Counterculture for the Common Good (D. Michael Lindsay)
Tuesday October 30, 2007
Categories: Evangelicals in Power: A Beliefnet Roundtable
I’ll begin by (again!) agreeing with Jeff: It’s good for democracy when a group of citizens become politically engaged. Debates are more robust, candidates have sharper visions, and civic participation rises. All of us agree that evangelicals now have power....
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There are always at least two sides to every belief. The Beliefnet Blogalogue pairs writers who differ on important questions about faith, and asks them to debate timely topics.
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Power corrupts. That passage from Jeremiah has nothing to do with power. It is about cooperation for the common good - the realization that we are all in this together regardless of our backgrounds or affiliations. "Whatever blesses one blesses all." It is akin to the Golden Rule. If power is your motivation for doing good, you will ultimately be exposed as frauds. God alone is power, it belongs to no man or group, but rather is what created us all.
I don't think we are talking about [achieving] power as a motivation for doing good. On the contrary, isn't the issue how people in places of power struggle with their faith (often being skeptical toward the very power they have), attempting to use their influence to help others know the Lord and/or improve society.
I am certain that some people rise to power by stepping on others along the way, but I get the sense of from Dr. Lindsay's interviews that there is a group of people who recognize their position of influence as a gift,(as all good gifts are from God)and they struggle to be good stewards of the gift they they have been given. Maybe that is why they turn to the Scriptures (like Jeremiah)for wisdom.
I came across this quotation today that seems relevant to this entire blogalogue:
"The first truth is that the liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic state itself. That, in essence, is fascism - ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power."
-Franklin Roosevelt
Power? Since when is power given to evangelicals? Isn't the US government that's still in power. The government that insists on seperation of church and state and yet you see its flag flying over churches.
The day that God is not the driving power of the people of this country is the day we can bendover and kiss out butts goodby.
drawkcab
I cannot consider Mormon's Christian. Reasons: Christians are "follower of Christ" Mormons are followers of Joseph Smith. God's Word says if you add to these Words you WILL have your place in a Lake of Fire (HELL) God will not send Followers of Christ to hell. Mormons added their book, J.W.'s have created and added their book and so on. Christian - NO! Can;t be if God's Word is the basis for all faith's.
Of course then you can add others also but I won't do it here. When any group,no matter what the sign over the door to their building says, LIVE by and follow the Word of God they are "Christian" or a follower of Christ. If they add their own flair or dialogue; they cannot be Christian: in my humble, educated opinion.
Well, we have seen what 30 years of concerted, right-wing GodSquad Republicanism have led us to: factionalism, the trampling of the Constitution, torture, endless war, etc. Is this really what "The Kingdom Of God" is supposed to be about? If it is, then call me an Atheist. At least, with atheism, people are responsible for themselves, and cannot point to a God for justification of wrong actions. With atheism, problems and solutions are worked for HERE, where they are needed, and not shuffled off to be "redeemed in heaven." With atheism, people are not tortured for believing in the wrong thing, or executed for going to the wrong church.
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