Evangelicals state desire to be defined by theology, not politics

WASHINGTON (RNS)—Evangelical Christians should be defined by their theology—not their politics—to avoid becoming “useful idiots” of a political party, a group of Christian leaders said in their recently released document, “An Evangelical Manifesto.”

The manifesto reflects the frustration of some within a movement that claims about one in four Americans over how they are perceived by others and who can speak for them.

The 19-page document declares evangelicals err when they try to politicize faith and use Christian beliefs for political purposes.

“That way faith loses its independence, the church becomes ‘the regime at prayer,’ Christians become ‘useful idiots’ for one political party or another, and the Christian faith becomes an ideology in its purest form,” the document reads.

The statement, however, resists calls to privatize or personalize the faith, saying there is an important place for evangelical voices in the public square.

“Called to an allegiance higher than party, ideology and nationality, we evangelicals see it our duty to engage with politics, but our equal duty never to be completely equated with any party, partisan ideology, economic system or nationality,” the document says.

The manifesto, which at times upbraids evangelicals for contributing to their own image problems, comes about six months after a poll showed many young people grade Christianity as being judgmental and hypocritical. Drafters of the new document said they knew other evangelicals who were “ashamed” or “reluctant” to describe themselves as evangelical.

A nine-member steering committee spent three years working on the manifesto. The document’s initial 75 signers are evangelical leaders from major coalitions, educational institutions and denominations.

They include National Association of Evangelicals President Leith Anderson; best-selling author and megachurch pastor Max Lucado of San Antonio; Bob Roberts, pastor of NorthWood Church in Keller; David Gushee, Christian ethics professor at Mercer University; Jim Wallis, founder and editor of Sojourners magazine; Mark Bailey, president of Dallas Theological Seminary; Bob Buford, founder of the Leadership Network; and Frank Wright, president of the National Religious Broadcasters.

Critics note some key names—including conservative evangelical leaders such as Focus on the Family founder James Dobson and Southern Baptist public policy executive Richard Land—are missing from the statement.

John Huffman, pastor of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach, Calif., said the statement’s steering committee had conversations with Dobson, but his board recommended he not sign it. Dobson spokesman Gary Schneeberger confirmed this.

Land, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, said he had not seen the statement before it was released, but he later released a statement explaining why he would not sign it.

Charter signers of the document said it is intended to explain evangelicals to those outside their fold, as well as challenge evangelicals to better represent their faith.

“We are troubled by the fact that the confusions and corruptions surrounding the term ‘evangelical’ have grown so deep that the character of what it means has been obscured and its importance lost,” the manifesto reads. “Many people outside the movement now doubt that ‘evangelical’ is ever positive, and many inside now wonder whether the term any longer serves a useful purpose.”

The statement calls for a reaffirmation of evangelical identity—including the importance of sharing the belief that Jesus is the only Savior of mankind. It expresses concern that “a generation of culture warring” has created a backlash against religion in public life.