Young Evangelicals split on Palin?
Interesting article in several major papers today. You can read it here. Mixed views on Sarah Palin, as represented by a wide variety of voices within the Church today being quoted.
Your thoughts?
Brad Lomenick
Interesting article in several major papers today. You can read it here. Mixed views on Sarah Palin, as represented by a wide variety of voices within the Church today being quoted.
Your thoughts?
I’m still wondering what a “progressive” evangelical is? It seems this title has many meanings across a broad spectrum. As for Strang, I don’t put a whole lot of stock is him being a spokesperson. Same for Doug Pagitt of Solomon’s Porch.
There’s still a strong resonance with traditional family values within both young and old Christians. I’m not sure “progressive” evangelicals are evangelical at all but merely spiritual seekers who still have yet to find truth. Of course, I could be wrong……I think the label “progressive” has got to go.
I think Christians put too much hope in politicians. I am a pretty staunch pro life guy and what not and I like Sarah Palin. Although I know she is not perfect and I dont think that she is the answer to all the prayers of Christians who turn politicians into Messiahs on both sides cause lets be honest, the Democratic party is trying to make Obama look like the Obamessiah.
I think the church needs to be the church and stop putting so much faith in politicians. Its my personal conviction that when the righteous rule the people rejoice and when godly people who have a biblical worldview and understand the biblical roles and responsibilities of government that our nation will be a better place. Im not saying that she understands all that stuff but overall I like her from what Ive heard so far.
I’ll be really interested to see her in a debate with Biden, cause judging from watching both of them now, I think shes gonna give him some problems debating, she seems kinda feisty. I like that.
The whole Obama worship disturbs me by some of my peers, but so does the Palin worship. From a pure experience standpoint, neither one of them have been in office long enough to really accomplish anything of note. But when the media goes and tries to categorize evangelicals, it’s not like evangelicals are like the Borg with one mind. People have different perspectives and views–and since no political party fully cares about ALL the things that are close to God’s heart, it’s heartbreak city when you put your faith in a politician.
I also don’t understand what a “progressive evangelical” is. I believe progressive is a less provocative word for liberal. I also agree we don’t need to have “culture wars,” I believe that’s a media concoction just to pit people against one another. If we all got along, there wouldn’t be much fo a story to write about, now would there?
@Scott “I’m not sure “progressive” evangelicals are evangelical at all but merely spiritual seekers who still have yet to find truth.”
That kind of statement makes me sad. I really wish Christians would stop looking at a person’s political leanings and then drawing conclusions about their faith. You followed up your statement with “Of course I could be wrong…” Yes, you’re wrong. You can love Jesus and be conservative, liberal, a Democrat, or a Republican.
I love Jesus and I think Palin was an irresponsible choice.
However, I do think it’s funny that it will be much more difficult for conservative church members to gossip and judge about teen pregnancy now.
@Kari
Where did I ever say I looked at a person’s politics and drew conclusions? I didn’t. I merely asked what a “progressive evangelical” means. Does it HAVE to mean liberal? I’m not sure it does but it depends on who you talk to. You obviously have a definition but others might have differing opinions of it.
And being the pastor of a “conservative” church as you label it, I would never gossip and judge a family based on the bad decision on a teenager. We all make bad decisions. The true test is how we respond to them. I have many families in my church who’ve went through teen pregnancies and I’ve opened our church doors to them for baby showers, special gifts, and aid for the family when appropriate. You are entitled to your opinion but please don’t lump everyone into your world view of church life.
@ Scott
Sorry – I misinterpreted your statement and thought you were saying that people who were progressive in their political leanings were merely spiritual “seekers” and not “believers”. As I understand it, the term progressive is now used because liberal has such negative connotations. And in general, progressive seems to be used as a kind of opposite of conservative. It’s not perfect but that seems to be the way the terms are used right now.
And I wasn’t talking about your church in particular. I didn’t label it conservative. And I didn’t assume you would gossip or judge. I don’t know you. It sounds like you guys do nice things for pregnant teenagers. I was just being snarky because sometimes I wonder if Obama had a teenage daughter and she got pregnant, if there would be a similar response from the Christian community. I promise I didn’t mean to imply anything about you and your church. My last statement was just a general comment and I probably shouldn’t have said it anyway because it wasn’t very nice.
Scott, let’s be friends! I’m sorry I misunderstood you. Sometimes I feel like I need to be a little louder in standing up for the people who are more in the minority when it comes to the politics of the evangelical church. I just want to make sure we’re letting all kinds of Christians be progressive or conservative, Democrat or Republican. A very close friend of mine once said “I just don’t understand how somebody could be a Christian and be a Democrat.” And she was totally serious. And that makes me sad.