Collin Hansen at CT writes about the very apparent “Left-Left” connection. The connection is there he says, but not “inevitable.” He names several who, as Mark Driscoll claims for himself, are (or were) theologically conservative and politically and socially liberal.
The subhead asks, “Does one lead the other?” I think the answer is yes, but it’s hard to say which. I’ve known quite a few people who held liberal views of society and politics, and felt uncomfortable with the conservative beliefs they’d held. So they became emergent or progressive Christians.
I’ve only known a few who were really guided by their liberal theology. It seems too often that politics comes before Jesus. I catch myself from time to time saying things in a political conversation that make me cringe as the sentences are still forming. At that moment I can choose to make my theology meet my politics, or make my politics meet my theology. It’s a struggle.
H/T JT
Carey Best
Politics shouldn’t have to mix with religion, but I think I see your point. In a perfect world, individuals would care for each other voluntarily – not forced to do so through taxes and government programs – and government would be restricted to keeping the peace and regulating business.
But was it the chicken or the egg? Who can tell when the hen house is full of foxes?
You certainly can’t trust anyone – not a single one of them – in DC to lead a Christian-minded career.
Hey, I love the Ecliptic Creations site. Also, my wife and I are Lutheran. Have you ever read CS Lewis’ ’till We Have Faces?’ The main character in the book questions the gods. It is CS Lewis’ twist on Greek mythology between Cupid and Psyche. My favorite book. Check it out.
Carey Best
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Carey, thanks for the recommendation. That one was given to me a couple of years ago when I started as the youth minister of a local Lutheran congregation. I haven’t cracked it yet, though.
I don’t think politics is the game for a Christian, at least not the big venues. It’s not exactly guarding your heart. Smaller levels are less prone to corruption though, so it’s probably easier to stay pure.
As for the chicken/egg question, most of my friends who are emergent/progressive/liberal had major problems reconciling their liberal social and political views with the conservative churches they were familiar with. When the emergent movement became prominent, they flocked. So I put the politics ahead of the theology for most of the people I know. I’m sure there are plenty who had the theology first, but none I’m familiar with.