Have we gone full circle? From the days of the Moral Majority in the 1980’s to the Christian Coalition in the 1990’s , Evangelicals stepped out from behind the curtains of political obscurity and by sheer grass roots mobilization and in partnership with a production company called the Republican Party, evangelicals stood on center stage and espoused the script of cultural engagement from a biblical world view.
Meanwhile, after 30 years of production, as some of the cast members passed away, others retired and yet others awoke to the reality that the script refuses to change with the times and the cast seems solidified in playing the same roles while the production company counts with unbridled loyalty from all the actors, unconditionally and without compromise, a new script arrives.
The Evangelical Manifesto released last week to the public changes the production and in essence calls upon the evangelical community to shift from one stage and strategically places the community on a platform where the roads to Jericho, Emmaus and Damascus supersedes the roads to Pennsylvania Ave, K Street and Capitol Hill .
In essence, the Manifesto stands as new narrative, a fresh script. A narrative committed to extrapolating the vestiges of both politically induced definitions and media enforced imagery. The new script speaks of a reaffirmation to a biblical worldview that addresses both righteousness and justice issues. In addition, the new script seeks ownership of the script rather than a passive participatory role established by one political party, coveted by the other and ridiculed by the hecklers in the balcony, secular humanists.
As the statement declares, “Evangelicalism must be defined theologically and not politically; confessionally and not culturally. Above all else, it is a commitment and devotion to the person and works of Jesus Christ, his teaching and way of life, and an enduring dedication to his lordship above all other earthly powers, allegiances and loyalties. As such, it should not be limited to tribal or national boundaries, or be confused with, or reduced to political categories such as “conservative” and “liberal,” or to psychological categories such as “reactionary” or “progressive.”
At the end of the day, the stage is set for a new production where prophetic transformation trumps political leverage and cultural reformation will stem out of a church committed to Christ above all. Why the new script, and why the manifesto? It is about the Kingdom. For the Kingdom of God is not Republican or Democrat, Red or Blue State, Conservative or Progressive but simply, Righteousness, Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost.