[Oe List ...] From Joe Clift re fundamentalism & election

[John Cock]

As Evangelical as an Oak Tree
by Jim Wallis, Sojourner Magazine, 7/14/04 (or on bottom of link page)

 http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=sojomail.display&issue=040714


I debated Jerry Falwell yesterday on Tavis Smiley's National Public
Radio show. The subject was the current talk about "values" in the
presidential election campaign. Tavis first asked Falwell to name a
"short list" of the values issues that were important to him. It turned
out to be a very short list indeed. All the Religious Right leader could
talk about was the gay marriage amendment. That was it. 

I pointed out that overcoming poverty was a values issue, as was
protecting the environment, as was fighting unnecessary wars on false
pretenses, as was the abuse of Iraqi prisoners. As he often does when he
fears he might lose a debate, Falwell eventually began to interrupt what
I was saying and moved into personal-attack mode, saying that I was "as
much an evangelical as an oak tree." The television preacher from
Lynchburg has such a way with words. 

But then he really got vicious. He challenged me: "You voted for Al
Gore, didn't you, Reverend? Admit it! Admit it!" he demanded. "You
didn't vote for George Bush, or George Bush Sr., or even Ronald Reagan!"
He had me. I was finally exposed on National Public Radio - a Christian
who hadn't consistently voted for Republican candidates. How could I
ever again claim to be a follower of Jesus Christ, who, as we all know,
was pro-rich, pro-war, and pro-American? 

It was an absolutely partisan and theocratic moment. There is only one
way that Christians can possibly vote: That's exactly what Falwell was
saying. And that's exactly what the Religious Right is saying. And they
say the only values issues are things like gay marriage and abortion.
Forget everything the Bible says about the priority of the poor, about
Christian peacemaking, about respecting God's creation, or about the
image of God in every human being - including our enemies. 

I happen to think that both abortion and gay marriage are important
issues, but they are not the only issues. Many Christians are getting
tired of the tirades of the Jerry Falwells who repeatedly claim that all
values issues have to do with sex and that every Christian must vote for
their Republican friends. Family values are important to many
Christians, but so are social values. And many Christians are pro-family
without being anti-gay the way Falwell is. And many of us believe that a
deep commitment to the sacredness of human life requires a consistent
ethic of life, which also regards the destruction of war, the death
penalty, and the scandal of global poverty as deeply moral concerns, not
just abortion. 

The future of American politics should be a real discussion of values;
that would be a very welcome development. And we may be reaching a
"tipping point" when many other Christians and the media who cover faith
and politics will decide that the Religious Right should no longer
dominate the discussion. Let them have their say, but let other
Christian voices be heard. The control of right-wing fundamentalists
over the "values" conversation may be coming to an end. And the
uncritical alliance between the Religious Right and the Republican Party
should be named a theocratic mistake and idolatrous allegiance (as is
any religious left's uncritical alliance with the Democrats). 

Later in the day, my friend Tony Campolo called and I told him what
Falwell had said. Tony is a Baptist preacher and as evangelical as you
can get, but he will not likely be voting for George W. Bush. Imagine
that. We agreed the next time either of us is in a debate with Falwell,
we will name him for what he really is - a fundamentalist who has stolen
the word evangelical. 
 

~~~~~~~~~~~
John P. Cock  
PO Box 38432 
Greensboro NC 27438
Tel:(336)404-0660  
Fax:(336)282-1557
http://www.johnpcock.homestead.com