1. Another evangelical (Erick Erickson) fighting with James Martin over the tax bill, this time citing an old conservative theological argument about personal vs. government responsibility.
This is an old argument, and requires a bit of context.
This is an old argument, and requires a bit of context.
2. The firmest rejection (recently) of a hyper-individualized Jesus came in the early 20th century with the rise of the Social Gospel—a movement rooted in fighting SOCIAL sin.
Social sin, as you can imagine, was articulated as something governments can do. A lot.
Social sin, as you can imagine, was articulated as something governments can do. A lot.
3. The most famous American theological work in this space is the aptly named “A Theology for the Social Gospel,” by Walter Rauschenbusch.
MLK was a big fan, saying, “His writings left an indelible imprint on my thinking.” christianitytoday.com/history/people…
MLK was a big fan, saying, “His writings left an indelible imprint on my thinking.” christianitytoday.com/history/people…
4. This was also the theological grounding for much of what we now call the early progressive movement—yes, the same one that lead to modern progressives.
Social Gospel devotees were BIG fans of FDR’s New Deal. FDR’s Secretary of Labor, Frances Perkins, was one.
Social Gospel devotees were BIG fans of FDR’s New Deal. FDR’s Secretary of Labor, Frances Perkins, was one.
5. You know who wasn’t a fan?
More than a few fundamentalists, such as Dwight Moody, who thought preaching about social issues distracted from spreading the gospel.
He went on to found the Moody Bible Institute, which still exists. It’s deeply conservative.
More than a few fundamentalists, such as Dwight Moody, who thought preaching about social issues distracted from spreading the gospel.
He went on to found the Moody Bible Institute, which still exists. It’s deeply conservative.
6. This coincided w/a giant debate between Liberal Christians (largely Social Gospel types) and fundamentalists (the progenitors to most modern evangelicals). This was a big deal at the time.
In the public sphere, the fundamentalists mostly lost. Liberal Christians ran things.
In the public sphere, the fundamentalists mostly lost. Liberal Christians ran things.
7. But fundamentalists weren’t super stoked about losing. And neither were big business/corporate types unhappy with the New Deal.
Eventually, they started working together, as @KevinMKruse chronicles here: amazon.com/One-Nation-Und…
Eventually, they started working together, as @KevinMKruse chronicles here: amazon.com/One-Nation-Und…
8. The result was an ideology/theology best described as Christian libertarianism.
You know what they really liked? Individualism. You know what they didn’t like? Government.
See Kruse here. npr.org/templates/tran…
You know what they really liked? Individualism. You know what they didn’t like? Government.
See Kruse here. npr.org/templates/tran…
9. This theology morphed a bit over time, but it became a key part of the Religious Right when they rose in the 60s, 80s, and even today.
Republicans voiced versions of it often this year, as I noted here. thinkprogress.org/bad-theology-c…
Republicans voiced versions of it often this year, as I noted here. thinkprogress.org/bad-theology-c…
10. You may have also heard Donald Trump voice a version of it on the stump, when he uses versions of the line, “We worship God, not government.” npr.org/2017/10/13/557…
