Sold Out
Charles Marsh wrote an op-ed piece in the NYTimes this weekend. He's an evangelical who mourns how quickly other evangelicals were to support the war in Iraq and worries about the political power evangelicals have in Washington D.C. In sum he says,
What will it take for evangelicals in the United States to recognize our mistaken loyalty? We have increasingly isolated ourselves from the shared faith of the global Church, and there is no denying that our Faustian bargain for access and power has undermined the credibility of our moral and evangelistic witness in the world. The Hebrew prophets might call us to repentance, but repentance is a tough demand for a people utterly convinced of their righteousness.
What will it take for evangelicals in the United States to recognize our mistaken loyalty? We have increasingly isolated ourselves from the shared faith of the global Church, and there is no denying that our Faustian bargain for access and power has undermined the credibility of our moral and evangelistic witness in the world. The Hebrew prophets might call us to repentance, but repentance is a tough demand for a people utterly convinced of their righteousness.
posted by jch at
10:17 PM
6 Comments:
Ouch. And again I say, ouch.
Awfully dangerous when evangelists start telling us what a NT writer "might" say to us today. He also "might" tell us a dozen other things not in alignment with our own agenda that we haven't considered - whatever direction that agenda may be.
Sorry, perhaps I am being a little dense, but what are you trying to say KentF? I am sure you have a point you would like to make about this idea of whether the church has made a "Faustian bargain" or not and if you are, it's not clear.
Here is a link to a great sermon (an mp3) given by Dr. Tom Robinson that deals with the issues of patriotism, liberty, and faith. I recommend it.
As far as the NYT editorial goes, I think it's right on in it's criticism of this particular element of the church. It's important to note that not all evangelicals and certainly not all Christians are as politically inclined as they are made out to be. But to the extent that the politically active elements of Christianity represent what amounts to be the total picture of a Christian to a non-Christian I believe is a very bad deal.
Politics and religion are almost inseperable (except in France where religion is actively put aside in favor of Nationalism). There is a place for the personally religious and the governmental servant in life, but Christianity's largest incarnation is the church, not a nation. This is for very good reasons. The church can be both local and global at the same time, while the Nation can only, and should only, look after the needs and interests of it's people.
Strategically I can see why it makes sense for the US to go to war in certain situations. As a Christian I have to believe that war isn't a holy or just action to take. The hard question to ask is which feeling should take a greater precedent, especially in light of living in a fallen and sinful world.
I thought this op-ed was primarily targeted more at influential church leaders (Charles Stanles, for example) who are strongly tied to administrations than the average church-goer, but maybe not.
J-Wild, I agree with a lot of your points. However, would you think that a nation should only look after the needs and interests of its own people when war or force is involved or would that involve social and economic aid as well? Also, while in hindsight I think this war was not "justified" certainly on the basis given, would that mean that a Christian can never support ANY war?
Sorry J - I have no comments as to any "Faustian bargain". I have seen a few good bargains in my day - but none at the store mentioned - ;-)
"The Hebrew prophets might call us to repentance, but repentance is a tough demand for a people utterly convinced of their righteousness."
My comment was pretty basic - the Hebrew prophets might call us to repentance for (assumed) over-zealous actions, then again, they might not. That's wherein I note I think it can be dangerous to assume what a prophet might tell us. I appreciate the link and look forward to hearing Dr. Tom's sermon when time allows.
Richie:
Great questions, and ones that I am not too confident I have found satisfactory answers for.
On the first question, I think that in the best of circumstances, that is the most democratic of circumstances, a Nation is compelled to look after it's own interest over any others. Interests are defined (in my opinion) as access to natural resources, trade, territorial sovereignty, strategic alliances, internal social and economic stability, and a national defense. What is unique about the United States is that over it's 250+ years those interests, by and large, have been defined by it's citizen's and not a ruling class or monarchy.
I once asked a friend the same question you asked about 'just war'. He said, "I am a pacifist with problems." I really like that answer, it upholds the ideal while recognizing the reality of evil. I don't think war can ever be just since often times combatants fight against their will or under false pretenses and innocent people get killed on both sides. I do think that war can serve to stop abhorrent evil, oppression, or aggression by other nations. But it often times causes more oppression, suffereing, and evil than it stops. Also, the way in which a war is waged has a morality to it, but it's a very thin line that is frequently crossed.
I respect the pacifists position, though it is ultimately unrealistic to believe that humans can exist without war. The Christian is called to a life of peace, justice, compassion, and morality. War is fundamentally incompatible with that. As a citizen I can understand why, strategically, it would be beneficial to go to war, but as a Christian I can see that War stains everybody and nobody emerges in the right.
Kent:
I see what your saying, it's sometimes hard to assume what the prophets might say about a specific situation thousands of years removed from their lifetime. However, taken in whole, the Bible and prophets are pretty clear on what God's expectations of his people are, and war doesn't really have a prominent place in the plan. And the Faustin bargin, was referencing the opera by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
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