Sojourners, Tea Parties and America
-
I found a Religion News Service article at the Washington Post website today that asks the question, “Is the Tea Party unbiblical?” The author’s conclusion seems to be yes, although he does make at least a little effort to see both sides of the argument.I feel that if we’re going to get anywhere in this discussion, we need to consider a few things:
- As far as Christians are concerned, the disagreement here should be more about methodology than ideology. Few Christians I know say we shouldn’t help the poor. The question is, what is the most scriptural and most effective way to do that?
- Christians should go out of their way to avoid aligning with any political parties or obviously partisan movements. This includes tea party organizations, the Republican Party, the Democratic Party, even Sojourners. We live in a culture where everything has become “us versus them” and no one wants to recognize the fact that, politically at least, the truth– along with a good percentage of Christians– are often somewhere in the middle of the spectrum. The problem with identifying with political groups and ideologies is we often become more associated with those groups than with Christ. If I’m more of a kindred spirit with a nonchristian who shares my politics than with a fellow Christian who doesn’t, then doesn’t that say a lot about who my god really is?
- Christians should train themselves to think the best about others, not the worst. It’s called the benefit of the doubt, and it does wonders for dialogue. We live in a jaded, cynical society, and unfortunately, prejudging someone because of their political views is much easier than trying to find common ground with them. Christians should resist that temptation and set an example for the rest of the world to follow.
I’m not registered as a Republican or a Democrat. I’ve never been to a Tea Party rally nor have I ever given any money to Sojourners. Politically, I tend to be more conservative than liberal, but I intentionally read Christian authors who aren’t conservative just so I can examine and re-examine my views on a regular basis. I watch Fox News and MSNBC– and I don’t intellectually dismiss either one. There are good journalists at both networks and there are partisan hacks at both.
I write a lot about missed opportunities. With the current political climate the way it is, especially in the media, Christians are missing opportunities to be salt and light. If I were Pat Robertson, I’d be going out of my way to reach out to Democrats. If I were Jim Wallis or Al Sharpton I’d be doing the same with Republicans.So is the Tea Party unbiblical? I’m not sure– it’s a political movement, so it is what it is. We do know that no one’s salvation will come from it– or from any other political movement, left, right or center.
View 
Subscribe via 
Leave a Comment
July 23, 2010 pm31 3:44 pm
Excellent post.
July 23, 2010 pm31 5:36 pm
Very good post. However, I’m curious as to why you lump Sojourners in with political parties. I worked with Sojourners when I was a seminary student. They are a Christian evangelical organization that does much good work among the poor in DC and around the US.
Jim Wallis has been very intentional non-partisan. He works with anyone and everyone who will join him in the work of compassion and justice for the poor people of the world.
July 23, 2010 pm31 5:50 pm
Steve,
I don’t doubt Jim Wallis’s evangelical credentials and I certainly view him as a Christian brother. However, I have been disappointed with how Sojourners has seemed to align itself mostly with the Democratic party. Perhaps the organization hasn’t explicitly stated it, but that’s the perception that exists. The Christian Coalition of the 1990’s did the same with the GOP, and I don’t think that was a good idea, either.
July 23, 2010 pm31 7:53 pm
“Christians should go out of their way to avoid aligning with any political parties or obviously partisan movements.”
Why not? Democrats are pro-abortion, and so are the Sojourners. Oh, they tried all the “we’re pro-life” schtick but I hung out at their blog for a while and noticed ZERO pro-life statements and nothing but support for the health care socialization. NONE of them supported the Stupak Amendment. They wanted taxpayer-funded abortions more than the rest of the health care bill. Think about that: They risked the whole package to ensure they could avoid the Stupak Bill.
I also tested them many, many times about Wallis’ clear, in-context statement that the Gospel is “all about wealth redistribution.” I listened to the whole interview in which he said that, and he couldn’t have been more clear. Based on that, he is a clear false teacher and should not be followed. He might be a Christian in some “saved and really confused” sense but has zero credibility as a Christian leader.
I challenged his followers to try and back up the “Gospel is all about wealth redistribution” comment and it was comical how badly they abused scripture and just name-called to avoid the topic.
His “God is not a Democrat . . . or a Republican” bit makes a fabulous bumper sticker slogan but is wildly disingenuous. Open borders, silence on abortion, pro-Stupak-less health care bill, etc. — they are far Left politics all the way.
I have lots of time and money for compassion but I prefer to share the real Gospel along the way. Unlike Wallis et al, I don’t consider it charity to ask Caesar to take from neighbor A by force to give to neighbor B. I’m one of those compulsive types who think that charity must come from your own pocket.
July 23, 2010 pm31 7:56 pm
Politics is all about the ethical use of power, so it is a natural place for Christians to weigh in. For example, crushing and dismembering innocent human beings is thoroughly wrong, so defending life is the loving thing to do. Policies that lead to generational poverty are evil and should be opposed. And so on.
July 24, 2010 pm31 2:25 pm
Steve Sojourners has not been non partsian since I have known about them . Four years . When I heard about an Evangelical organization that was politically involved but expanding the issues from the abortion/gay marriage issues that many of us Conservative Christians seem involved with but ignoring the others to a large extent I thought great .
I did not realize they had agreed basically with the platform of the democratic party already and translated it into a way the Living Bible and the Emergent Church could spread the news .
What I found was quite different . Most of their followers and blogs are not written NOT by Evangelicals. Those who are have some non traditional beliefs , no hell , if your Our Father who art if Heaven you are promoting Sexism . No kidding . Their is a constant need to put negative attachments and stereotypes with Conservative Christians , ignore the present culture shifts and move in with many non Christian churches in America to play my god ok your god ok , no god ok . I sleep with you , you sleep with me , only God knows right or wrong , just do it . I can ‘t not tell you how many articles I have read mocking the Left Behind Series for Bibical underastanding while ridiculing those who who not just pledge to the Flag , but celebrate the fourth of July because of all Americas past ts and its an idol . God of course is said to be a her and a Him , disagree and your the bigot . Then their will appear a blog about should Soujorners accept those who state their was no Virgin Birth, No resuurection , then the next blog concemning those who may believe we should have more of a desire tto winning people to God instead of just feeding the poor. Its quite one sided . No balance .
Remember that christian movie Fire Proof , about a couple getting close to divorce but Christ became the center of their lives . They wrote an article mocking that on sexism ????? All because it was , what conservative Church producing it ?
If your offended by someone your banned if you speak back , and if your offensive your banned. Not only is their a have to be a following the leader mindset , they have bloggers gathered on Facebook who work with Soujorners . What so a few people on a blog claim political victory ? Any Christian involved in SWojorners has to see something is wrong here . It took a long time for many Christians on the right to realize community volunteerism is better then making someone else jump in politics is the way , Perhaps i am wrong ? Their religious bloggers link up with eastern religion and other practices , its a big church , and the fact Sojorners claims to be part of it is quite troublesome . They have no concern for the church from what i see, but a political concept of social justice . I can disagree or agree with that , its their vitroloc and pharissee political manilipation , the I am a better Christian then you because I want the poor to be helped with the evil rich tax money we need to collect mentality . Thats a political position , one i believe from just my discernment that economicaly spottiest ofends up hurting more then helping , and we loose freedoms . Right now its just give the church a bad name . They are basically color for the far left right now.
Just like the right has always been somewhat color for wall street.
July 24, 2010 pm31 8:54 pm
Mick is right about them banning people. It is a one way street there. The Libs can say what they like with impunity, but conservative viewpoints are quickly deleted. I know, because I had two logins deleted after annihilating their bad reasoning but I was using my best “Stand to Reason” polite behavior and not taking their bait.
Sojourner and Wallis are fakes, through and through.
July 24, 2010 pm31 8:58 pm
Oh, and be sure to subscribe to Sojourners magazine — you know, the “evangelical Christian” publication — so you can get a free copy of a Gandhi poster — https://www.cambeywest.com/subscribe/?p=sjn&f=paid&r=gandhi&s=I10SMGAND
I am not making this up.
July 25, 2010 pm31 6:40 am
Routine left-wing liberal bias expressed by Wallis and company, use of Sojourners as a tool by which to advance their secular political agenda, overt exclusion of Conservative Christian perspective and the embracing of non-Christian values… how much more reason does anyone need to decide that Wallis and Sojourners is without legitimate value and unworthy of hearing? Personally I cannot remember the last time I read anything he wrote. I cannot remember the last time I looked at Sojourners. Both are as compelling as a used car salesman.
July 25, 2010 pm31 6:38 pm
I wouldn’t mind Wallis/Sojourners half as much if they were honest. I’m not bothered that Wallis is a far left political shill, what bugs me is he pretends to be a moderate. So, maybe Wallis does believe Jesus is not a Democrat or Republican. Instead he implies Jesus would be in the Communist Party USA. Neil is right, Wallis does believe the gospel is about redistribution of wealth.
I’ve honestly never seen Wallis say anything that is in keeping with traditional Christianity. It’s been months since I’ve read anything by him, but I’ve never seen him say anything that leads me to believe he preaches the true gospel of Christ. Social “gospel,” yes, but nothing about sin and man’s need for salvation through Christ. If he’s not preaching that he shouldn’t bother having a church.
July 27, 2010 pm31 4:22 pm
I can tell you the day I lost faith in Sojourners. Not long after Hillary Clinton was confirmed as Sec. of State she took a trip to China and stated that Chinese human right were secondary to the global economic crisis. And there was no reaction from Sojourners, no e-mails, no Jim Wallis blog, nothing. And to be fair there has been very little criticism of the Obama administration at least nothing like there was with the Bush White House.
July 29, 2010 pm31 7:49 pm
“I don’t consider it charity to ask Caesar to take from neighbor A by force to give to neighbor B. I’m one of those compulsive types who think that charity must come from your own pocket.”
Is is charity to ask Caesar to take from neighbor A to build nuclear weapons and back repressive military regimes, to invent reasons to invade countries and kill innocent civilians? Are you compulsive about this as well?