Ron Sider, professor emeritus at Palmer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania and founder of Evangelicals for Social Action, speaks at the Evangelicals for Life conference in Washington, D.C.
A group from the Evangelicals for Social Action in 2016.
Posted on 09/17/2020 8:07:38 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Lamenting that the term “evangelical” is now too “largely political” and hasn't been helpful in conveying the character of their organization, Evangelicals for Social Action, a Christian scholar-activist group started in 1973, announced Monday that they have changed their name to Christians for Social Action.
“Today the word ‘evangelical’ in the popular mind has largely political connotations. For significant numbers of people, it signifies a right-wing political movement irrevocably committed to Donald Trump. Many young people raised in evangelical churches are turning away in disgust–abandoning evangelical churches and even sometimes the Christian faith itself. And the larger society thinks of evangelicals not as people committed to Jesus Christ and the biblical gospel but as pro-Trump political activists,” Ron Sider, the organization’s founder and president emeritus, said in a statement.
“After careful thought and prayer, we have decided to change our name–a little! Our new name is Christians for Social Action (CSA). We believe it will help us win a listening ear with more people. And it certainly will avoid people refusing to even take a minute to see who we are because they see a word that for many people immediately signals political folks,” he noted.
Sider contends that while the word evangelical is a rich theological term that refers to historic Christian orthodoxy and a commitment to Jesus’ Gospel, the political activism of popular evangelical figures such as Jerry Falwell Sr., who formed the Moral Majority in the 1970s, and Pat Robertson, who mobilized charismatics and Pentecostals in his 1987-1988 presidential run, distorted that narrative.
He explained that while ESA believed biblical faith called Christians to a “completely pro-life” agenda, Falwell, Robertson others in their camp preferred to focus on a much narrower range of issues, particularly abortion and marriage.
“They identified more and more with the politically conservative part of the Republican Party. Increasingly, the media equated evangelicals with the “Religious Right.” And in 2016, 81% of white evangelicals voted for Donald Trump. And they have continued to support this twice divorced sexist, who had boasted of sexual affairs, stoked racism, promoted policies that largely benefit the richest 20%, ignored the overwhelming scientific consensus on global warming, and lied constantly, undermining democracy by dismissing anything he disliked as ‘fake news,’” Sider said.
A new book titled, The Spiritual Danger of Donald Trump: 30 Evangelical Christians on Justice, Truth, and Moral Integrity, edited by Sider and published earlier this summer, raises similar concerns. It calls on white evangelicals to rethink their support for the president and warns that Trump is damaging the witness of evangelical Christianity in American culture.
“Our plea is to white evangelicals to please take another look and ask, ‘Does this person measure up to biblical norms?’” Sider told The Christian Post in an earlier interview. “We are not telling you what to include. But please prayerfully think about that. Even if you think the book will make you mad, given the title, I challenge you to read it and decide for yourself if there are any valid points that we are making there.”
I'm not sure if Franklin Graham still uses the word "crusade" in his mass gospel meetings.
The "Billy Graham Crusades" were a staple for over half a century.
Having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
“Our plea is to white evangelicals to please take another look and ask, ‘Does this person measure up to biblical norms?’” Sider told The Christian Post in an earlier interview.
If he’s making political statements, about political candidates measuring up to biblical norms, what is he saying? That people should have voted for the amoral Hillary Clinton instead of Trump? That they vote for the liberal Joe Biden because Joe and Kamala somehow measure up to biblical norms?????
News from the future! 2035!
Christians for social action dropped the name Christians from their title today because Christianity is an offensive hate group and will now be known as activists for social action in accordance with United States of Socialist America and President Biden’s laws (PBUH).
“It’s unfortunate that people were misled by religion for so long - and it’s good that we can now fight for social justice without all that baggage.”
Yes, I remember when Campus Crusade for Christ changed their name. The official explanation was that they do a lot of work outside of college campuses nowadays, so their name didn’t really indicate what they were involved in.
But as I recall, there was no real explanation as to why they dropped the word “crusade” from their name.
I know of only one person in history who “lived up to biblical norms.” That’s why we need a savior.
A commie is a commie is a commie. Jesus rebukes these lies.
"Judge not lest ye be judged", Ronnie.
I maintain that you cannot be a Leftist and a Christian. Those two things are mutually exclusive and cannot coexist in the same person.
You are either one or the other. And I say this as a man in search of God.
I may not know God as well as I should. But I know Leftists better than I want.
And these people, and the author, are Leftists.
A senile old coot submits to The Narrative.
RE: A senile old coot submits to The Narrative.
His politics have been like this ever since he was young.
Pretty much stopped reading right there.
Are they ashamed of the Gospel of Christ?
“Our new name is Christians for Social Action”
Meh, still misleading, try again.
Yep, and anyone else pretending that they live up to those standards is a liar trying to deceive you. Even the apostles always made it clear that they were sinners like everyone else.
RE: Our new name is Christians for Social Action
Yeah? How soon before you drop the “Christian” name as well?
Maybe I’ll start a competing organization, called “Christians for Satan”, and poach all their members.
Tried to post something on their website and got this:
Correct me if I am wrong, are you saying that because President Trump is an imperfect man, admittedly so, you will vote for an abortion supporting, marriage denying, riot supporting, possibly pederast, plagiarist? Because you don’t like how Trump talks or tweets? And you expect God to support your actions because Trump isn’t as Christlike as you want or demand?
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