As we approach what promises to be a very heated (no pun intended for the weather we are having) political season a highlight that may go unnoticed by the Republican party in efforts to get out the Evangelical vote, will be the effects of the non committing, run from politics, slam the religious Right young evangelicals. No doubt a blending of the Tea Party and Religious Right is being sought to turn the tide in the Senate and White House. CNN American Morning gave America a glimpse of this struggle today by hosting an interview debate with Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council and young evangelical Jonathan Merritt, son of Cross Pointe Church Pastor Dr. James Merritt, former SBC President. Young Merritt was promoted during the interview as a Teacher at Cross Pointe Church during the interview.
The discussion was very pleasant while the contrasts incredibly obvious. To the surprise of some, I actually disagreed with both more than I agreed with either one; of which specifics will be mentioned later. Heralded from the discussion was a clear fact that neither Perkins nor Merritt understands the great divide and why this divide is more damaging than we might think. Were we ever to think that Perkins and the son of Conservative Dr. Merritt would end up disagreeing on national television concerning the role of religion in politics? Welcome to the Young Evangelicals and the Blind Older Conservatives of today.
I do not make the above statement to be condescending in any way. The descriptions given are fact. Young Evangelicals think that the Christian Right has failed and pushed people away from our churches. Merritt went as far to say that the failure goes back three generations. Perkins, who has a stellar career of standing strong for family values and conservative ideology, would not concede this failure nor should he. Yet Perkins did not address the weaknesses nor lack of connection from evangelicals. In my perspective, missing from Perkins is the realization that few evangelicals are being versed in the Biblical Worldview thus they are disengaged from the Religious Right approach to politics. Add to this the growing stream of Young Evangelicals like Merritt, who run from politics while blaming the Religious Right for the loss of Christian influence and it does not take one long to discover the divide.
It is GREAT!
Evangelicals are immersed in a major battle that has three fronts. First, a radical form of Calvinism is wreaking havoc on the teaching and reinforcing of a Biblical Worldview that promotes Biblical solutions for social collapse/dilemmas (note: I did not say all Calvinists). The Southern Baptist Convention is beginning to see the effects of this radical movement in a big way. Where is their scripture backing for NOT being involved? I can find several places where we are admonished to actually be or receive the consequences. Do you know where they are located?
Second, evangelicals have literally tossed aside our greatest command next to loving Jesus with all our heart, soul, and mind - evangelism - the going into all the world and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, compelling people to turn to Jesus. Very few Christians today ever share the Gospel with people outside of family if they do with family. And interestingly, the Gospel was not even mentioned by either Perkins or Merritt (oh how we miss Dr. Falwell and Billy Graham!).
Third, many evangelicals are too busy trying to convince people to accept their Doctrine of Election or approach to music and dress, or... to see that the majority of people in America are lost without Jesus and dysfunctional in the basic understanding of the Gospel, much less, Christian World view. Starting churches will not change this. Only powerful conviction from the powerful preaching and teaching of God's Word can do that. Rather than argue about our perspectives on what God meant in His Word, why not just accept His Word as Truth and live it!
To my surprise, Merritt never gave a plan nor mentioned a passion about the needs above. It seemed he had a simple task - blame the Religious Right for loss of evangelical influence. It was as if a plea was being made with the bedrock being laid that Christian involvement in the political process is not good because it has not been good. Perkins did not accomplish any more on his perspective.
Highlighted even more is the simple fact that neither of these men shared the Gospel nor even attempted to share it while on the air. This is the real problem in America with Evangelicals. We spend all of our time either promoting a candidate or view. We emphasis vote Republican or don't get involved. We are political for Christian involvement in politics and we are political against Christian involvement in politics. But few are making use of the time given to share Jesus when given a national venue. What ever happened to "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever will believe in Him will NOT perish (in a real and literal Hell) but shall have everlasting life."?
Sad isn't it?
I pray that sooner than later we evangelicals wake up and realize that we need both of these perspectives minus the weaknesses from both sides. Take out Merritt's "do not be involved" and take out Perkins "we are blindly making headway". Put in place, a proper understanding of Christian responsibility to participate. Insert in our churches and ministries strong evangelism (the only thing that can change a life and make a difference) and a strong teaching of the Biblical World View and allow it to direct our voting and participation. Churches better focus on souls instead of trends, personal preferences, and such. We should be exerting more passion in efforts of evangelism than anything else we do.
That is God's plan and it comes with a promise - He will make it powerful and He will make it bear fruit.
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