Posted by
PeterE on Tuesday, October 30, 2007 12:19:41 PM
I'm not commenting directly on Mr Murchison's comment on David Kirkpatrick's comment on the struggles of the evangelical movement vis-a-vis the current election campaign - but - just as Murchison says it should be no surprise that religious folks inject themselves into the political process - so it should be no surprise to us religious folks that secularists would seek to exclude us.
Perhaps it is time for a little more maturity on our part. We should stop worrying about whether the MSM is fair. It has been well-enough documented that it is not - but no matter. We should stop worrying whether secularists want us in the process. They do not have a choice about that.
We have an interesting situation. On the one hand, America was founded to a significant degree by people of Christian faith, and many American institutions reflect and celebrate that foundation. So we like to think of this nation as a Christian, or once-Christian, nation.
On the other hand scripture warns us that this world is in reality dominated by the forces of evil - so we should also regard our institutions as at least potentially dominated by evil.
So if we perceive that secularism is taking over public life and trying to squeeze Christianity out of the public square - should we be surprised or afraid?
No, this is just the battle that must be fought, the same battle that our ancestors fought. And, as they did, we must fight with a sense of future with a view to winning the battle for God, and using the new tools that come to hand to win the cause.
That's why conservatism may be only a temporary resting place for active Christians. Our faith is more fundamental than party-political orientation. In reality, although we are trying to save what is good for future generations, we are also engaged in revolutionary work of the spiritual kind. We should want to change this world - not just return it to the 1950s.
What was so great about the 1950s anyway?