What does "evangelical Christian" mean to you?

from Ben's mom

I don't want to see religious bigotry in any form. It would disturb me if there was a wedding between the religious fundamentalists and the political right. The hard right has no interest in religion except to manipulate it. --Billy Graham (1981)

I find it disconcerting that for a large of number of Americans, the term "evangelical Christian" conjures up images of a political voting bloc instead of one of a dedicated follower of Christ. Do people even think of Christ when this term is used anymore? And if they do, are they aware that He allowed Himself to be put to death upon the authority of government instead of lobbying for power and setting things right? The religious leaders of Jesus' day were looking for a Messiah who would come and straighten out the government and make right all the political wrongs against the Jews. Instead, our Messiah came and submitted Himself to government and didn't seek to make change or even comment much other than "Render to Caesar...."

Does the term "Christian" imply that I should grab the power in the name of Christ? That is what the crusaders thought and they put thousands of Muslims to the sword in the name of Christ. Did they live according to the example of Christ? Did they embody the command to "love thy neighbor as thyself?"

Do I think the culture of death in America is frightening? Absolutely. And I cannot tolerate Christians who would champion abortion rights without acknowledging the disparity between the two. But there are many other issues that aren't so clear-cut. Emails telling me to pressure the President into forcing Israel to abandon their plan to withdraw Jewish settlers from Gaza because I am a Christian are insulting. Christian citizens of Israel are split in their views on this matter, as are Jews in Israel. What about the death penalty? You could back up both for and against positions with the use of Scripture quite handily. I could go on.

My interactions with most evangelical Christians has led me to find them woefully ethnocentric. Most think that the entire world should look like the United States, overlooking the unique histories, cultures, and geographical differences of other nations. I found myself in this position when I lived in London for a semester. I jumped right in with the conservatives of England only to find many of them pompously devoted to entitlement based upon class distinctions. They were willing to fight to their political death over the right of the aristocracy to run the nation through the House of Lords. The monarchy and the right to govern based upon one's birth didn't settle right with my little American self. I left certain that I was not in a position to judge or to take political sides based upon three short months.

As Americans, we have been given a unique system of government that asks for our participation. But if we decide as Christians we have more of a right to participate than Muslims, atheists, agnostics and Hindus, we fall into a trap of setting the things of this world above the things of Christ.

While my faith must inform my politics, I am a political conservative based upon philosophy and because I think that the Founders of this country formed our country with certain ideals in mind. I think most of the Founders would be abhorred at the liberal interpretation of the Constitution as "a living document." But I do not believe that all of them were Christian, even if they were culturally influenced by Christianity. Many of them were Enlightenment thinkers, heavily influenced by reason above faith, and pragmatism above principle. They had no trouble invoking God's name to motivate the masses. (And yes, some of them, were true believers, for which we can be grateful.) As Christians we should remember that little in our treasured documents invokes Jesus Christ, simply "God." This is what these men could agree upon. "God" was different things to each of them. And often He meant very little to them personally but they rightly knew to invoke His name gave them Power over those to whom He did mean something. I am not sure that much has changed.

Before we come to arms over these issues with our fellow Americans, we would be wise to remember that Jesus doesn't want to be the Ruler of America. In fact, He isn't American, and He never really showed a huge interest in politics. He wants to be our Savior, and the Ruler of each of our hearts. We can't change the perception of our liberal friends, relatives, and neighbors by legislating that ours is the True Religion. But we can pray for the Spirit to lead them into Truth; and we can make certain that Truth and Love are more important to us than our politics.

Frankly, I would rather talk to my friends and neighbors about my politics. Talking about the importance of Jesus is really tough. To do that effectively, I have to acknowledge that I need a Savior, they need a Savior, that there is SIN in this world and we are all in the thick of it. I would rather tell someone why they should vote Republican. Much easier.

So the next time you hear how "the evangelical voters" made all the difference in the election of 2004, you would do well to remember that the medieval church fell into corruption largely because her leaders felt that their position as the Church entitled them to earthly power over politics and governments. When Christians in this country feel they are entitled to power because they are on God's side, they set themselves up for a great fall.