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With all due respect, Mr. Smith, this comment: “Meanwhile, polling shows our fellow non-Christian citizens are less tolerant of us—catch this—because they think we are less tolerant.” … is true of many of our fellow Christians. I won’t assume, but it sounds like you consider it ironic. As a devout Christian, I look inwardly and at the evangelical followers and say, “It’s not hard to believe. It’s not ironic — it’s true.” Unless you travel to parts of the world where radicals and lunatics use their so-called faith to oppress (or worse) fellow citizens, there is no country and no denomination in the world that has mixed politics and religion like evangelicals.
I don’t think I’m unique whatsoever, in believing that the evangelical movement has done considerably more harm than good to Christianity in America the last 70 years. Our Constitution, the Bill of Rights, lays it out very plainly, the separation of church and state, and freedom of religion – which for some American citizens means they also have the right to freedom *from* religion. Sad but true.
But take it one step further in terms of what guides our daily lives: John 15:17, “This I command you, that you love one another.” There’s no text before or after that verse that provides exceptions. Like it or not, Mr. Smith, you and I have a right to our personal beliefs, but so does every American citizen who’s not a Christian, yet evangelicals judge, support legislation that limits certain unalienable rights. We are not the judge, just because we believe in Jesus. He is the judge. In my humble opinion, until evangelicals figure out that you can’t have your cake (freedom of religion) and eat it too, the Christian church will continue to wear a black eye.
Yet again, Curt Smith dances around an obvious issue because it’s bad for his donations to come out and admit that’s he’s part of the problem.
Culture has no place for a church that’s more interested in packing courts with judges interested in Christian sharia law than the teachings of Jesus. Because Jesus’ own words don’t care one whit about fighting for the right for free association. The Gospel tells Christians to help the poor and victimized. The Church grew despite oppression from the Romans for a reason, and it wasn’t because early Christians were focused on getting judges into the Roman court system.
It’s really hard to take seriously complaints about the “oppression” of the American church when you see how Christians are treated in countries like Afghanistan or China. Or when you see how Burmese churches are growing like gangbusters .. as they buy up all the buildings that formerly housed congregations on the Southside of Indianapolis. It’s very possible to have a growing, vibrant church when you focus on the right thing (Jesus) and not the wrong things (political influence).
Maybe Curt Smith should spend time learning from his Burmese brothers in Christ what they’re doing.