This blog focuses on the near obsessive interest conservative Christians have had in politics over the past generation, the failures of politics to achieve the objectives of shaping the society, and is a call to Christians to reconsider and rediscover the resources of Christ, by His Spirit, to change hearts, lives, and society.
Hi,
I enjoyed reading some of the articles on your blog and certainly agree with you about the problem of Christianity being linked to politics. It is interesting that as an evangelical Christian in the 70′s I was not drawn to politics at all. Without even trying, I became much more conservative in the 90′s and at this point, I am moving back to where I was in the 70′s “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, etc.” My favorite author and preachers these days is Greg Boyd, the author of The Myth of a Christian Nation. As much as I love people like Chuck Colson, I think they may over focus on the political (although he certainly has a wonderful heart and ministry to God also). Thanks for the articles.
Bill Blakey
Bill,
Thanks for the comments. I’m experiencing something of a “swing” back to some earlier convictions and opinions myself. I’ve always been a Republican, and long before I became a Christian, I considered myself a conservative, politically. But I have always been concerned about the major emphasis placed on politics by my conservative evangelical brethren. And now my concerns have become heightened, what with this being another presidential election year, so I’m attempting to give some voice to that concern via this site.
Thanks for the mention of Greg Boyd. I have his book, MYTH OF A CHRISTIAN NATION, and it’s in my pile of “To Read.” I hope to get to it soon. I’m currently reading WE THE PURPLE, by Marsha Ford, who makes a strong case for the rising influence of political independents, particularly among evangelicals. She mentions Boyd in her book, and shares about how he lost 1,000 church members when he took the position that the church should not be heavily involved in partisan politics. I emailed Ms. Ford recently, and told her I appreciated her book, but that while she characterized herself as “non-partisan,” I find that I’m leaning in the direction of “non-political.” I think “rendering unto God” means that we lend ourselves to the work of His Kingdom without having to take over the institutions and methods of the world.
One of my next posts, BTW, will be an excerpt from Colson’s book, GOD AND GOVERNMENT, which is a reissue of his much earlier book, KINGDOMS IN CONFLICT.
Thanks again for your comments.
Greg
Hi Greg,
I have not read the book you cited. I will have to look at it. I did see a very interesting debate between Boyd and Colson and a third person (author of Jesus for President) on Boyd’s blog. Very interesting. As much as I love Colson, Boyd (who is much more apolotical) typically cited Jesus for his beliefs…Colson was citing Augustine (just war ideas) and other church leaders. Jesus, of course, trumped Augustine
A pastor friend of mine recently noted that we are supposed to be Ambassadors wherever we are…not lobbyists. I lean toward this also. Discussion between Boyd and Jim Wallace last year at a university in Minnesota….Boyd noted that Wallace wanted to make people better citizens but that the Gospel was more concerned with making us better Christians and that our help will come only through Christ, not through politics. I think his arguments tend to be much more compelling. I am looking forward to reading your article by Guinness.
P.S. I also read the book by Tim Keller “Reason for God” a presbyterian pastor in New York. Book reached #7 on NY times best seller list. Mainly apologetics but he talks in an article in Christianity Today (on their site today) about the problems which came from the linking of Christianity and politics and how that has cause the church big problems recently.
Thanks,
Bill