Head of National Council of Churches Wonders: "Where's the Christian Left?"

"This may be the darkest time in our history," said Bob Edgar, general secretary of the left-leaning National Council of Churches and former six-term Democratic congressman from Pennsylvania. "The religious right have been systematically working at this for 40 years. The question is, where is the religious left?"

Edgar might well wonder, especially considering the audience he was addressing.

The event, entitled "Examining the Real Agenda of the Religious Far Right," was sponsored by the Open Center, a group committed to promoting a holistic approach to cultural, spiritual and social life. People for the American Way, a liberal advocacy group that opposes religion in the public square, co-sponsored the conference, which drew about 500 participants.

The story, written up in the Washington Times (and freely quoted in this posting), states that,

Speakers outlined such concepts -- others would say conspiracy theories-- as Christian reconstructionism and dominionism to a crowd that Mr. White (Ralph White, co-founder of the Open Center) said does "not understand the further reaches of religion." Dominionism is the theory that the account in Genesis in which God gave man dominion over the earth has become a political teaching advocating that Christians gain and hold power. Christian reconstructionism is the theory that Christian conservatives intend to impose Old Testament law in America.

Joan Bakaer, founder of TheocracyWatch.org, compared the FCC (with its indecency standards) with the Taliban and also proclaimed that "tax cuts" and "increased support for faith-based social programs" were examples of "the theological right...zealously setting up to establish their beliefs in all aspects of society."

The Times article described conference attenders as being, essentially, "secular humanists" and "leftist activists."

I do feel sorry for Bob Edgar and the National Council of Churches. When the head of an admittedly "left wing" Christian organization has to join in with "secular humanists," those promoting "holistic philosophy & spirituality" and People for the American Way in order to find common cause and a sense of belonging, I believe that the answer to his question is obvious.

"Where is the Christian left?"

The answer, Mr. Edgar, is right in front of you, in back of you and all around you. Look carefully and you will see the "Christian left" slowly sinking into the pluralistic relativism of holistic, secular humanism. You have to look carefully because there is less and less that distinguishes the Christian left from those with whom they find political solidarity.

When Christians on the "left" find that they have more in common with the secularists humanists, pluralists and holistic spiritualists than they do with their Christian brothers and sisters on the "right" then they have become "salt that has lost its savour....thenceforth good for nothing but to be cast out and trodden under foot my men."

There is always a temptation for those who call themselves "Christians" to define their "faith" in terms of their "political opinions." The Christian faith is, however, neither Democrat or Republican, Jew or Greek, slave or free, nor male of female. All who have be baptized in Christ have put on Christ. We are all one in Christ Jesus.

Anyone who sets their unity in Christ aside for the sake of their political philosophy has sold their inheritance for a "mess of pottage."

"What profits it a man," said Jesus, " if he gains both the White House and a Congressional majority and yet loses his soul?"

I fear that Mr. Edgar, as a self-confessed Christian, has chosen to divide Christ. In so doing he has chosen to pursue his own kingdom rather than the Lord's.

Make no mistake, this judgment falls on the "right" as well as on the "left." God is not a politician. God is not mocked. God, revealed in Jesus Christ, is a jealous God. We are called to have no other gods but the LORD God. Neither "liberal" nor "conservative" is pleasing to God.

Only a broken and contrite heart, a yearning for justice, peace and righteousness, and trust and faith in the crucified and risen Son of God as our eternal Lord and Savior will lead us into the full blessing of the hope and promise of the Good News of God's saving love.

O Christians! Live out your faith in a free republic as your conscience leads you. Do not be ashamed of the faith that guides you. But do not let your politics divide you from one another lest you find yourself in uttermost darkness, with more wailing and gnashing of teeth than you will be able to stand.

HT: Hugh Hewitt for the link. Powerline & Captain's Quarters also wade into the story.