Fences are made for keeping people out.  They also create a sense of “defense” for those inside those fences.  The Berlin Wall was a type of fense that had to come down.  I think “christian clubs” are a type of fence that keep people out.  We need to stop repairing these so called coalitions with shoe strings, tear down the fences, and return to Christ’ purpose - hope to people.

Somewhere I think we lost our way as Christians. I can’t put my finger on the event or date, but we lost sight of Jesus’ purpose. This week Joel Hunter (author: Right Wing, Wrong Bird), president-elect of the Christian Coalition of America, declined the job. The reason was simple – the coalition could not expand its agenda beyond abortion and gay marriage (moral issues). He wanted to focus more on issues such as poverty and the environment – issues Christ embraced. Rev. Hunter wanted to concentrate on all agendas of Jesus – compassion, economics, & environment. The phrase that was used by the coalition for not taking up the agendas of poverty and environment was, ‘Those are fine issues, but it’s just not us, that’s not our base.’” When did people decide what issues Christians should support?

The Christian Coalition was founded by Pat Robertson in 1989 and was very influential through the 90’s. But the group has lost influence and state chapters have splintered off – the organization has lost its way. Its base has lost its salvation? I mean poverty and environment are godly mandates, abortion and gay marriages are moral issues adopted.

What is next for the Christian Coalition is unclear, but there is plenty of room for Christian organizations with both narrow and broad agendas. But if the Coalition is going to be a leader in the modern evangelical movement, it’s going to have to get a clearer picture of its mission, mandate. Maybe it will be people like us who make the difference?

Categories: faith