Evangelical America is More Divided Than You Think

Sunday, April 21, 2024

David French: When I look at the divisions in American evangelicalism, I'm reminded of the Homer Simpson toast: "To alcohol! The cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems." The American church has been the cause of much heartache and division. It is also the source of tremendous healing and love.

Posted by retort at 03:52 PM | 18 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

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That's an excellent article.

Evangelical, fundamentalist, and Pentecostal movements are greatly damaging their image to the remaining majority of us by supporting an immoral character like Trump and white nationalism.

#1 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2024-04-21 04:48 PM | Reply

Well written article, Rogers. Thanks for posting.

"Fundamentalism," Richard Land, the former head of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, once told me, "is far more a psychology than a theology."

That psychology is defined by an extreme sense of certainty, along with extreme ferocity."

Fundies can can be atheists or theists, or agnostic, I suppose, though that seems less likely.

Christians, Paul said, "have faith, hope, and love", not zealous certainty in their ability to be right about everything.

Reading NT Wright's biography, "Paul" now, and it's rather enlightening to see the texts through the filter of his time and Period Greco-Roman and Jewish culture.

#2 | Posted by Corky at 2024-04-21 05:24 PM | Reply | Funny: 1

I think the best way to separate the evangelicals is into the evangelical versus the evangenital. Probably says it best.

Another way to separate them is the Christian from the christianist.

#3 | Posted by prius04 at 2024-04-21 06:03 PM | Reply

I suspect there are more than a few actual Xtians like Alan Ritchson, the Reacher actor who asked the question I have always had about anybody who claims to follow Christ's teachings, how could they vote for and vocally support as a sudo diety the least godly man to ever enter American politics? Most of the Xtians who believe as Mr. Richtson does are quieter about it because they don't want to be chastised and even driven out of their faith community. Mr Ritchson faced massive blowback on social media from his comments.

#4 | Posted by _Gunslinger_ at 2024-04-21 06:36 PM | Reply

Buncha cultists culting

#5 | Posted by hamburglar at 2024-04-21 07:32 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another
--John 13:35

What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
--James 2:14-26 (edited)

This sinner will wager that those churches where a lot of money is raised but little effort made to help one's fellow man/woman will be judged to have done their faith wrong. And for those communities which serve the least of us, a great reward awaits. Lots of phony christians are going to be disappointed...

#6 | Posted by catdog at 2024-04-22 09:20 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Most of the Xtians who believe as Mr. Richtson does are quieter about it because they don't want to be chastised and even driven out of their faith community.

Maybe.

I think there's also an element that those quieter folks have actual faith.

The "faith" so confidently posited by evangelicals/fundamentalists isn't faith, it's zeal, usually self-serving zeal.

#7 | Posted by jpw at 2024-04-22 10:13 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Cat,

Ephesians 2:8-9 says we are saved by the grace of God...a gift...and not works. That is because we can not do enough good works to save ourselves.

Thus, the reason for faith in Jesus Christ to be a mediator on your behalf because you believe in Him. If we are saved by works, Jesus would not be required.

There is the belief that genuine conversation will reflect in your actions and result in good works. Good works is not an absolute requirement for salvation.

Also, "good works" can be subjective. People have their own individual ways of contributing to their fellow man. There are so many ways of doing good in this world.

Plucking out a few verses without considering the entire picture can be misleading.

#8 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2024-04-22 07:04 PM | Reply

Cat,

What I find strange is how people think they are doing "good works" by pressuring the Government to increase taxes.

To begin, good works is something YOU do. Not call upon the government to do. What exactly do YOU do?

The Bible talks about taxes being used for public good, but it also talks about oppressive and unfair taxation that burdens the poor and benefits the rich....(sound familiar?)

#9 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2024-04-22 07:15 PM | Reply

pressuring the Government to increase taxes.

God forbid Millionaires and Billionaires pay their fair share of taxes.

Don't worry yourself too much, stupid.

Thanks to republican efforts, the rich own our government.

#10 | Posted by ClownShack at 2024-04-22 07:48 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

There is a school of ethical thought that it is desirable to do the best for the most. Seems like government is the best way to achieve that end

That presupposes the end result is helping people which is arguably not the case for religious people

#11 | Posted by truthhurts at 2024-04-22 07:58 PM | Reply

End goal not end result

#12 | Posted by truthhurts at 2024-04-22 07:59 PM | Reply

Cat,
What I find strange is how people think they are doing "good works" by pressuring the Government to increase taxes.
To begin, good works is something YOU do. Not call upon the government to do. What exactly do YOU do?
The Bible talks about taxes being used for public good, but it also talks about oppressive and unfair taxation that burdens the poor and benefits the rich....(sound familiar?)

POSTED BY BILLJOHNSON AT 2024-04-22 07:15 PM | REPLY

The Bible tells you to pay your taxes. Roman's Chapter 13 verses 1-7

#13 | Posted by LauraMohr at 2024-04-22 08:05 PM | Reply

"Ephesians 2:8-9 says we are saved by the grace of God...a gift...and not works'

Proof that helping your fellow man is secondary to believing in nonsense.
IOW proof of my theory.

#14 | Posted by truthhurts at 2024-04-22 08:09 PM | Reply

Laura,

Do you have a job and pay taxes?

Just wondering.

#15 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2024-04-22 08:28 PM | Reply

Everybody pays taxes. Even people without jobs. Sales tax, for example.

#16 | Posted by snoofy at 2024-04-22 09:07 PM | Reply

They are dumber than I think, too,
and I think they're pretty dang stupid
as it is...

#17 | Posted by earthmuse at 2024-04-23 09:30 AM | Reply

From the comments:

Harold
Georgia
April 21
C'mon. Show me where in the Bible that Jesus said that there should be a while Christian majority ruling America in 1,500 to 2,000 years. Not there.

I've read the Bible - Jesus preached tolerance, mercy and forgiveness, none of which these sects, these so-called Christian sects French carefully delineates, preach. They all preach hatred of "the other".

I like French otherwise but this is over the top.

#18 | Posted by snoofy at 2024-04-23 09:44 AM | Reply