Prominent evangelicals urged Christian conservatives Wednesday to support "an expansion of our concerns beyond single-issue politics," angering some leaders on the religious right who have been closely allied with the Republican Party.
In a 19-page document called "An Evangelical Manifesto," more than 70 theologians, pastors and others said faith and politics have been too closely mixed. They warned against Christians adopting any one political view.
"That way faith loses its independence, Christians become 'useful idiots' for one political party or another, and the Christian faith becomes an ideology," they wrote.
Many veteran Christian activists on the right side of the political spectrum do not support the declaration.
James Dobson, founder of the conservative Christian group Focus on the Family, reviewed the document and was invited to sign it, but did not, said Gary Schneeberger, a spokesman for Dobson. Dobson consulted the group's board of directors — a common practice — and the board agreed he shouldn't sign "due to myriad concerns about the effort," Schneeberger said.
"One of the things that disappointed Dr. Dobson was that when the manifesto was initially circulated, no African-American pastors or theologians were on the invite list," Schneeberger said. "His thinking was, 'How can this purport to represent the voice of evangelicals when people so vital to who we are as a movement are excluded from involvement?'"
He would not discuss any other of Dobson's concerns.
The Rev. John Huffman, pastor of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, a megachurch in Pasadena, Calif., acknowledged the effort lacks participation from African-Americans and women. But he said the initial signers are merely a beginning and "anyone can sign on if this resonates with them."
Richard Land, head of the public policy arm of the conservative Southern Baptist Convention, the largest Protestant group in the country, said he was not asked to sign the document. The Southern Baptists routinely receive video greetings from President Bush at their annual meetings.
Janice Shaw Crouse, director of the Concerned Women for America's Beverly LaHaye Institute, said the manifesto was "blurring the distinctions between liberal and conservative" and would confuse Christian voters about the issues that are most important: opposition to abortion and gay marriage.
Jerry Newcombe, a senior producer of the conservative Christian TV show "The Coral Ridge Hour," said the manifesto creates a "straw man" by portraying some evangelicals as intolerant and seeking to create a theocracy.
"Part of the whole point they were making was that we need to be more civil in our dialogue. I agree. But I guess the question is who is being uncivil here?" Newcombe said. He said atheists "really want to shut down voices on the other side."
Conservative Christians comprise about one-third of GOP members, but polls have found that younger evangelicals are less tied to the party than their parents and are seeking a broader agenda, that includes fighting poverty, racism and global warming.
Separate polls have found that many non-Christians have negative views of today's Christians, saying they are too judgmental and political.
"Our problem is not mislabeling by the press or rebranding because we have a bad image," said Os Guiness, an evangelical scholar and a drafter of the document, which was released in Washington. "The problem is reality. Much of evangelicalism is not evangelical." Continue >>
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Here's the rub ... the entire treatise is nothing more than a social-theological commentary on the desire to achieve appropriate Biblically based Christian behavior personally, interpersonally, and socially.
There is NO mention in either the Manifesto or the Study Guide of what the Bible says about:
... where faith in Christ comes from (Ro 10:17; Eph 2:8-9)
... the cost of discipleship (2Co 5:15; Mt 16:24)
... the expectations of the fruit of the spirit in changing personal behavior as expressed as the process of sanctification (2 Pe 1:5-12)
... that all of the law is found in loving God and your neighbor (De 6:5; Lev 19:18; Mt 22:39-40)
.... the definitions of loving God and neighbor (Jn 4:24; Mt 25:34-46; Mt 5:43-47; Lk 10:36-37; cf. Ja 1:22; Ro 2:13; Mt 7:12)
... the personal relationship that Christ expects (Mt 12:50; Jn 14:15, 21, 15:15; Ga 4:15)
... and the several expressions of spiritual disciplines that help Christians spend time with Christ in order to build a relationship with Him (confess faith in Christ: Ro 10:9-10 (is important in order for Christ to repair and restore relationship to God); confess sins: 1Jn 1:8-10; repent of sins: Lk 15:7 (these steps are important daily to restore communication with God - Jn 9:31; Ps 66:18; Pr 15:29); participating in a one-time baptism: Mat 28:19-20; participating in the Lord's Supper: 1Co 11:24-26; prayer: Php 4:6; reading the Bible: De 17:19; studying the Bible: Deu 6:6-7; 2Ti 2:15; thanksgiving and praise: Ps 100:4; worship: Jn 4:23-24; tithe: Lk 11:42; give alms (additional gifts beyond the tithe): Lk 12:33-34; personal sacrifice for the sake of advancing the Kingdom of God: 2Co 5:15; serving others: 1Pe 4:10; fasting: Mat 6:16-18.
And that is really and truly the point. In order to achieve what the manifesto wants, every Christian in the world has to understand and personally incorporate in the expression of his or her own personal, interpersonal, and social life, every word of the referenced scriptures. Sadly, the manifesto doesn't do anything more than infer this, and certainly doesn't point out where to find the answer to their question. Therefore, it is just another piece of paper, written by and signed by people who with all sincerity and earnestness, are just making a loud bluster and building up a bunch of energy with nowhere to go and nothing to show for it.
I actually read the thing and it is thought provoking but I don't believe it to be divinely inspired. I just struck me as having too many philosophical and "social humanitarian" interpolations. I seems to me that every Christian needs to come to grips with what Matthew 22 means to them. "Love the Lord thy God with all your heart, soul and mind" and, "Love your neighbor as yourself." It takes at least a lifetime to understand these two sentences, and then more time to figure out how our unique talents best serve these commandments. This is a long, sometimes difficult and very personal journey. Some people best serve God by reinforcing the importance of leading a moral life and following God's law, others best serve by being a vessel for God's love and compassion. Personally I think there might appear to be "political" differences between Christians with differing missions, but in the end we all serve a common master.
I am not a part of what some people call the"religious right" but I fear the "Manifesto" does not iterate the importance of promoting Christian values and God's law. In so doing it runs the risk of alienating those Christians whose calling is to reinforce the importance of values. I am worried that the "Manifesto" might be "politicizing" the term Evangelical. It is a lovely word and I hate to see it politicized in any direction.
All that said, I think it is worth reading and worthy of prayerful contemplation.
In the course of my reading the comments on this board, I must respond. Initially, I did not read the Manifesto. According to the comments made on this board, the Manifesto should be viewed as a waste of time, bound for the landfills of the nation. I will only comment by saying that the Manifesto needs to be read and discussed widely. It is unfortunate that in this election cycle, any document is considered politically motivated rather than a document which substantially needs to be deliberated amongst leaders, scholars and those who love Jesus Christ. We are in a culture war, but this is not the culture war coined by Fox News' Bill O'Reilly. This culture war is not against flesh but principalities. The way we are judged is how we fight this war. Very interesting comments, I must say.
Personally, I couldn't give a rip what these individuals or any other group think/write in their little manifesto, etc.
I read God's Word, I know exactly what I believe based on that, and I can speak and think for myself.
I assume individuals come up with these manifesto ideas because there is an opportunity,ie; an 'open door', to do so. If true believers walked the talk, everyone would know what a christian is, and no one would feel the need to write a manifesto to clarify that....it would be self evident.
I just read the entire manifesto at http://www.anevangelicalmanifesto.com/
An Evangelical Manifesto is a scholarly, 20-page declaration that required many hours of thoughtful work from many participants. Interestingly, the one and only footnote says much about the main theme of the entire manifesto and to what audience this declaration addresses:
“The terms Evangelical and Evangelicals should be spelled with an upper case as are the terms Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant, or Christian, Jew, and Muslim.”
The writers and proponents are a small group of legitimate Evangelical leaders who are concerned that the Culture Wars have had a negative effect on the definition of what it is to be an Evangelical.
Essentially, the manifesto is an exhortation aimed at Christians, but it is a public statement that welcomes the scrutiny of all others.
The manifesto addresses many sub-cultures and issues, resulting in an intelligent, wordy, and rather elitist statement that results in too many inconsistencies in trying to be universal.
The writers appear to be suffering from an identity crisis, and they want other American Christians to join them in their distress and quest for definition and stability.
This manifesto is the product of (primarily) old-school Evangelical leaders who are desperately trying to hold on to old-line mentalities that are changing and disappearing in today’s rapidly-evolving society.
They adhere to the old-school belief that one can separate one’s faith from politics, social involvement, the marketplace, and other elements that are inherent to living in today’s society. This manifesto is an attempt to dissuade Christians (who do not believe as the writers believe) from participating in the Political Discussion at large. They believe that is wrong for activist Christians to base their political and social lives on religious beliefs.
It addresses everyone and no one (at the same time), while trying to address a panorama of elemental issues. It is a futile attempt by the old guard to preserve terms, definitions, and a sub-culture that has evolved with the times.
The writers have incorrectly judged that the Culture War in America has essentially been caused by Christians who have chosen to be involved in the Political Process. They rebuke people of conviction who have been active in politics, making the false assumption that worldview can be separated from ethics, politics, law, and daily living.
The manifesto is a normal reaction for any sub-culture that sees and feels the hurling winds of time eat away at their institutions. These leaders are naïve, elitist, and will have little affect on persuading Bible studiers to join them in their liberal, Leftist-appeasing agenda.
We have always been in a culture war.
I will not be signing this document.
R.I.P. 20th Century Evangelicalism
SO...we now have a group of Liberal, left-leaning "evangelicals" taking the "conservatives" to task? With folks like Jim Wallis, Richard Mouw and the NRB, why do we need to join forces with them. I agree that we are not a political entity, and if voting on morality and biblical principles causes some of us to be considered "Religious Right," let the chips fall where they may fall. I agree with EvanCal, and as a fellow Reformed, I cannot nor will not support this document!!! What is an "Evanglical" today, anyway? And if this document purports to support abortion and homosexual rights, you can COUNT ME OUT, as well as others whom I will notify of this travesty. Immigration and healthcare do not, I agree, constitute political platforms, but for the politically inclined, so be it!!!
Let's stick to the Scriptures, not political platforms!!!!
I didn't read in the manifesto that it actually supports abortion and gay marriage. If anything it speaks against it. Lets be clear on exactly what it proposes and what it does not. I think discussing it will be good.
Evangelical Manifesto is such a joke! We Christians are not getting political, we Christians are just voting for morality and morality is a Church issue!!!!! The Seculars are invading American culture with their lack of Godly values. We must fight them at every step.
As a Reformed Pastor, I reject this manifesto and I will tell my congregation to not support anyone who supports abortion and gay marriage and other intrinsically evil positions. I'm sorry but immigration and healthcare are not on the same level as EVIL issues like abortion.
So many top Evangelicals who are extremely conservative and orthodox are leaving for the Catholic Church in high numbers. When we produce garbage like this Manifesto it is no wonder.
Democrats are NOT going to receive any message from the Manifesto--except that moderate evangelicals would like fellow moderate evangelicals to move leftward. The moderate/Dems. will NEVER embrace the issues of abortion on demand and sanctity of life.
The real problem is that nobody can define the term "evangelical" any longer. It is a meaningless term now, ranging in meaning from the g-ay support group, "Evangelicals Concerned" to someone likeDr. Al Mohler. Nobody can write an "evangelical manifesto" unless there is an agreed upon understanding of what the term "evangelical" means. It's a little late for that.
President Bush certainly made "useful idiots" out of the Christian conservatives in the '04 election when he rattled the saber of gay marriage in order to procure the necessary votes. You'd think the Christian conservatives would be wise to this by now.
Those that wrote this manifesto trying to rebuke conversatives as being judgmental are just as guilty. This is just a group of liberal Christians that want to get back at conservatives. I would like to see how many conservatives were even invited to sign. The exclusiion of blacks and the sourthenr baptists is enough to tell me they are way too biased against people that do not see things their way. Another so-called attempt at inclusion which excludes people they do not like. What hypocrites!!!!!!!!!!!!!