Look at the American Evangelicals calling other Evangelicals … what, less pious? This politically conservative voting bloc had been staunch supporters of President Donald Trump (or anyone who crowned himself a Republican). The Party distinction had been first and foremost before touting their choice of president. But a rift of sorts has split … what, extreme Evangelicals from progressive Evangelicals? Two conservative Christian publications recently announced their fading support or maintained support of Trump regarding his impeachment. Christianity Today and Christian Times are seemingly in a battle for the souls of Evangelical readers or just plain Evangelical Christians.
They used to be known as the Moral Majority back in the Revs. Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson days of anti-gay and pro-Reagan preaching. That would have started in the late 1970s. However, given the era’s motto ‘Do your own thing,’ no one really questioned millions of American Christians calling themselves ‘moral.’ No one saw the … what, hypocrisy in calling themselves moral? Prior to the Reagan Christian era, Americans had gone through some wild times to escape the drug haze of the ’60s. The ’70s was ripe for a wide range of spiritual seekers: from Jesus Freaks to the Born Again movement. Even President Jimmy Carter, a Baptist, called himself a Born Again Christian.
There were religious cults, too, like Jim Jones, the Children of God, Rev. Moon and the Moonies, the Hare Krishnas, and fundamentalist Mormon sects. Even Baptists were splitting as some churches were starting to pray in tongues while others believed this impossible if not unnecessary in modern Christian times. But the Moral Majority had one thing going for it: They sought and gained political power. They were clean-cut people who appeared to have their priorities straight: God, family, country and community. They were often middle- to upper-middle class with many blessed in various stages of wealth. They were church-going, Bible-believing, End-Times preaching, tongue-talking … I’m joking about that last description. The Moral Majority as a political movement didn’t believe in such things. But politically they embraced Pentecostals who do believe in theory and practice. Along with the Moral Majority’s reach into politics came social causes, the loudest of which was anti-abortion. These would be the people who for a couple of decades protested outside public women’s health clinics, where everyone knew abortions were performed, until doctors were shot and killed, and today there are virtually no public women’s health clinics known among the general population.
The Moral Majority was about power. They wanted everyone else to believe just like they do, and dissent would not be tolerated. The opposite of moral, mind you, is immoral.
A new morality
Then something unexpected happened that would change the Moral Majority, pushing its once mighty power back into a footnote in American history. The children of the Moral Majority wanted more than just staid church music and rigid structure. Somewhere along the line, conservative Christianity changed: allowing more contemporary, rock and even rap music in services, concerts and Christian radio; praise dancing; raised arms and spoken prayers by everyone in the congregation. Teens of the movement would not sit still during the Power music to quietly contemplate the power of God. Enthusiastically they jumped up and down with excitement when the music was fast, raised arms to commune with heaven during ballads, sang along and openly wept with the words that touched their hearts and souls. They were young and free and wanted to feel God’s love, grace and mercy. And in so doing and so thinking, their views changed. Their generation would not remain judgmental toward gays as many churches started to welcome them. Their generation would not condemn mixed race unions or marriage. They would sport tattoos of biblical scriptures or symbols. They would look and dress like any young person of their generation. And when they were of age, they would drink a little beer or wine as sin was reconsidered and up for debate.
The word ‘evangelical’ used to denote devout Christians who spread the word of Jesus throughout the world, you know, like evangelist preachers. But in modern times, Evangelical describes someone who is a right-wing political conservative rather than a person who cares for the widows and orphans or anyone else who may be downtrodden or disenfranchised and is in need of a hot meal and bed for the night.
Whoah! What do I know about biblical teachings? Well, the two topics near and dear to me have always been politics and religion. Call me a glutton for punishment or banishment or condemnation. I don’t want to fight and argue about either, just to understand and make decisions for myself. All of it is enlightening. If I were to change the public education system, I would include a course on world religion, especially in this day and age.
Americans believe in religion and politics. The mixing of the two is where we can and have gone astray. But what everyone should remember about religion, especially Christianity, is how many churches there are across the American landscape—denominations built on different teachings and interpretations over the scriptures and even the words of Jesus Christ. So how did anyone think mixing religion with politics would possibly work? Not in this country. It’s impossible … and un-American when you think about it.