God Against Obama: Dobson, Osteen, Corsi, the Evangelicals Strike Again
Evangelicals have a problem: they want to involve themselves in politics -- for instance by praying that the Obama speech at the Democratic convention is rained out, as James Dobson of Focus On the Family called for. Some evangelicals are embarrassed by such antics. What can they do? Nothing because their theology acknowledges no central authority. Evangelicals don't "do" structure. They don't do government, or bishops or tradition. They just do "me" and "I" never we. So their individualistic and narcissistic village idiots-Dobson, Robertson, Osteen etc.-are in charge by default.
The whole point of Evangelical Christianity is a consumerist-oriented do your own thing approach to Jesus. This is a departure from historical Christianity centered on a liturgical tradition that had to do with faith lived in community and beliefs defined by tradition, not the individual pastor standing in front of the congregation holding forth according to whim. But evangelical "worship" is nothing but grandstanding. It's all about the sermon and the pastor's personality. I know. I was once one such "personality," Evangelical big-time flash-in-the-pan leader egomaniac, until I got out in the mid 80s.
Evangelicals reject all traditions and structures, other than their very own personalized interpretation of the Bible, so there is no there, there to appeal to. Evangelicals can't police themselves or call one of their own a nut for the same reason that the village idiot smearing himself with excrement can't point the finger at another idiot wearing his pants on his head and call him crazy. Each has a "personal relationship with Jesus." So maybe Jesus told that guy to put his pants on his head!
Evangelicals get direct messages from God. So who needs tradition, let alone government? That is why Evangelicals are opposed to all structure. They hate government, and they hate the idea of bishops telling them what it means to be a Christian. They hate the idea of health care for all that might involve someone (other than voices in their heads) telling them what to do. And they want the "right" to own guns, raise kids on myths and own that SUV and believe that more drilling for oil will bring down the price of gas. They also want God to speak directly to them, never mind a community of faith. And God seems to tell them weird stuff. So today's crazy person is tomorrow's best selling Rick Warren or Victoria and Joel Osteen. And how can they be crazy? Look how big their churches are! They measure up to the only real Evangelical creed-the ability to make money and be successful in commercial terms.
Evangelicalism is a series of personality cults masquerading as religion. (As I demonstrate in detail in my book CRAZY FOR GOD-How I Grew Up As One Of The Elect, Helped Found The Religious Right, And Lived To Take All -- Or Almost All--Of It Back.) That's because Evangelicals say they believe in "sola scriptura" in other words the Bible only. That works out fine until they start arguing about biblical interpretation. Each pastor and individual becomes their own pope. That turns pastors into nothing but glorified entertainers, wherein the hottest ones pull the biggest congregations. Success-measured in attendance and dollars-becomes the metaphor for spiritual wisdom. Dobson rakes in millions, so God must be on his side! Joel and Victoria Osteen have 40,000 members of their Houston "church" so they must be sane, even if co-pastor Victoria allegedly assaulted a flight attendant over a spilled drink and paid the fine to make the incident "go away."
The Historic Church by contrast never held the Bible up as a magic book that could solve all your problems but rather regarded the Bible as just one element of a liturgical tradition based on community, worship and participation. It never was about the hyped-up spoken word in the mouths of hyped-up "personalities," it was about community. It never was about grandstanding entertainment, but about a liturgy that was the same wherever you went within Christendom; up until the church split in 1054, into Western and Eastern churches and then the later fracturing of the Reformation followed by the era of Protestant chaos and lastly American-style Evangelical every-man-for-himself insanity.
So ... when some fruitcake like a James Dobson comes along and his organization calls for rainmaking to spoil the Obama speech, or the egomaniacal cult leader Victoria Osteen co-pastor of the biggest mega sect in Houston, allegedly assaults an airline flight attendant, there's not much other Evangelicals can do who are embarrassed by their pet-buffoon-of-the-moment, other than to wring their hands. That's because Evangelicalism is really just another version of American individualism and the entertainment industry wherein "freedom" is interpreted as the right to be a consumer and choose one's favorite products from ski mobiles, jet skis, a trip to the Bahamas, a new-car or joining a the local mega church of the moment. Victoria Osteen today, Rick Warren yesterday, whatever wanders in tomorrow, with a book deal and nice way of talking.
Evangelicals can't criticize other Evangelicals' idiocy. After all with a few exceptions, they are all waiting for Spaceship Jesus to take them away, have declared evolution a lie, are anti-culture, art and life, and don't believe in global warming, are still saying that Iraq was behind 9/11, and want to attack Iran with what is left of our overstretched military that their born-again, Evangelical Low IQ frat-boy in the White House systematically has put at risk.
Since the Evangelical right wing movement cannot speak with a prophetic (let alone single) voice, because it has become the consumer/entertainment culture, it's left with turning itself into a public joke and/or nuisance much as a spoiled three-year-old at a birthday party will insist on getting attention by throwing pieces a birthday cake across the room. So Evangelicals have played spoiler and (with a few notable exceptions such as Richard Cizik) led the charge against the environmental movement, against doing anything about global warming, against reforming health care, against caring for our military and now against Senator Obama. They are the people turning the anti-Obama screed Obama Nation into a national best seller, and never mind it's by the same proven opportunistic "Swift Boat" liar -- Jerome R. Corsi -- who was totally discredited for his lies in the hatchet hate job he did on John Kerry.
The Evangelicals are accustomed to supporting liars. They supported George W. Bush again and again because he played footsie with them on abortion, Jesus, and gays. And now most Evangelicals are out to stop Obama, America's best chance for a fresh start in a world grown understandably sick of us.
The Evangelical mask is wearing thin. Sure, there are some Evangelicals who want change but for the most part the fools that put George W. Bush in the White House are now reduced to trying to get Jesus to rain out Obama. That's because they have no answer for the America they have betrayed.
Evangelicals are reduced to throwing fistfuls of "cake" instead of answering uncomfortable questions such as: why have you Evangelicals supported the torture of prisoners of war? And why have you Evangelicals led the charge on defending a rape-the-earth Republican Party in hock to the oil companies?
With no answers, better to just try and rain on the other guy's parade.
Frank Schaeffer is coauthor of HOW FREE PEOPLE MOVE MOUNTAINS-A Male Christian Conservative and a Female Jewish Liberal On A Quest For Common Purpose and Meaning. He is also author of CRAZY FOR GOD-How I Grew Up As One Of The Elect, Helped Found The Religious Right, And Lived To Take All (Or Almost All) Of It Back
Follow Frank Schaeffer on Twitter: www.twitter.com/frank_schaeffer
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this is what happens to isolated people who put up blinders against anything that doesn't conform to their own selfish wants and the stories of family and friends...
people will believe anything if is suits them...
these people need to be brought out into the real world... like, as Frank stated (please don't censor this comment too, the author said it himself), these people are like spoiled children, they need to be included in reality so they see the incorrectness of their personal fairy tales and made to account for beliefs they hold without reason...
As someone whose walked a path similar to Frank, I GREATLY enjoy these posts and GET IT!!
I can't help but think about the Dennis Miller routine he did when he was a rational man. About how born-agains are saved and can't understand how we don't want to be saved. Miller said we didn't f*** up our lives so bad we needed to be saved. Evangelicals are really just sheep. It's just the human condition that those who strive to lead the sheep aren't the best of people.
I do so love proper righteous anger based on truth!
Onward, sir...a star in heaven.
~A Traditional Witch
Romans 12:19 -- James Dobson will get his.
Bravo!!!!! Great column! Thank you!
Thank you for writing this, it makes me believe in truth again. If only each religion could have the courage to observe, acknowledge and call out their own flaws, the world might have a chance at peace. Extremism comes in many forms, people terrorizing our lives are right here in our own country, many of them unfortunately influencing much of our governmental policies, both foreign and domestic. One can only hope this election puts the power hungry money seekers out of business.
Religions that observe, acknowledge and call out their own flaws die. they can't survive scrutiny, that is why they require faith...
I wish more of the religious would be self-critical, then they'd drop the medieval beliefs and be more civilized.
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FAITH = Belief without evidence.
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As much as you're right about the hypocrisy and grandstanding of the evangelicals, I don't think preaching Catholicism is an appropriate alternative. As someone who's had to deal with both (a born again mother and 7 years of Catholic schools), I can solidly say neither one has anything to do with Jesus Christ. And even for all their hatred, ignorance, arrogance, and bigotry, I'll take the individuality that breeds pastors such as the Osteen's over the oppressive monolith of Rome any day, because for every Dobson there is at least one preacher truly doing God's work. All Catholicism breeds is conformity and submission.
Frank, I had to read this twice at first I thought "boy he's really pissed about this" when I heard about them praying for rain I thought how stupid, there are so many more important things to pray for and they waste time and energy on this. Not sure I took away what you wanted me to in this article but I do thank you for being so spot on about the born again movement.
The born again movement is fine. It is the misinterpretation or misunderstanding of what they should be doing that causes trouble. I am a born again Christian. As an example, I believe that homosexuality is a sin, yet I also support gay rights. I believe that the Jesus' only commandent was to "love one another". Homosexuals are people and need to be treated as such. My thoughts on other issues are similar. I do realize that this may put me in a very small group of born again Christians.
obviously you have never read Luke 19:27. Jesus says: "But as for those enemies of mine who did not want me for their King, bring them here and slaughter them in my presence." This sounds like another commandment by Jesus. Which was more important to him, "love one another" or " slaughter them in my presence"??????
I guess we will never know, because we don't know whether Jesus ever said those things, and also we have no proof that he even existed on our earth. I know, proof, reason, honesty, evolution, thinking etc. are ridiculous things, but hey, I have a right to enjoy them and expect them from others.
Unfortunately, a very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very small group. Did I say very small?
hey, as long as they keep praying then nothing will happen... it's when they start acting on those beliefs that causes problems..
kind of like anyone, they pray, think about or wish for things all the time, but don't actually do anything about it...
You paint a very narrow group of people with a very broad brush. You paint all evangelicals as gun toting, anti-abortion, war-mongering nuts. You say that the Evangelicals are out to get Obama but you left out facts like Obama's church is an evanglical church. Bill Clinton was an evangelical. You imply that any christian religion not of Catholic Affiliation is a chaotic mess (although the protestant reformation occurred because corruption in the Catholic Church and that the church was basically fleecing people out of the few possessions they have, but I will not go into that now). You use the term "historical church". What does that mean? I am not a pychologist, but maybe your repressed hatred of the church is burping up a little here. What do you think?
Not a very narrow group of people, Shallvain.
Their numbers have been estimated at between 40 and 50 million, with the Southern Baptist Convention by far the largest denomination within Evangelical Christendom.
If one considers that about half those numbers are probably not only adult registered voters, but enthusiastic Republican-voters fuelled with a passion peculiar to religious zealots, in a country of 300 + where only a fraction actually vote and participate in civic life, that's a big chunk of political power.
Combine that power with power of the corporate purse and a well-crafted conservative think-tank strategery, and it's what propelled G.W. Bush and the America-Wreckers into office and what kept them there so long.
If you are an evangelical and you're shocked and offended by Sheaffer's words, then work to distance your church from those who pretend to represent ALL Christians, lest they and you get tarred with the same appropriately broad brush!
Evangelicals are just a bunch of phony christians using religion in the most perverse way.
Only evangelicals can link money and lots of it to being in good with Jesus
Only evangelicals consider war and killing a good thing when it is against any group "not to their liking"
Only evangelicals still consider George W Bush a trustworthy and honest man.....(2
Only evangelicals can tell you with glee why its ok to hate gays, women, minorites, poor....
I often wonder how evangelicals read the bible and then look themselves in the face and not hate what they are and have become....
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Has anyone ever accussed evangelicals of reading their BUYBULL???
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This piece is one of the best, if not THE best analysis of the evangelical movement I have ever read. Send a copy to everyone you know who reads! Thank you Frank
Good Gawd, it's going to rain some where in this world on this earth during the Democratic Convention. Olsteen, Dobson, Roberts have no control or influence on that at all. If there is a God, which I believe there is, I do not believe he is the kind of God that would answer their selfish prayers.
out of curiosity, why do you believe there is a God?
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What repeatable, measurable evidence do you possess that God exista???
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Note that he said, "I believe." As in, "I have faith."
Contrary to popular opinion, not every person of faith is a dangerous lunatic. Nor is every person without faith a rational human being above reproach. Belief in a higher power can be comforting, or simply a rational response to the instability of the 'logical' world.
One does not need measurable evidence to believe in a higher power, and the implication that such belief makes a person unfit to offer opinions or advice is offensive to any rational, compassionate person.
Don't let the petty, greedy, self-important, self-aggrandizing ways of the few who use faith as a weapon corrupt your view of the many who simply believe and go about their lives.
I pastored in a well known large denomination for nearly 20 years and much of he ego-centric claims that are made here are sadly, true. No one felt the pressure as much as I did each week to call down fire from heaven, walk on water or turn it into wine. If my traveling show was lacking, they just go next door where they have clowns for kids and a pastor that can whistle "Dixie." It was a large transient audience that really had no shepherd. I had to compete with all these famous people they listened to all week.
The Denomination handed out annual awards for those who gave the most money to their missionaries and posted the results of every church. You were known for your congregation size. It was worse than politics
Hence, I resigned the pastorate and credentials and got licensed by a non-denominational fellowship that really does care.
If Jesus wept over Jerusalem, he certainly must be weeping over the state of the American Church today.
Attend, or start a home church: Acts 12:12, Acts 20:20, Romans 16:5. Its not about establishing a hierarchy, with or without a formal church name. In addition, singing songs in any form, or being forcefully preached at, is not part of a home church. More people reject the institiutional church, where you sit, stand, and shake your neighbors germ infested hand. Why? Because people are absolutely sick of it, that's why. The Creator wants people to "commune with your own heart" (KJV) (Psalms 4:4).
A scriptural home church does not collect tithes, unlike institutional churches. The "Robbing God" clause applied to a specific group of people (Hebrews 7:5 & Malachi 1:1). Besides, tithing was paid once, annually, not every weekend.
In a home church, you can meet with God twice a daily, or once month. The sabbath was geared toward the Levitical Priests, that pasted long, long ago. Home churches are not about controlling someone, for money, or some nefarious purpose.
The people commenting in this forum have never heard about a 'Home Church" The have been brainwashed as to the evil of the Church and point to Dobson and the like as justification.
Having a home church releases you from "religion". They don't WANT religion
Wow. As a graduate of Oral Roberts University and still living in the heart of the Bible-Belt -- All I can say is......BR
I've grown so weary of the mindset of so-called 'evangelicals'. Who knows what that even means, anymore?
I am a Christian, and I am voting for Barack Obama.
Great post Frank. I'm impressed.
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