The Evangelicalization of Secular America (Jeff Sharlet)

Jeff Sharlet tells it like it is. Christian evangelicalism is something to be watched suspiciously and it is a duty of all freedom loving Americans to cry foul when it extends its power. We can't hate Christian evangelicalism because they are us: our neighbors, our family, our friends. Why these ideas has such a hold on those I hold dear, I don't know. But I truly believe that without it our nation would finally live up to some of its highest ideals. In the meantime, we truly need voices like Jeff Sharlet to point out the truth. Hopefully more will listen.

I couldn't agree more, Jeff. That's why I began by saying I have long been uneasy about Evangelicals in positions of political power. Some may begin with that servanthood ideal, but too many are quickly influenced by the perks of attention and wealth.

My perception of evangelicals, which may or may not be accurate, is that they are trying to put new wine into old bottles. The new wine is modern culture, the old bottle is old time religion. Not that there's necessarily anything wrong with old religion. Indeed there is much to praise there.

But religion can't remain locked in the past any more than the arts, technology or anything else in our culture. The Bible is the story of spiritual growth. The concept of God in the New Testament is much fuller, richer, and more intimately tied to mankind than the God of the Old Testament. He is more compassionate and less authoritarian. He is more positive than negative (Love your enemies, love your neighbor instead of thou shalt not kill, covet, steal....). Religion must grow along with everything else or it will get "left behind."

We see it already in the waning influence of the old organized religions. Their decline has nothing to do with people's lack of interest in God. People overwhelmingly believe in God, but the old religion fails to satisfy their growing understanding. The concept of God as pure Love is taking hold, and the implications of that are startling. Old religion still expect the world to cling to Old Testament notions of a god whose love is conditional. That is like telling a high school student he needs to get back into first grade.

S. John -- Well, I'm Jewish. So, uh, yeah. I'm skeptical of Christ's claims.

But that's neither here nor there. Jerry and I were talking about contemporary politicians. Is Jesus running for something?

Or how about this: Is someone who claims to be representing God's will running for something? Yes, you should be very suspicious of anyone who claims such an anointing.

S. John -- I'm sure you didn't mean to, but you just crossed the line. Don't kid yourself -- your philo-semitism is anti-semitism by another name. Trying to tell me that "my" prophet Isaiah wrote of the coming of Jesus. Please. That's repugnant and insulting.

Sorry Jeff, I'm just 13, didn't mean say something wrong.