The November 8, 2006, edition of the Washington Post had a very good article entitled, “Let’s Stop Stereotyping Evangelicals.” Joseph Loconte, of Pepperdine University School of Public Policy and Michael Cromartie, vice-chair of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom co-wrote the article. They say a gross caricature of the 100 million evangelicals in the US has been put forward by some critics that has been less than factual in telling the whole story.   
 
Now do not doubt for a moment there exists a loopy few who do give evangelicals a bad name. However, the authors say it is dishonest to disparage the massive civic and democratic contribution of evangelicals by invoking the excesses of a tiny few. Even Jesus, they say, had a few disciples who wanted to call down fire from heaven to dispose of critics. He led them to forfeit that desire. The overwhelming majority of evangelicals have ignored the impulse as well.
 
Some say evangelicals want an “American theocracy.” People making that call are outside the evangelical mainstream and their numbers are minute. Evangelicals led the grassroots campaign for religious liberty, the abolition of slavery and women’s suffrage. Moral Majority leaders sent church members flocking peacefully to the polls to vote. Charles Colson leads the largest prison ministry in the world. It is faith-based. Mega churches, like the Potter’s House in Dallas and Saddleback in California, engage an army of thousands of volunteers in ministries ranging from literacy, to drug rehab, to confrontation of the AIDS issue. The first responders to natural disasters in America and around the world include evangelicals in huge numbers. And they help people regardless of creed, race or sexual orientation.
 
The Washington Post article says it is surely no thirst for theocracy, but rather a love for their neighbor, that sends American evangelicals into harm’s way. It goes on to say Bible-believing and socially conservative evangelicals are redefining social justice. They are mindful of the material conditions that breed poverty and despair, but they emphasize spiritual rebirth.
 
The article gives us a wonderful picture of who we are to be at Olive, here in Pensacola and around the world. In years gone by, we have eased into church and community ministry. Our impact has been worthwhile and life changing for many. However, far too long we have been looking inward rather than on the fields that are white to harvest and replete with human suffering and need. We have been praying for 30 days for God’s vision for our church in the coming days. I see it in the Washington Post of all places. God must be chuckling! Get ready church – we have work to do!

Pastor Ted Traylor

Posted on Thursday, November 9th, 2006 at 6:54 pm.
You can leave a response, or you can follow responses through the RSS 2.0 feed.