LONDON – In an era of broken politics and bad religion, faith is making a serious comeback as a force for social change, says Christian author and speaker Jim Wallis.
Speaking at the U.K. launch of his new book, “Seven Ways to Change the World,” in central London Sunday night, Wallis said Christianity is reviving and that it is time for Christians to answer the two great spiritual hungers of the world today – the hunger for spirituality and the hunger for social justice.
“The connection between the two is the one the world is waiting for,” he said.
Wallis admitted that Christianity’s reputation as hypocritical, judgmental and otherworldly posed “some image problems,” and that the likes of televangelists and pedophile priests had created “baggage.”
“People are confused about what we think and what we believe,” he said.
Wallis painted a positive picture, however, of Christianity coming back from the margins as the answer to some of the world’s biggest challenges, including poverty, human trafficking, environmental degradation and amoral culture.
“Politics is broken. Politics is failing to address the great moral issues of the time. When that happens, social movements rise up to change politics and the best social movements always have spiritual foundations,” he said.
Wallis pointed to the great changes that movements rooted in Christianity had already made in history, including the abolition of the slave trade, child labor law reform, and women’s suffrage.
He told the audience, “Things no one thought could change became possible to change because of movements, and every single self reform movement … didn’t succeed without the significant involvement of people of faith.”
Today’s generation of believers could make the same difference, he insisted.
“Your generation is applying your faith to the biggest challenges we face in our time – and that’s the good news.”
Wallis, who heads the U.S.-based Christian network Sojourners, acknowledged that the challenges in today’s world are huge, but encouraged believers to rely on their faith to make the difference.
“What [these issues] feel like are mountains, but you know what? That’s why we call it faith. That’s the whole point,” he said. “The Bible says if you’ve got faith the size of a mustard seed, what can you move? Mountains. Movements are in the mountain-moving business.”
Wallis pointed to his new book, which calls Christians to make seven commitments that he believes will dramatically change the world.
“These big seven challenges require commitments from people of faith and if we make these commitments maybe this will be one of those moments of great awakening of revival when faith comes alive.”
He spoke of a “tipping point” when “the problem yields to solutions,” but stressed that the commitment to social engagement had to first begin on the individual level and within the home.
“If you are not doing it on the home front, forget it,” said Wallis.
“It’s millions of commitments from people to the movement that make the big change possible.”
He urged churches to “lead by example” and not bend to fit politicians’ agendas, but compel the politicians to fit the church’s agenda. Continue >>
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"Jim Wallis is a universalist/inclusivist heretic"
I believe that Wallis went eye to eye with Lee Strobel once on the issue of hell on Faith Under Fire.
Squeekywheel, I doubt Wallis is only doing it for money. Him and Tony Compolo are both sold out to social liberalism under the guise of justice, putting money aside. While it would be stretch to call them members of the Jesus Seminar as liberal critiques, they certainly are however liberal theologians and social liberals.
Godspeed to you both!
Jim Wallis is a universalist/inclusivist heretic who preaches the social gospel/social justice gospel. (socialist gospel)
Why is he being promoted by "CHristian" (ear scratching) Post? OH that's right, because CP isn't realy Christian.
ifeelfine72 said:
<squeakywheel: Jim has not been a mouthpiece for either party (he's been critical of both parties) but I'll happily say, how about the repuglican party nudge closer to greater social justice for the already born?>
Wallis is a member of the Democratic Party; he is a Democratic Party consultant paid to offer advice on how to woo the people of faith into the Democratic Party by teaching Democratic politicians how to speak the "language" of the people of faith. That's a "mouthpiece" by any standard.
Both political parties can always use more nudging towards greater social justice. It all depends on your definitions and methods for achieving such goals. However, that does not detract from the Democratic Party's utter hostility towards the civil rights of the unborn.
We Want Civil Rights for the Unborn! Now!
I think I first heard it on SBC radio network news. It was at the recent controversial meeting at Wheaton College where Jim Wallis compared Obama to Wilberforce. I 'googled' it just now and found the quote on the fourth link down written by Joseph Farah of WND who is quick to point out failures on both sides of the political isle. He quotes Wallis saying:
"William Wilberforce was a young Barack Obama type."
(Wallis at Wheaton College address)
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?pageId=59111
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20080220/31259_Anti-Gay_Group_Criticizes_Wheaton_College_Speaker.htm
seedplanter: I just Googled it and couldn't find it. Would you provide a couple of links to mainstream articles where Wallis compares Obama to Wilberforce?
I hope I don't disapoint you if I respond by saying, thank God I have never even had the desire.
After clarifying that, I must say that Jim Wallis is the one who made this an issue. If you are unfamiliar with that just google it. He has stated that Obama is comparable to William Wilberforce because of his stand for homosexual rights.
Can manpleaser be banned due to all the spam that he/she posts?
squeakywheel: Jim has not been a mouthpiece for either party (he's been critical of both parties) but I'll happily say, how about the repuglican party nudge closer to greater social justice for the already born?
seedplanter: Are you a homosexual? I'm curious because you seem obsessed with the issue. Wallis to my knowledge has been very careful not to jump into the fray on the issue of homosexuality - so why are you so quick to jump into it?
Jim Wallis' credibility is in question when he serves as the political mouthpiece for the Democratic Party. How about nudging the Dems closer towards greater social justice for the unborn?
“…atheism is morally neutral, just like belief in God. Secular Humanism encourages good morals, unlike much of Christianity.”
Atheism is morally bankrupt borrowing from Christianity virtues such as compassion and self-sacrifice. Beyond BC ‘conquest’ was the heroic attribute of the day. Mother Teresa, Mark Buntain, William Wilberforce, William Carey, etc. were suffering from a lack of psychological balance for serving others to the detriment of there own physical well being throwing there personal pursuit of pleasure out the door. What became known as humanism was originally derived from a Christian worldview, later being utilized as a pursuit for social benefits devoid altogether of God and outright implying atheism – Secular Humanism.
(flagged myself for correction)
"Chalke also told Christians that they have nothing to fear from new atheists like Richard Dawkins, author of the God Delusion, saying the fact that Dawkins recently identified himself as a 'cultural Christian' was tantamount to an admission that atheism is morally bankrupt."
No, Einstein, atheism is morally neutral, just like belief in God. Secular Humanism encourages good morals, unlike much of Christianity. Remember, Jesus himself condoned slavery.
Should Read:
Jim Wallis: Neo-Christian Progressive Power Grab through Political Double Talk
Contrary to Wallis’ delusions of grandeur, Obama’s quest for homosexual special rights has nothing in common with William Wilberforce’s work in the British Parliament to put an end to the slave trade.