COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - An evangelical group that wants to reshape the movement's political reputation for being focused on opposing abortion and same-sex marriage is hoping that a series of meetings stressing its roots in women's suffrage and abolition will help it break out of the mold.
The stated goal of the first three-day "justice revival," one of several to be held around the country, is to tackle poverty in the city through a collaboration with Big Brothers Big Sisters.
But the broader idea is to energize the relatively small liberal end of the evangelical spectrum by linking religious faith with social action as earlier American social movements did, its planners say. Among the areas to be explored by participants are access to health care, immigration, global warming and the war in Iraq.
"I have been very deeply moved by the history of these great awakenings in our national life, where there was a revival of faith that led to big change in our society," said Jim Wallis, CEO of Sojourners/Call to Renewal.
The Washington, D.C.-based group will hold the event April 16-18 in Columbus, with 30 of the city's largest evangelical churches, representing 10,000 Christians.
"A whole generation of young evangelicals believes that Jesus would probably care more about the 30,000 children who died again today — as they did yesterday and they will tomorrow — from preventable disease than he would about passing a gay-marriage amendment in Ohio," Wallis said.
The group's leaders seek to reverse the public perception that all evangelicals are conservative Republicans whose top social priorities are opposing abortion and gay marriage.
White evangelicals comprise about one-third of the Republican Party.
"Our message is evangelicals aren't going to be in the pocket of any party anymore, and they're going to evaluate all candidates by their own moral compass," Wallis said. "This revival is entirely nonpartisan.
"It's about faith and it's about issues, it's not about Barack (Obama) and Hillary (Rodham Clinton) and John McCain," he said, referring to the contenders for Democrats' presidential nomination and the Republicans' presumptive nominee.
Sojourners/Call to Renewal has been trying for years to make its voice heard.
But it has been boosted recently by growing recognition within the Democratic Party of the importance of faith. In January, former President Jimmy Carter led a meeting of thousands of Baptists, including Southern Baptists who had distanced themselves from their conservative denomination, who pledged to work together on social justice, as well as faith concerns.
"We can disagree on the death penalty, we can disagree on homosexuality, we can disagree on the status of women and still bind our hearts together in a common, united, generous, friendly, loving commitment," Carter said.
Recent surveys have found that younger evangelicals are less tied to the GOP than their parents have been, even while remaining deeply opposed to abortion. They are especially concerned about environmental protection, leading many conservative Christians to reassess their views on the issue. A group of Southern Baptist leaders issued a statement March 10 saying the denomination had been "too timid" on environmental issues and has a biblical duty to stop global warming. Continue >>
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Proggressives would rather complain about the real workers, then actually do what Jesus called them to do.
They want the perks while being ashamed of the Gospel.
The Little Red Hen
The little Red Hen was in the farmyard with her chickens, when she found a grain of wheat.
"Who will plant this wheat?" she said.
"Not I," said the Goose.
"Not I," said the Duck.
"I will, then," said the little Red Hen, and she planted the grain of wheat.
When the wheat was ripe she said, "Who will take this wheat to the mill?"
"Not I," said the Goose.
"Not I," said the Duck.
"I will, then," said the little Red Hen, and she took the wheat to the mill.
When she brought the flour home she said, "Who will make some bread with this flour?"
"Not I," said the Goose.
"Not I," said the Duck.
"I will, then," said the little Red Hen.
When the bread was baked, she said, "Who will eat this bread?"
"I will," said the Goose
"I will," said the Duck
"No, you won't," said the little Red Hen. "I shall eat it myself. Cluck! cluck!" And she called her chickens to help her.
from Stories to Tell to Children by Sara Cone Bryant
Its about time that we get off the Neo Right bandwagon and get on the Christian Bandwagon.
Things like prison reform.We warehouse far to many human beings in This country.The sentences are far to long and offer little hope of reform.Thats reach out to others with the message of hope and reconcialition.
Ifeel... What is socialism? Socialism is: the MANDATORY GOVERNMENTAL act of the TAKING of money and the REDISTRIUBTION of to other persons.
So, if Wallis and Soujourners openly speak of doing this, (which he/they do) then they are in favor of socialism. Socialism is (by Socialist and Communist as shown from cpusa.org), to be communism. Again, see Communist Party USA's definition at cpusa.org. Hence, he is in the end a Communist at worse and absolutely no question a hardline Bernie Sanders Socialist as you stated.
Hunger is horrible no question as is abortion and homosxexuality/Drugs Uuse/AIDS/HIV. However, hunger isn't necessarily a willful disobedience by someone, while the other two are. So, while hunger should be and IS being addressed by 'Conservative' xians, the other two need to be addressed by liberal/social gospel xians. I don't believe that GOVERNMENT should be necessarily addressing any of them for the most part. Feeding, clothing the poor is an act of CHRISTIAN service, not government service.
The number of people who die from aids is in reference to the number he stated die from hunger.
ifeelfine
Yes, I know what it says. But a premature birth can result in either a miscarriage (delivery of a dead fetus) or a fetus that is simply not carried full-term, but that is viable. Basically, premature simply means not carried for the full-term, 9 months. I do not have access to a book that lists the actual Hebrew word used here, so I can't speak to the exact translation. But "no harm" does not specify, rather since it refers to mother and baby beforehand, it would seem to include both in the explanation of "no harm". I still see no justification for abortion here, but rather protection for the fetus.
lewr2 - I've heard Jim Wallis speak several times and not once have I ever heard him suggest what you are suggesting. You are making some unjustified leaps to say he is communist. It would be like me suggesting you are socialist because you are in the same part of the country as Senator Bernie Sanders - its ridiculous.
BTW: what does the question about AIDS deaths have to do with anything?
GMG - Right, that is why some think that the Bible is ok with abortion because that verse is talking about miscarriage and it suggests that the penalty is not eye for an eye for that only for the loss of the mothers life. See my cut and paste from biblegateway.com below:
Exodus 21:22 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
22 "If men who are fighting hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely [a] but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman's husband demands and the court allows.
Footnotes:
Exodus 21:22 Or she has a miscarriage
By the way Ifeel... where in the bible is pedophilia?
I'm a registered UNENROLLED in the state of Maine, which is independent. What color might that be? Why would you say that anyway? Because I called Wallis a communist? Wallis wants redistribution of wealth by govt. dicatate along with many other socialist causes. His political leanings are all of the Democratic Socialist party of America. The Democratic Socialist Party of America is an actual party separate from the Democratic Party of America at least in 'name only'.
The progressives willing to be truthful about themselves are actually members of the Democratic Socialist Party of America. If you check out the COMMUNIST Party of America at cpusa.org, you'll see this banner posted at the top.
"fight for peace, equality, democracy and SOCIALISM"
Listed on the right side you'll see SOCIALIST party links such as:
Socialism USA
The Road to SOCIALISM
Reflections on SOCIALISM
So... you tell me what that means? Anyone who espouses not only redistribution of wealth, by govt. but govt. control of most if not all things by govt. would be called what?
By the way... how many thousands die daily from AIDS?
Much of this is wishful thinking on the part of Jim Wallis and left wing evangelicals. He has seen the reports of younger evangelicals interest in environmental issues and social justice issues and takes this to mean they are "moving left". Wallis is a very political creature and like many on the left they feel they own the issues of care for the environment and concern for social justice. They cannot see past their own self created caricature of a conservative as someone who is not interested in social justice issues or the environment. From their limited view point, anyone who expresses concern for these issues must be a liberal! He will be very disappointed. The young evangelicals I know who are passionate about the environment and social justice issues have not given up their opposition to abortion or same sex marriage. If anything, the interest in these other areas will be a very effective way to build new bridges to the broader culture and lay the ground work for a new wave of evangelism.
ifeelfine
Ex 21:22 "...so that she gives birth prematurely, yet NO HARM FOLLOWS....."
If it resulted in a miscarriage, that would be considered harm. If it was a premature birth but far enough along that the baby was fine, then no harm follows.
I do not see anything in verses 22-24 that even appear to do anything other than proclaim the worth of that unborn child.
GMG - Actually "premature" isn't referring to what we think a "premature" baby is but is actually referring to a miscarriage. People that believe abortion is okay often cite that verse.
ifeelfine
Exodus 21:22-24 indicates that the life of a fetus is equal to the life of the mother, and lists "eye for eye" consequences for anyone harming the fetus.
Any Christian who could support a party that has a staunch pro-abortion position as a major part of their party platform, as one of the true sacred tenets of their party where abortion is virtually a sacrament for them, is someone who I would question as to the validity of their professed faith in Christ.
Yes, "Progressive = Liberal", for sure. This is a joke. Evangelicals are never going to accept abortion or "gay rights" (which simply means trying to achieve recognition of a sexual behavior - sodomy - as being equivalent to race or ethnicity). Not going to happen. The liberation theology types can try and subvert faith for their leftwing, Marxist agenda all they want but they are never going to attain any kind of significant numbers, because any real Christian can see them for the wolves in sheeps clothing that they are. Abortion is evil, homosexuality is evil, and all the liberal couching of their agenda in "religion" isn't fooling anyone.
Have any of you actually heard Jim Wallis speak? I have several times and have never once heard him talk about either gay marriage or abortion - I've often wondered what his stance is on those two issues.
As for Squeakywheel, lewr2 and harald hardrada - you've all shown your true colors. You're all clearly more interested in Republican politics than the Word of God. I'm against abortion too because I believe it goes against God but where in the Bible does it specifically condemn abortion? I'll give you a hint, it doesn't. To say that anyone who is pro-choice is a heretic is not Christian.
I wonder how many members of the church hosting this event know their senior pastor has invited the enemy into their camp . . . all for the sake of progressive ideals. Jesus certainly cares about children dying . . . but would not allow Wallis to teach in the synagogue. Sad day.
Jim Wallis has been a consultant for the Democratic Party. How obvious can it be that he is willing to sacrifice the priorities of the lives of unborn babies for the sake of partisan political gain under the banner of "big-tent" evangelicals?
How can we disagree on gay marriage and abortion?
Gay marriage is wrong and abortion is wrong by God's standards.
Are you saying you don't believe in God's Law?
Then that is idolatry and you are a heretical "church". It's pretty simple..
Communist is a better word
"Progressive" is the code word for "liberal."