Don’t count me as a media dubbed evangelical.
Nor part of a voting bloc.
Not even as an evangelical espoused by some of my brothers and sisters.
I love Jesus.
I am a Christ follower.
I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ but I am ashamed of being linked with some evangelicals in this current political climate.
To the pollsters I say, “Don’t count me.”
We can’t blame it all on the media. We’ve done it to each other.
Where’s the prophetic voice crying in the wilderness, the weeping Jeremiah?
Is there a Mordecai among us? an Esther “for such a time as this?”
A Daniel?
A Deborah?
Have we slowly gone after the lesser light?
Who or what do we so fear or seek that too many of us have taken a liking to the spotlight, relished spitting out soundbites and tweeting our whereabouts, succumbing to the lure of fifteen minutes of fame?
We’ve lost the Light.
and our way.
And I want out.
Make no mistake, as challenging as it is, I never want to be free from Christ and the commandment to “Love God and love my neighbor as myself.”(Mark 12:28-34 NLT)
But I want to be free from the culture of fear and hate.
When Michael Gerson wrote about a gathering of 900 conservative Christian leaders meeting with Trump, I wondered who were they? How were they selected?
When I read that Trump was given a standing ovation, I wondered why?
What did he say that instilled confidence, calmed misgivings or made a deal?
Or were 900 evangelicals blinded by the spotlight?
It feels like the evangelical table’s grown too exclusive, comfortable and crowded on the right.
It’s tipping.
Over.
Time to reset the table.
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Amen!
Preach it, sister! Exactly right–
Jan,
Well said. These are confusing days.
Thanks for your thoughtful comments.
My best, Margaret
Yes, evangelical is a strong and good label for Christ followers, but I wonder if the term has lost its identifying function. If Mr. Trump is a “baby evangelical,” as one Christian spokesperson recently claimed, what does the label any longer identify?
Don’t count me either.! Thank you for taking those words out of my mouth, Jan. You said it better than I could. I can’t stand my Christ, at least my identity with him, being dragged through the wide gate of the media. I’ll continue to follow him through the narrow one.
I can’t agree with you more; and certainly can’t express it so well. Thank you, Jan!
Bless you, Jan, bless you.
Couldn’t have said it better myself… no. I REALLY couldn’t have. May you be buoyed up by the love of Jesus, your family and your fan club, of which I am a card-carrying member.
Thank you, Jan, for saying this so beautifully as always!
Being ashamed of how the gospel is presented, while not being ashamed of the gospel, is a weird and uncomfortable irony.
Thanks for the challenge and amen.
Love, Dale
How can we get this blog post out so more people can see it?!!!
Thank you Jan. My sentiments exactly. In addition to the pathetic betrayal by Evangelicals getting in bed with Trump and the religious right, the NRA, et al, I am fed up with the gutless non-leaders of Evangelical seminaries and other institutions who cower before their donors and potential critics and fail to stand up in public, write op-ed columns and speak out on behalf of the love, justice, values and good news of Jesus Christ. It makes me sick.
Thank you, Jan. Yes. It is time to reset the table. You are a fresh voice from our past, when I was director of the social work program at Gordon. I’m glad to hear from you again.
I feel like the window has been opened and freah air is coming in! My hope in in the Lord – WHATEVER
Thank you, Mrs. Carlberg….you brightened many lives today with this.
Jan–I was asked to speak at Emerson College a while back (as a token Evangelical asked to comment on cultural censorship). The first question in the Q&A session was, “So you are an evangelical!? But you don’t sound like one…do you consider Pat Robertson one of your people?” And I said, ” I’ll answer that but tell me this first, is anyone here NOT from a dysfunctional family?” The auditorium erupted in laughter. Nuff’ said.
Bruce I love it, Great response.
I’m a Christian. I love Jesus with everything I am. I am voting for Trump not because 900 some evangelicals gave him a standing ovation..but because of Hillary! We are not electing a pastor, we are electing someone to run our country. So many are focused on how horrible Trump is..when Hillary is the one we should be scared of!
We should be scared of both. Voting for either of the two is a vote for that person, not a vote against the other person. https://i.imgur.com/Exi3teZ.jpg
And third option is almost at the 15% necessary to join in the presidential debates:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9sFK1b7OjE
Thanks, Jan. I was shocked to read how political this was. I think Jesus’s example allows for different political views with him as Lord and sovereign.. Jan sounds like a lovely person. But to me, her opinion piece is more political than Christ honoring. We do not need more division. Jesus followers have been supporters of Bill Clinton and Donald Trump. Why use that as a measure of their devotion to Christ?
Whoops. I meant to address my reply to Jen.
It’s the perfect time to remind you how loved you are Jan, and how your words to me, personally, have always been a cool drink inspired by our Saviour.
Once upon a time I kept changing the bandaid over the wounds from Evangelical ‘friends’. It was a tipping point in my heart of hearts when I had to learn, for myself, that Evangelicals shoot their wounded. And as painful as it was for me…….I walked away.
And the bleeding stopped.
I send you the warmest embrace, and a sincere invitation to take you to lunch or high tea. You name the day and it would be my pleasure…..truly!
Valerie McCoy
Amen! Thank you Jan!
A friend of mine was comparing that gathering to Jim Jones serving spiked KoolAid. What ever happened to the separation of church and state? And since when did my rights as a Christian become more important than the rights of a non Christian? It is appalling to see how so many forget how and why this country was founded to be a place of tolerance. We need to make the meaning of “Evangelical ” “great” again. We have a road ahead of us.
The label “evangelical” is complex and vastly diverse, potentially encompassing over 600 million of our brothers and sisters around the world. Below are links to two great resources that introduce the topic and explore its diversity on a global scale.
Evangelicals around the World: A Global Handbook for the 21st Century
https://www.amazon.com/Evangelicals-Around-World-Handbook-Century/dp/140167853X
Pew Forum’s Global Survey of Evangelical Protestant Leaders
http://www.pewforum.org/2011/06/22/global-survey-of-evangelical-protestant-leaders/
Thanks Jan. Wonderful!
Jan,
Thank you. So well put and to the point. Your commitment to speaking your truth (and mine) is inspirational.
Polly Ann
You said it right on! Bless you!
I’m not sure that anyone the status of Harold John Ockenga was in that room. Now there was an Evangelical with a capital E. Preach it Jan.
“Doc Ock” (not sure of the spelling), but I remember from my GCTS friends he was THE Evangelical of Evangelicals. Dr Christy Wilson was an elder of a church in Rockport that I was a member of when I lived in Gloucester many years ago. He would NOT have been their either.
Jan, thank you.
Amen, sister. I am sick of saying, “yes, I’m a Christian, but…..
We’re back from Korea. Happy, but serious jet lag
Amen Jan… Thank you for stating this so well.
Jeri
Don’t count me either. Thank you for this Jan.
John DeNardo
1989 Alum