Evangelicals on "Religious Freedom"...Again

In a 20013 study, the Barna Research Group found that fifty-one percent of American "evangelicals" were "...concerned that religious freedom in the U.S. will become more restricted in the next five years."  (http://www.lookoutmag.com/in-the-world-april-7-2013/)

We frequently hear that "chip-on-the-shoulder" attitude of "evangelicals" about their "religious freedom" being denied.  It usually turns out to be some kind of self-serving political ploy, more than a matter of Christian principle.  The commercial wedding-chapel in Idaho, for example, which advertised it did Buddhist, Christian, Moslem, Hindu, Shinto, and other kinds of weddings: but screamed its Christian "religious liberty" was under attack when the local city-council ticketed the business for refusing to do a gay "wedding."

Interestingly, Barna also found that a majority of "evangelicals" believed "traditional American" religious values (i.e., Protestant Christianity) should be given preference in public policy.

David Kinnaman, president of the Barna Group, well and rightly called out that "cognitive disconnect"...or rather, hypocrisy:

“Evangelicals have to be careful of embracing a double standard: to call for religious freedoms, but then desire the dominant religious influence to be Judeo-Christian.  They cannot have it both ways.”

Evangelical Hypocrisy on Religious Liberty

Dr. Russell Moore is head of the ultra-"conservative" Southern Baptist Convention's "Ethics and Religious Liberty Committee."  He was critical of candidate Trump.

He is currently under attack by "evangelicals" for his comments about post-election American Christians' situation.  Mike Huckabee (himself a Southern Baptist) has said he is "...utterly stunned that Russell Moore is being paid by Southern Baptists to insult them."  Some Baptist leaders and organizations have called for Moore to be fired, or defunded.

Moore's comments actually seem thoughful and conciliatory to me, urging that we act toward each other, and toward the president-elect, with gospel-righteousness.  His essay is posted on his website:

 http://www.russellmoore.com/2016/12/19/election-thoughts-christmastime/

The dispute seems to point up the blatant hypocrisy of much "evangelical" culture: which finds a violation of "religious liberty" in baking a cake for a gay wedding, but itself turns furiously on anyone who questions the "evangelical" politics.

I wrote Dr. Moore a letter of appreciation:

Dear Dr. Moore:

As a former Southern Baptist, I was encouraged to hear on N.P.R. about your comments on American Christians' situation after this year's election.  I came to your website to read your full blog.

The critical responses to your comments highlight a problem among American "evangelicals."  Religious liberty is under attack in America less from a few well-publicized government actions (many of which, in my opinion, are over-blown and "spun" by political manipulators, for their own purposes): religious liberty is under attack from within the "evangelical" movement, when it deviates any whit from the party-line.

More important than our religious liberty in civil law is the attack on any Biblical criticism of "evangelical" politics.  Criticism not only of the personal morals of "evangelicals' " current political darling: criticism of his moral formula, that the unrighteous policies he has promised will "make America great again."

You rightly cite Romans 3:8's reference to the teaching of "do[ing] evil that good may come."   That teaching is wholly contrary to the moral law guaranteed in God's Own Character.  It didn't work for Adam and Eve.  We must be skeptical it will work to "make America great again."

Thank you for challenging American Christians to measure our culture, including the political culture Christians themselves have so widely embraced, by Jesus' righteousness and teachings.  Without such challenges, our faith is entirely a creature of our culture (including our "evangelical" culture), and no good for anything except to be thrown out (Matthew 5:13).

blessings,  ----- -----