Recent articles in both Newsweek and The New Yorker have discussed the changing face of evangelicals in the American political landscape--particularly younger evangelicals who seem unwilling to carry on the hard-line, single agenda politics of their predecessors...
Recent articles in both Newsweek and The New Yorker have discussed the changing face of evangelicals in the American political landscape--particularly younger evangelicals who seem unwilling to carry on the hard-line, single agenda politics of their predecessors. A surprising number of younger self-identified Christians are active Barack Obama supporters. As I've traveled and spoke at Christian colleges and interacted with younger people over the last year I've been impressed with the combination of their hopeful and sincere faith and a longing to seek sustainability and justice both politically and personally. It seems as if the old categories of "right" and "left" are disintegrating and reforming in new ways. Fifteen years ago hardly anyone would have imaged that evangelical leaders would be so concerned about issues of justice, ecological sustainability or the global crisis of A.I.D.S. I hope that we are moving beyond a partisan view in our society to recognize that we are called to wrestle with how to best live and make decisions together in an increasingly complex and consciously connected world. One of the things that make me believe that God is at work in our world is the way we ardently struggle and debate with one another about how best to see things become "on earth" as they are "in heaven."
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Yes, the new evangelicals are very different which is great. We are more interested in living together as a world. Also, we do know that we cannot save the entire world but we can give others the strength and direction to lead their countries toward peace and a democratic society. I realized many years ago that this country should not be about a party. I have always believed what Obama believes which is that we all need to work together and to put party or left and right aside. It is not about that. The new evangelicals will probably do a better job at peace and equality than my generation did in the sixties. We fail in some ways because we were bringing out the prejudices, we were opening up the world and some were negative ways of doing it and some were positive ways. The negative ways were more published in the news than the good things that were happening. Now, this new generation are looking at the positive way of doing things which is through Jesus Christ and His Heavenly Father. Yes, negativity will only come forth as usual but I truly believe that the American public does not buy what the press writes all the time. God and Jesus Christ will always prevail. As I look back at the sixties, I am very proud of being a part of the era that did not use drugs, etc. The movements during that time which were women, equality of black and whites, the Vietnam War and others were mishandled or taken out of what it meant by others. What a shame. Now, we are on the right track. Yes, Obama has plenty of young people but he has plenty of people from the sixties that is saying now we are getting it right.
Usher: You gonna vote for Obama?
Deacon: Are you kidding? He's a muslim!
Usher: He says he's a Christian!
Deacon: So do 92% of Americans - doesn't make it true
Usher: Well then, I guess you're going to vote for McCain?
Deacon: Nope, not him either - so much for the freedom to choose
Usher: Yep, it's like one of those goofy personality tests - there are no right answers - in this election and in the past 10 or so, there are NO right candidates - they're all losers