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Evangelical Leader Preaches Pullback From Politics, Culture Wars
The Wall Street Journal ^ | 10/21/13 | Neil King Jr

Posted on 10/22/2013 7:36:58 PM PDT by marshmallow

Russell Moore of the Southern Baptist Convention says it is time for evangelicals to tone down the rhetoric.

For years, as the principal public voice for the Southern Baptist Convention, the country's biggest evangelical group, Richard Land warned of a "radical homosexual agenda" and pushed for a federal ban on same-sex marriage.

His successor, Russell Moore, sounded a different note when the Supreme Court in June struck down the federal Defense of Marriage Act. "Love your gay and lesbian neighbors," Mr. Moore wrote in a flier, "How Should Your Church Respond," sent to the convention's estimated 45,000 churches. "They aren't part of an evil conspiracy." Marriage, he added, was a bond between a man and a woman, but shouldn't be seen as a "'culture war' political issue."

Since the birth of the Christian-conservative political movement in the late 1970s, no evangelical group has delivered more punch in America's culture wars than the Southern Baptist Convention and its nearly 16 million members. The country's largest Protestant denomination pushed to end abortion, open up prayer in public schools and boycott Walt Disney Co. over films deemed antifamily. Its ranks included many of the biggest names on the Christian right, including Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell.

Today, after more than three decades of activism, many in the religious right are stepping back from the front lines. Mr. Moore, a 42-year-old political independent and theologian who heads the convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, says it is time to tone down the rhetoric and pull back from the political fray, given what he calls a "visceral recoil" among younger evangelicals to the culture wars.

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Evangelical Christian; Religion & Culture; Religion & Politics
KEYWORDS: baptists; christians; culturewars; sbc
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1 posted on 10/22/2013 7:36:58 PM PDT by marshmallow
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To: marshmallow

So the church has surrendered the country officially to the Godless hedonist Left.

So be it.

None of them apparently willing to stand in the gap.

That leaves just the few who will become fodder for the MarxoFascist ‘purges’ about to begin, and CINOs will assist the new stormtroopers in the hopes they will be left alone.


2 posted on 10/22/2013 7:41:14 PM PDT by INVAR ("Fart for liberty, fart for freedom and fart proudly!" - Benjamin Franklin)
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To: marshmallow

“They aren’t part of an evil conspiracy.”

You’re completely naive, sir. I’ll refer you to the New Jersey lawmaker.

“We will take your children”


3 posted on 10/22/2013 7:41:21 PM PDT by Viennacon
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To: marshmallow
given what he calls a "visceral recoil" among younger evangelicals to the culture wars.

Oh, by all means, if the young folks don't like the message, then change the articles of faith to something more palatable. [/s]

4 posted on 10/22/2013 7:41:28 PM PDT by ClearCase_guy (21st century. I'm not a fan.)
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To: ClearCase_guy

When it comes to the younger generation, they do need to change their style an dhow they articulate their message.

Here is a video that may help explain just exactly what i mean: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKT7OP9lXR4&list=PL4DC49AC0DFE84EA2

Right now, conservative Christians are getting their ass kicked in fighting the culture wars and articulating their views so they can win them. Given the premise that surrender is not an option, he have to figure out exactly why.


5 posted on 10/22/2013 7:52:22 PM PDT by freedom462
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To: ClearCase_guy

Not a bad article...if you know the backstory;
If you dont know the backstory...its atrocious.

I suppose this Russell Moore(theologian) has more to say beyond the article and it leaves alot of standard theological/philosophical trendlines and where we are in relation to a crumbling moral civilization(think Roman Empire) left unsaid. At this point, it is becoming known that politics cannot reverse the moral collapse trend of this society, and with Christianity ever fading more,our leaders mostly bereft of moral fortitude, we are headed in one direction only...down. Politics cannot save us, improving the morality of the populace can, but that is clearly not happening. Christianity is continuining in its downslide through Western Civilization.

As most theologians note, but not most people are aware of , the culture is no longer carrying water for Christian values and beliefs. It has reached a tipping point where even our political leaders don’t have sufficient moral heft and regard. This is a snowball that has been rolling downhill for 50 years at us. We have to re-evangelize the culture, politics will not save us. However, keep voting for good Republican candidates, but it is not the solution anymore. All is decaying, and in decay, like the Roman Empire. This has been the talk of philosophers/theologians for a few decades or more now, and more of the regular folks have been recently catching on.


6 posted on 10/22/2013 7:52:34 PM PDT by RBStealth (--raised by wolves, disciplined and educated by nuns.)
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To: marshmallow

Well, I’d been curious as to why the “religious right” had been so quiet lately, as America has been so visibly decaying into the degenerate, putrid sewer it has now become. The answer, according to this, seems to be they don’t wish to alienate the younger folks, whose culture is so deeply devoted to homosex, dope, socialism, porn, and the whole degraded cesspool of modern American culture.


7 posted on 10/22/2013 7:57:03 PM PDT by greene66
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To: marshmallow
Some churches don't shrink back from confronting this godless tyranny: FWBC
8 posted on 10/22/2013 8:05:05 PM PDT by nonsporting
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To: RBStealth
As most theologians note, but not most people are aware of , the culture is no longer carrying water for Christian values and beliefs. It has reached a tipping point where even our political leaders don’t have sufficient moral heft and regard. This is a snowball that has been rolling downhill for 50 years at us. We have to re-evangelize the culture, politics will not save us. However, keep voting for good Republican candidates, but it is not the solution anymore. All is decaying, and in decay, like the Roman Empire. This has been the talk of philosophers/theologians for a few decades or more now, and more of the regular folks have been recently catching on.

Sorry, but you, and this so-called leader are wrong.

It never was the solution and this isn't about strategy.

It is about not compartmentalizing your life and leaving the political arena to the Godless Left.

If we are to be Christians, we are to be Christians with the same vigor in all aspects of our life, you do not, as a Christian, walk away from the fight, whether in the Spiritual or Secular aspects of your life.
9 posted on 10/22/2013 8:06:11 PM PDT by SoConPubbie (Mitt and Obama: They're the same poison, just a different potency)
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To: SoConPubbie

It seems that the church stayed out of politics until the 80s. During that time when more people were regular church members, we got the Great Society and legalized abortion and no fault divorce. The church should have engaged much sooner in a real way. Hands off approach didn’t do much to keep the Hippy generation faithful. This approach isn’t new but it may be more comfortable for this generation of leaders who don’t like conflict. But I did hear Irwin Lutzer speaking kind of the same idea.

We have to be good stewards in every area. Our form of government is a blessing that we cannot take for granted, as long as we have it.


10 posted on 10/22/2013 8:24:22 PM PDT by outinyellowdogcountry
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To: marshmallow
Pullback?

Maybe he thinks that if we run away even faster the forces of Satan will get exhausted trying to keep up.
I don't remember any big offensives against the moral rot or even major holding actions like the millions of Frenchmen who went into the streets to protest queers "marrying" one another.

In fact, other than the decades long mostly Catholic protesting against abortion I don't see how Christians could pullback any further than the current attitude of "go along to get along" takes them.

11 posted on 10/22/2013 8:27:28 PM PDT by Rashputin (Jesus Christ doesn't evacuate His troops, He leads them to victory)
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To: marshmallow

Only young people actively sinning would recoil at the church involvement in the culture wars.

I sense this guy is a Christian in Name Only.


12 posted on 10/22/2013 8:37:38 PM PDT by RginTN
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To: SoConPubbie

Post something here, someone will always misinterpret, correct wrongly, or comment on the half they read.

thanks for being predictable and the personal lecture...and I suppose you missed something...like,Paragraph 2:

>However, keep voting for good Republican candidates, but it >is not the solution anymore.

There are not enough people of moral character in America to vote in enough moral leaders. You may not recognize this now, and I dont blame you, but it is what others who have been predicting all this for decades have been writing, theologians/philosophers on the thinking of this age...and I do read considerably many things not on the internet.

Good luck in your scolding career.


13 posted on 10/22/2013 8:48:56 PM PDT by RBStealth (--raised by wolves, disciplined and educated by nuns.)
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To: RBStealth
There are not enough people of moral character in America to vote in enough moral leaders. You may not recognize this now, and I dont blame you, but it is what others who have been predicting all this for decades have been writing, theologians/philosophers on the thinking of this age...and I do read considerably many things not on the internet.

Good luck in your scolding career.


Doesn't change the correctness of what I posted one iota.

Good luck in your half-heartedness and capitulation career.
14 posted on 10/22/2013 8:50:58 PM PDT by SoConPubbie (Mitt and Obama: They're the same poison, just a different potency)
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To: SoConPubbie

politics is not everything my friend.
God is.

I always vote Republican, and you are not smart enough
to know when your preaching to the choir, this forum, its people.


15 posted on 10/22/2013 8:53:47 PM PDT by RBStealth (--raised by wolves, disciplined and educated by nuns.)
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To: RBStealth
you are not smart enough

Discuss the issues all you want, but do not make it personal.
16 posted on 10/22/2013 8:57:17 PM PDT by Religion Moderator
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To: marshmallow

Sad to hear the SBC is pulling back from the fight. A lot of SBC congregations are not (including the one I’m in). The ‘leadership’ of the SBC has always been more liberal than the congregations.


17 posted on 10/22/2013 8:58:42 PM PDT by Mr Rogers (Liberals are like locusts...)
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To: RBStealth
politics is not everything my friend.

God is.


Yes, you are correct, but as I posted, If you are going to be Christian, you have to be a Christian with equal vigor in all areas of your life. God makes no distinction between what we term Spiritual and Secular. It is all the same.

We either give 100% in all areas, or we might as well give nothing, for it will all be for nought.

This isn't about the Republican Party, this is about fighting the good fight and not capitulating on moral issues.

You seem to believe that this so-called leader has it correct in some fashion.

He does not, and is not leading from a Christian perspective.

He appears to be leading from what he believes is a strategic policy position for what I can only assume he thinks will be best to put the most seats in the pews.

Whatever the reason, retreat, on the social issues, is not a Christ-centric policy no matter what the excuse.
18 posted on 10/22/2013 8:59:10 PM PDT by SoConPubbie (Mitt and Obama: They're the same poison, just a different potency)
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To: SoConPubbie

Thanks for the pep talk. You remind me of my college football coach. Everything was the game.


19 posted on 10/22/2013 9:01:22 PM PDT by RBStealth (--raised by wolves, disciplined and educated by nuns.)
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To: RBStealth
Thanks for the pep talk. You remind me of my college football coach. Everything was the game.

Well, I hope when you have time to think about it, you'll see the truth in what I posted to you.
20 posted on 10/22/2013 9:05:25 PM PDT by SoConPubbie (Mitt and Obama: They're the same poison, just a different potency)
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