The Problem with Prophets
September 8, 2006
Sometimes it takes a whack with a two-by-four alongside the head before I wake up. Several people have told me I have to read this article in Christianity Today, so maybe I really should. In the meantime, here is how Michael Kruse responded to a commenter to his post about the C-T article:
Kruse Kronicle: The Problem with Prophets
What some on the Left do now is chastise Christians for bringing their religious values in to the public square. (And I share some their frustration at some of the values that are brought into the public square in the name Christianity but not the legitimacy of bringing their religious values into the public square.) Christians are supposed to be a counter-cultural witness and not become entangled in matters of the state. But then on other issues they cozy up to politicians, start PACs, partner with political groups, seek organize and sway votes, as they seek to advance a political agenda. They are no longer prophets but political partisans.
It strikes me that what is going on is not prophetic witness but “proof texting” positions with one theological perspective in one place and another perspective in another place. What that says to me is that there is a predefined political agenda in search of theological justifications, not a political stance that has emerged from a consistent theological framework.
Again, not having yet read the C-T article, I agree with Kruse that one of the biggest challenges we have as evangelicals is learning to bring our beliefs into the public square in a consistent and God-honoring way. If we do it right, the result will be transparent and winsomely attractive to our pagan friends.
We’re clearly not there, yet.
Dave, moving Christianity Today to the top of his reading stack.
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