A Real Awakening

The cover story of yesterday's New York Times Magazine is a long feature by reporter David Kirkpatrick on "The Evangelical Crackup." It's a comprehensive look at how the evangelical landscape is changing - theologically and politically. He begins by noting:

Just three years ago, the leaders of the conservative Christian political movement could almost see the Promised Land. White evangelical Protestants looked like perhaps the most potent voting bloc in America. They turned out for President George W. Bush in record numbers, supporting him for reelection by a ratio of four to one. Republican strategists predicted that religious traditionalists would help bring about an era of dominance for their party.

But now,

another confluence of factors is threatening to tear the movement apart. The extraordinary evangelical love affair with Bush has ended, for many, in heartbreak over the Iraq war and what they see as his meager domestic accomplishments. That disappointment, in turn, has sharpened latent divisions within the evangelical world -- over the evangelical alliance with the Republican Party, among approaches to ministry and theology, and between the generations.

Contributing to this change:

a younger generation of evangelical pastors -- including the widely emulated preachers Rick Warren and Bill Hybels -- are pushing the movement and its theology in new directions. There are many related ways to characterize the split: a push to better this world as well as save eternal souls; a focus on the spiritual growth that follows conversion rather than the yes-or-no moment of salvation; a renewed attention to Jesus' teachings about social justice as well as about personal or sexual morality. However conceived, though, the result is a new interest in public policies that address problems of peace, health and poverty -- problems, unlike abortion and same-sex marriage, where left and right compete to present the best answers.

Kirkpatrick notes the theological importance of these changes:

Ever since they broke with the mainline Protestant churches nearly 100 years ago, the hallmark of evangelical's theology has been a vision of modern society as a sinking ship, sliding toward depravity and sin. For evangelicals, the altar call was the only life raft -- a chance to accept Jesus Christ, rebirth and salvation. Falwell, Dobson and their generation saw their political activism as essentially defensive, fighting to keep traditional moral codes in place so their children could have a chance at the raft. But many younger evangelicals -- and some old-timers -- take a less fatalistic view. For them, the born-again experience of accepting Jesus is just the beginning. What follows is a long-term process of "spiritual formation" that involves applying his teachings in the here and now. They do not see society as a moribund vessel. They talk more about a biblical imperative to fix up the ship by contributing to the betterment of their communities and the world. They support traditional charities but also public policies that address health care, race, poverty and the environment.

And the political implications:

Today the president's support among evangelicals, still among his most loyal constituents, has crumbled. Once close to 90 percent, the president's approval rating among white evangelicals has fallen to a recent low below 45 percent, according to polls by the Pew Research Center. White evangelicals under 30 -- the future of the church -- were once Bush's biggest fans; now they are less supportive than their elders. And the dissatisfaction extends beyond Bush. For the first time in many years, white evangelical identification with the Republican Party has dipped below 50 percent, with the sharpest falloff again among the young, according to John C. Green, a senior fellow at Pew and an expert on religion and politics. (The defectors by and large say they've become independents, not Democrats, according to the polls.)

I could quote much more - it's a carefully-researched and well-written piece, but that's enough to give the general theme. Everywhere I speak, I come to the same conclusion as Bill Hybels told Kirkpatrick: "People who might be called progressive evangelicals or centrist evangelicals are one stirring away from a real awakening."

Jim Wallis is the Editor-in-Chief of Sojourners and blogs at www.godspolitics.com.

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Comments

[Dap]

Darn I hate when that happens...

Uncovering that one has been lead by false prophets, the old saying remains true, the more things change the more they stay the same.

[RumiSouth]

Having lived almost my entire life in the buckle of the Bible Belt, I've sensed this coming for a long time. The evangelical movement began as a reaction to developments in the modern world, and grew as traditional denominations failed to respond to those trends. Now I read about Christian leaders who want to answer global warming. The world is changing again, and evangelistic leaders of yesteryear are the ones being "left behind" by the new facts of a new modern world.

http://www.osborneink.com

[TXfemmom]

It cannot break up fast enough to please me.

Personally, I would wholeheartedly back legislation to do away with the tax deferments for churches. The individuals who donate get a tax deduction, but permitting the church to keep it tax free is agains the separation of church and state, or at least violates the cannon of not supporting a state church.

They should only be able to deduct the expenses that Christ said of the church, to feed, clothe, shelter, or provide for the poor, children, or the sick. Then, audit them and make sure that the deductions are true.

[Citizenofreality]

They have successfully hated themselves into a corner. Even the most frightened and insecure amongst us tires of a diet of the blue plate special served up as "the group we must despise and castigate for today". The rabid right-wing of the evangelical movement needs to understand that a club which makes itself so exclusive that it's own members wonder why they joined will not last long. Christ's journey had nothing to do with membership in a superchurch, it had everything to do with his own personal behavior and the practice of love and tolerance for others, no matter who they might be.

[Zanti]

This is an interesting and exciting development, but one I suspect the average faith-bahser doesn't want to accept. And, therefore, won't.

[JimReed]

Zanti,

Please don't shut us out. I grew up in a Christian environment, and I know they have long prophesied wars, but it was shock to see they could end up being the primary cause of the wars. Please consider what this conservative alliance is doing to the world. We can't just turn away. It won't just go away. We must face it.

[HeevenSteven]

Zanti, I'm not sure I follow you.

Why would a "faith-basher" not want to accept that the obedient sheep might possibly be using their own minds?

It may well be a positive development.

[Zanti]

Wonderful wording ("obedient sheep"). You answered my own question, whether you know it or not.

[historian1900]

The whole ignorant bunch of so-called religious conservatives need to read St. Augustine. He had useful insights into the relationship between God and nation-states a few hundred years ago. Surely this county has had its fill of galloping self-interest wrapped in sanctimony for a while.

[Doofus]

Aren't 'you people' awakened enough already?

Not being one of you, I've certainly had enough
myself. Quite enough.

[Zanti]

Yeah, it sucks having to share the world with people who aren't exactly like you in every way, no?

[maddogbitesback]

Should we thank God because Evangelicals have finally seen the truth about Christianity. Because it is for sure they cherry picked the Bible to come up with Gerry Falwell's and other's reading of what is a fairly simple thing at least as far as the New Testament goes. Love- forgiveness- not throwing stones at others until you are free of sin yourself. Helping the poor - the sick and those in jail. Americans have plenty to do in America before they get upset about gays or the sins of Osama bin Laden.
The beam in America's eye is so much bigger than the mote in the eye of Islam. George Bush should become a Christian and follow the teachings of Christ if he can. That would be hard because humility won't come easy to him.

[Pdubya]

Bush ran on a humble foreign policy, no nation building, non-intervention. Pure and simple, he lied to his base. These people haven't gone anywhere though. They're supporting Ron Paul, the only conservative with a record and example that is strong on defense, against pre-emption, strong on civil liberties, examples a strong moral lifestyle, fiscally conservative, etc, etc. He is also attracting those liberals and dems that want to re-instate the constitution and the civil liberties it can protect.

[JimReed]

We are still left with the question, why did the right get it so wrong? Christianity's curse is now that they have combined church and state, they have to discuss this with the non-Christian portion of the population. It is not enough for the preachers to just stop stressing politics so much now that they have given us Bush and just act like they are not involved. They have to talk about it. Others may now be going in a different direction, but they have a lot to answer. It was a strong Christian majority vote. What do they have to say about that? Why didn't they speak out and lose their tax exempt status in the leadup to the 2004 election after the torture revelations? Were they deceived? Were they misleading their people? Are they willing to face these questions and discuss them, even with non-believers who don't answer to them or their religion? We are a nation. We have to be willing to talk. This might sound a bit harsh, but what I see is Christians are all wrapped up in the vanity of salvation and the moment you try to talk to them and discuss anything, they close up and shut you off.