Have We Room for Thoughtful Political Debate?

Thoughts while staring into space: Adlai Stevenson (twice-contender for the U. S. presidency in the 1950s) is credited with originating the phrase “gloom and doom.”

The G&D message seemed ubiquitous in the sermons and writings of evangelical voices in those days. In Stevenson’s time, the “Red threat” was peaking, and there was a bevy of “Christian” itinerants who traveled the country heightening our sensitivity to a communist conspiracy that was said to be plotting a world takeover by 1974. Evidence of this plan’s actual existence was never offered. As one then edging into his teen years, I can recall sobbing myself to sleep on many nights, paralyzed with fear by the things I was hearing from the G&D communicators.

In the mid-1970s, I recall being approached by a representative of a well-respected organization who said of his leader, “B____ has just visited the Pentagon and has been told that the entire Russian nuclear submarine fleet is positioned off the East and West coasts, and the Soviets will be giving an ultimatum to the President within the next two weeks to capitulate or face annihilation.” Having visited the White House more than a few times myself, and knowing how willing both politicians and some military are to use naïve preachers, I am wary of anyone who—having visited those places—comes away and tells all he/she has heard or experienced. Ordinarily, you just don’t do that.

This probably explains why I have shied away from G&D pronouncements (as if anyone might care anyway). I was aware of how empty (stupid, in many cases) all of those pompous, falsely documented claims were in my childhood. Even today it’s made me distrustful of many of the statistics that are offered to bolster the fundraising appeal of various leaders and their organizations. The subtle message: things are really bad; send us money; we’ll save you.

Ironic then that I find myself struggling with G&D thoughts these days. Not about conspirators from outside, but about a disproportionate lack of hard, objective thinking from within my own Evangelical communion.

I’ve got to believe they’re out there, but I hear far too little from people in my Christian tradition about the growing environmental crisis that is going to cause far more deaths in the long run than abortionists ever did (no documentation on this—just common sense), about economic policies that are going to hang like intolerable weights around our grandchildren, about a distinctly un-American wealthy class that is separating itself more and more from the rest of the population, about energy policies that are unbelievably shortsighted, about a war in Iraq that sure seems misconceived and mismanaged to me, and about healthcare policies that are scary. There’s more, but these will do for now.

Environment is a biblical matter since it has to do with a creation that is said to reflect God’s glory. Debt (national or personal) is a biblical matter because the Scripture seems to inveigh against the principle of thoughtless debt (I don’t have chapter and verse handy, but I thought it did anyway). Wealth that is purposely conspicuous and self-interested is a biblical matter about which Jesus had a few things to say. And healthcare (AIDS, the treatment of seniors, etc.) is a Biblical matter because it has to do with compassion (the sheep and goats passage comes to mind). And what more could be said about racism, treatment of prisoners (Iraq and in the U.S.), and the massacres of tribes and people groups around the world. Shouldn’t biblical matters be discussed in the frame of issues in our day? Discussed respectfully, curiously, without judgment about the other person’s politics or ideology?

When I go to bed at night and start thinking about the future of my grandchildren (what my generation is bequeathing to them), I want to cry like I once did as a fearful child. But I don’t because that’s not the grownup thing to do. But remaining silent about what bothers me isn’t grownup either—despite the angry emails and letters I’ll get for saying what I’m about to say.

In areas like these, the voices of my movement seem strangely still—perhaps because the only issue important to many Evangelical Christians is that a sitting president unashamedly testifies to a “born again” experience. I have no reason or business to question the sincerity of his faith (I respect him for this). But I sure would like to hear some mindful Christian people talk openly, thoughtfully, objectively about the direction of his political leadership.

And why not? Most of us don’t seem to mind speaking of the leadership of many of our pastors (even firing them some times). Why not objective conversations about a President? Between people who are pro- and con- in their feelings toward what he is (or isn’t) doing. Then, maybe, I could decide how to cast my vote in November. And right now I’m pretty undecided even though the other guy doesn’t get me to my feet either.

For all of our talk about Christian love and freedom of expression, these sorts of conversations don’t seem to happen enough. And that alone causes a G&D feeling. Oh, if you read this far, I don’t need anyone to send me money.

Recent G&D readings randomly picked:New York Times editorial on worker malaise by Adam Cohen (5/31/04), Romeo Dallaire’s book Shake Hands with the Devil (on the tragic loss of over 800,000 lives in Rwanda a decade ago, and a disturbing article from the New Yorker (5/31/04) on Jewish settlers in Israel. I Timothy 4, II Timothy 4, and might be useful. A refreshing “counter” to all of this would be to read the 1973 Chicago Declaration which can be found at www.esa-online.org/conferences/chicago/chicago.html

Finally the provocative words of a John Bowring hymn (1825) we never sing anymore but which says much about my own personal view of history.

In the cross of Christ I glory
Towring o’er the wrecks of time.
All the light of sacred story
Gathers round its head sublime.
When the woes of life o’er take me
Hopes deceive, and fears annoy.
Never shall the cross forsake me
Lo! It glows with peace and joy.

Gordon MacDonald is Leadership editor at large and chair of World Relief.

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