Post--Religious Right America," debuted at No. 10 on a Times bestseller list last weekend, and he is now planning a series of revivals, beginning in April in Ohio, in an effort to persuade more evangelicals to get involved in social justice activities.

[Terriergal]

IDEAS: There has been so much criticism of the religious right for politicizing faith. Is there a danger that you wind up launching a religious left that has the same problem?

WALLIS: That would be a big mistake. The country isn't hungry for a religious left to counter a religious right. They're not. What they're hungry for, I call it a moral center, meaning not a soulless center, or a mushy middle, but don't go left, don't go right, go deep. And forge an agenda that would bring people together across the boundaries.

So that's a yes. In fact the danger has already been realized.

Can you believe that answer? What WAS that?

[Terriergal]

What ties it all together is the defense of the vulnerable. Let's not pit unborn children against poor children -- they're both in the category of the vulnerable, and Jesus calls us to defend the vulnerable. I think we've got to embrace a full range of concerns. For example, I'm going to press really hard the Democratic nominee, whoever that is, to make abortion reduction a Democratic Party plank in this election year. The extremes on both sides don't like that, but most Americans are in that middle place: they don't like abortion -- the abortion rate's too high; but they don't want to criminalize a difficult and often desperate choice.

Oh but here he is pitting poor children against the aborted/unborn children and saying they take priority -- also that the mother's emotions take priority over the unborn's safety!

You are a sick man, Wallis. You have perverted the gospel and until you repent and follow the truth you are anathema to the REAL Jesus Christ, the only one who can save you.

[wideawake]

Whenever the so-called "Christian left" is mentioned in the MSM, it always described as a "growing movement" or "on the increase" or in some other fashion as to suggest that it is a transformative phenomenon on the cusp of massive success.

In reality it is the same old leftists (Barry Lynn, Jim Wallis, Jimmy Carter) and the same old hippie magazines and organizations (Sojourners, Plowshares, etc.) being profiled for the umpteenth time.

[GOPPachyderm]

That’s reassuring. I hope you’re right!

[tear gas]

Quit reading stuff like that. It’s crazy and it’s not good for you.

[oblomov]

leftist business leaders = post-capitalist
leftist reading instruction = post-literate
Christian left = post-Christian

[Salvation]

**’christian’ marxist alert)**

LOL! A real oxymoron there!

[Terriergal]

Yup!

Then again, the endtimes are said to be indicated by the coming of a great delusion... so if you beieve in prophecy, then it would stand to reason that something like this COULD gain traction.

In fact Rick Warren is in league with these jokers too with his social justice/global peace plan agenda. He will discount ‘christian marxism’ out of one side of his mouth and then spout christian marxism out of the other side. Standard operating procedure for liberals!

[Terriergal]

Know thine enemy.

[Terriergal]

They actually fairly happily admit all those titles and equivalences. THey actually use Scripture (twisted) to support them and since society in general has an abysmal lack of critical thinking skills and general hermeneutics (how else can you explain the foothold liberals are gaining in every area of society?) they dont’ see how Scripture DOES NOT support these peoples’ agenda.

[Terriergal]

heh heh! hence the quotes around ‘christian.’ :-)