"Since leaving government, I've asked young evangelicals on campuses from Wheaton to Harvard who they view as their model of Christian activism. Their answer is nearly unanimous: Bono."
--Michael Gerson, NEWSWEEK
When I read this quoted at Slice of Laodicea, I almost regurgitated. That is polite speak for throwing up. To clarify, Ingrid at Slice was sickened too.
What's the matter with our young evangelicals today? Have they been raised in a cave? A worldly cave? Bono??
There must be at least one young evangelical leader who is solid AND VOCAL about the cross and Christ (instead of the constant whining about poverty and the environment, although these certainly need to be raised) in their Christian gospel faith.
Well, I guess there is uh..um...well..uh..there's...ummm...er...uh oh.....can someone help me please?
Steve Went Looking for Grace
3 days ago
3 comments:
Actually, Diane, their answer should surprise no one. Truth is, Evangelicals have so diminished the role of social action that virtually no well known Evangelicals concerned with social action exist. The very title of your post is almost rhetorical for this reason.
If we're strictly talking about social action here, Bono is a great example. He's almost singlehandedly raised awareness of the plight of AIDS victims in Africa. Plus, he's worked hard at reducing crushing poverty loads among the poor of the world.
How many Evangelicals can say that? None that I know of. Perhaps Franklin Graham of Samaritan's Purse comes closest.
If anything, we should be appalled not at the response of these young Evangelicals, but at our own sloth when it comes to meeting the needs of the poor, the sick, and the disenfranchised. We've almost totally forgotten that once we know Christ, we are called to be servants. The whole point of knowng the Scriptures is to know Christ and to serve others. Knowing Scripture equips us to do good works, not spend countless hours discussing minute points of doctrine, castigating other denominations, or condemning each other.
We many not like Bono ourselves, but if it comes to actually living out the Gospel, he's doing a lot better job than most of us. (Plus, interviews exist where he gives a good explication of the uniqueness of Christ, his Lordship, divinity, and atonement for sin.)
Hi Diane,
I agree.
Sure, we should help the poor and needy, but while Christian leaders are making alliances with leaders of this world's widely accepted ecumenical/social gospel, they are forgetting that the true (unpopular)gospel is preaching Jesus to the eternally lost.
I know some young evangelicals who aren’t on the Bono bandwagon...they are Calvary Chapel pastors and Gospel for Asia speakers and missionaries.
Rob Bell :)
Post a Comment