This is such a great question. As an American evangelical, I've watched as our prophets have been cast out, slandered, and disregarded.
I think the example of the biblical prophets are helpful here. Many of them were treated similarly (e.g. Jesus talking about a prophet being without honor in his hometown.) The prophets were often dismissed or disfellowshiped. But they continued in their calling to speak to their people.
Yes, I think we are called to speak up. My heart is broken for the church in this country. I found with my own blog that it has caused issues with people who don’t want to hear the correction. It is a painful job to call out our own people on what we see.
I hope so. I suppose it can be complicated. I remember hearing a prominent progressive voice a few years ago decrying people from within evangelicalism, saying he wasn’t even Christian anymore. He responded, “You know who’s a Christian? Anyone who claims to be a Christian!” While I felt his pain, at the same time, I couldn’t swallow that reasoning.
I think this is so well-handled and well-answered. There is, absolutely, political idolatry and tribalism across the spectrum, so-to-speak, but we should try and stick best to what we know and not merely seek to "follow the trend" just to create a seeming appearance of bipartisan critique. You know the evangelical right, so that's what you stick to... and honestly, your honesty for so doing speaks well of you.
I'm just sad that so many want to assume that so much of our national discourse wasn't reduced to some form of "YOU TALK BAD ABOUT THIS TRIBE, YOU MUST BE THAT TRIBE", or some other excessively reductive answer that is robbed of nuance, humanity and compassion.
I just hope we can find a better way of talking to each other - and soon - or things are going to explode into terribly dark times indeed.
And that's not even touching on the situation with the current government or how it is behaving with regards to our allies, which is a headache in and of itself to consider.
I agree. It feels impossible on social media. There is no way to have a civil conversation online unless you are responding or sharing with likeminded people. And I am also very concerned about something triggering an explosion that causes a civil war or something similar. I truly believe we are in a very dangerous place with all the hate and blame and insults and name-calling…. 🥺
I had this same question which I never asked. As someone who has been on both sides and stays mainly in the middle (and very skeptical of both sides-ADHD all day), it is important for "people like me" to hear explanations like this. It keeps me from going sideways with people. JITBM
While my faith is shaped by The Nicene Creed and the Protestant Reformation of the 16th centuries, I no longer use the term 'evangelical' to describe my faith. American evangelicalism has become a political movement where Christian theology has been marginalized in favor of a right-wing Trumpist populism that is antichristian in its essence. Sorry, no thanks. I don't follow antichrists like Trump.
And as an Episcopalian, and more recently Methodists and Lutherans, not that we’ve all hammered out everything, but we have taken steps over the last 50 years to reflect and reform ourselves to walk more closely as we see it with Jesus teachings and words. It’s one reason we’re so far apart from Evangelicals as they are now. They went in the opposite direction from us.
I used to think this was generally a question asked in good faith. I no longer think so.
It sounds like pure deflection.
What happens when "our people" no longer recognize us as such?
This is such a great question. As an American evangelical, I've watched as our prophets have been cast out, slandered, and disregarded.
I think the example of the biblical prophets are helpful here. Many of them were treated similarly (e.g. Jesus talking about a prophet being without honor in his hometown.) The prophets were often dismissed or disfellowshiped. But they continued in their calling to speak to their people.
So, as long as we’re still willing to identify with the group, we retain (potential) prophetic voice?
I think so. What do you think?
Yes, I think we are called to speak up. My heart is broken for the church in this country. I found with my own blog that it has caused issues with people who don’t want to hear the correction. It is a painful job to call out our own people on what we see.
I hope so. I suppose it can be complicated. I remember hearing a prominent progressive voice a few years ago decrying people from within evangelicalism, saying he wasn’t even Christian anymore. He responded, “You know who’s a Christian? Anyone who claims to be a Christian!” While I felt his pain, at the same time, I couldn’t swallow that reasoning.
I think this is so well-handled and well-answered. There is, absolutely, political idolatry and tribalism across the spectrum, so-to-speak, but we should try and stick best to what we know and not merely seek to "follow the trend" just to create a seeming appearance of bipartisan critique. You know the evangelical right, so that's what you stick to... and honestly, your honesty for so doing speaks well of you.
I'm just sad that so many want to assume that so much of our national discourse wasn't reduced to some form of "YOU TALK BAD ABOUT THIS TRIBE, YOU MUST BE THAT TRIBE", or some other excessively reductive answer that is robbed of nuance, humanity and compassion.
I just hope we can find a better way of talking to each other - and soon - or things are going to explode into terribly dark times indeed.
And that's not even touching on the situation with the current government or how it is behaving with regards to our allies, which is a headache in and of itself to consider.
I agree. It feels impossible on social media. There is no way to have a civil conversation online unless you are responding or sharing with likeminded people. And I am also very concerned about something triggering an explosion that causes a civil war or something similar. I truly believe we are in a very dangerous place with all the hate and blame and insults and name-calling…. 🥺
I had this same question which I never asked. As someone who has been on both sides and stays mainly in the middle (and very skeptical of both sides-ADHD all day), it is important for "people like me" to hear explanations like this. It keeps me from going sideways with people. JITBM
While my faith is shaped by The Nicene Creed and the Protestant Reformation of the 16th centuries, I no longer use the term 'evangelical' to describe my faith. American evangelicalism has become a political movement where Christian theology has been marginalized in favor of a right-wing Trumpist populism that is antichristian in its essence. Sorry, no thanks. I don't follow antichrists like Trump.
Nice job Caleb! I get asked this quite a lot too...
So good!
And as an Episcopalian, and more recently Methodists and Lutherans, not that we’ve all hammered out everything, but we have taken steps over the last 50 years to reflect and reform ourselves to walk more closely as we see it with Jesus teachings and words. It’s one reason we’re so far apart from Evangelicals as they are now. They went in the opposite direction from us.
Caleb, if your arguments were philosophically charitable, then perhaps you could be considered a prophet.
The prophets had the benefit of being right.
That's an open question whether your arguments fall into that category.
I'd be happy to sit down with you and hear your thoughts.
I think you could really benefit from conversation that challenges your own view.
You maintain an interesting stance. You are a scoffer of Christians who are trying to make a positive difference in the world.
And you hold yourself out as a prophet.
Could it be that you are a paid shill of the left?
An agent of Satan?
The answer is simple - you are the left.