For us, living the Love Commandment may be at odds with efforts to encapsulate Christianity in a political agenda. We strongly support the separation of church and state, both because that principle is essential to holding together a diverse country, and because the policies of the state always fall short of the demands of faith. Aware that even our most passionate ventures into politics are efforts to carry the treasure of religion in the earthen vessel of government, we proceed in a spirit of humility lacking in our conservative colleagues.
In the decade since I left the Senate, American politics has been characterized by two phenomena: the increased activism of the Christian right, especially in the Republican Party, and the collapse of bipartisan collegiality. I do not think it is a stretch to suggest a relationship between the two. To assert that I am on God's side and you are not, that I know God's will and you do not, and that I will use the power of government to advance my understanding of God's kingdom is certain to produce hostility.
By contrast, moderate Christians see ourselves, literally, as moderators. Far from claiming to possess God's truth, we claim only to be imperfect seekers of the truth. We reject the notion that religion should present a series of wedge issues useful at election time for energizing a political base. We believe it is God's work to practice humility, to wear tolerance on our sleeves, to reach out to those with whom we disagree, and to overcome the meanness we see in today's politics.
Danforth, an Episcopal minister, is what many on the Religious Right would deride as being a RINO (Republican in name only). Republican office holders who hold convictions similar to his have been targeted for defeat in GOP primaries. That's why so few Republicans who hold elective office express opinions like Danforth's today. Moderate Republicans have been marginalized in their own party.
Those familiar with the takeover of the Southern Baptist Convention will recognize themes in Danoforth's essay that almost exactly parallel the appeals made by moderates in the SBC before they left the SBC and formed the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.
2 comments:
Got this email in reference to Mr. Danforth's excellent editorial. Thought I would pass it on:
"We think that efforts to haul references of God into the public square,
into schools and courthouses, are far more apt to divide Americans than to
advance faith.
Following a Lord who reached out in compassion to all human beings, we
oppose amending the Constitution in a way that would humiliate homosexuals."
I do believe a more correct way to treat these concerns would be: "We think
that efforts to remove all references to God from the public square, schools
and courthouses, and otherwise dilute and rewrite our history, has done much
to divide the Christian faith and compromise our mission. Since we seek to
follow our Lord, Who reaches out in compassion to all human beings, we
oppose amending the U.S. Constitution in any way that would by design
humiliate anyone; nonetheless, we should and ought to oppose any legislation
designed to appease special interests or otherwise alter the institution of
marriage in order to excuse and tolerate deviant social behavior."
The simple fact is bigotry in any form is repugnant. Recent attempts to
force unnecessary and unwanted social redefinitions are a subtle and refined
form of bigotry, but bigotry nonetheless. The move toward a new social
order is unwelcome on both issues raised. Clearly, those who seek to divide
the Church and cause divisions among Christians are not the agents of any
Divine authority, as I know it. It seems to me the evidence of Divine
authority moving in our lives is one where action serves to inspire union
and heal divisions with Christian love and not one that sets bigotry in
motion
David A. Ellis
4007 Longwood Drive
Fredericksburg, VA 22408
I do believe a more correct way to treat these concerns would be: "We think
that efforts to remove all references to God from the public square, schools
and courthouses, and otherwise dilute and rewrite our history, has done much
to divide the Christian faith and compromise our mission.
The above statement from Mr. Danforth speaks also to the removal of references to God from public square and I wonder what this group of posters here thought about that when it happened. All of the issues that favor the liberals seem to get approved and NEVER undone, no matter the damage they cause.
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