That is my not Cal’s title for the column.
There has been much handwringing (what a great word) and debate the last few days concerning the Republican party and why it lost so badly this week (not just the presidential election but many others) and gee maybe it needs to get rid of the social issues elements of its platform. There has been a particularly thorough and dynamic discussion of this at Baptistlife.com.
Cal Thomas is pretty darn conservative theologically and politically – but he is remarkably consistent in telling conservative Christians not to see political power as a means to advancing(?) the kingdom of God(?):
Thirty years of trying to use government to stop abortion, preserve opposite-sex marriage, improve television and movie content and transform culture into the conservative Evangelical image has failed. The question now becomes: should conservative Christians redouble their efforts, contributing more millions to radio and TV preachers and activists, or would they be wise to try something else?
I opt for trying something else.
Too many conservative Evangelicals have put too much faith in the power of government to transform culture. The futility inherent in such misplaced faith can be demonstrated by asking these activists a simple question: Does the secular left, when it holds power, persuade conservatives to live by their standards? Of course they do not. Why, then, would conservative Evangelicals expect people who do not share their worldview and view of God to accept their beliefs when they control government?
Read the whole thing here. You do not have to register.
I would quibble slightly with his question about the secular left – surely the secular left does as a matter of fact try to use political power to change attitudes as well as behavior. The Episcopal Church illustrates this well. What they ask for as optional quickly becomes mandatory.
But the point is still well made and taken. Thomas does not say conservative (a terrible word in this context – what do we mean by conservative?) evangelical Christians should not care about marriage or unborn human beings or the like:
[D]o conservative Evangelicals want to feel good, or do they want to adopt a strategy that actually produces results? Clearly partisan politics have not achieved their objectives. Do they think they can succeed by committing themselves to 30 more years of the same?
If results are what conservative Evangelicals want, they already have a model. It is contained in the life and commands of Jesus of Nazareth.
One can I believe overstate the distinction between “moral issue” and “governance issue”. Surely there is always some moral dimension to governing. But still – is it all about who controls Washington? Or is it about following Jesus Christ the son of God who strangely enough did not want people to make him king.
