08.30.08
In Defense of Don Miller? (or maybe not)
Posted in Culture tagged Barack Obama, benediction, bipartisan, candidate, Christian, Civil Forum, conservative, Democratic National Convention, Don Miller, election, John McCain, liberal, political race, postmodern, prayer at the DNC, Rick Warren, Saddleback, secular at 7:43 pm by breadandsham
What would it take to build credibility for Christ-followers among secularists today?
There is no hope of maintaining a Christian voice if no such voice exists. That voice had become extinct for many of us who are too young to remember Jimmy Carter. We are likely to have been presented with a polarized viewpoint on politics–an “us” verses “them” mentality.
It is somewhat odd to see an event such as the Saddleback Civil Forum. We watch it with two attitudes. The first is the strong suggestion that we ought to already have fixed our positions, declaring a sense that “this is our guy, not the other one.” The other attitude is that maybe we aren’t looking very closely at the platforms of the “other guy” and we ought to. The 30-somethings approach November 4th with the strong suggestion that we have to show such strong favoritism or disdain for each candidate, but we simply do not. We simply don’t know if it is as cut and dry–”black” and “white.”
There is a pluralistic confusion in the current political race which divides fathers and sons, brothers and friends. On the facade, it appears that to see matters of faith and politics merge means that we have made a great stride toward reconciliation–as if Rick Warren were showing us two parties who share a substantively similar worldview. But at the same time, “our” candidate is choosing to campaign by way of mud-slinging–as if to win by discrediting the “other guy.” Dirty. It’s all annoying and expensive and tired. I’d rather watch “Dancing With The Stars.” (oops, wrong generation) I’d rather watch “The Office.”
So what’s up with Don Miller? How did he get on the stage of the Democratic National Convention?
What is the place for believers, politics, and celebrity? Are we believers suppose to remain silent or champion our man? Are believers to dominate the political canvas or be private, discrete, and keep quite on the matter?
Generation X is not silent on very many issues. Thus, in so few words, Generation X essentially presents us with Barack Obama.
More and more, there is not one certain party that clearly embraces or opposes shared values that matter most to Christian believers. You or I may not have the guts, the genius, nor the celebrity to do what Don has been invited to do when he concluded the democratic convention in prayer by Obama supporters’ request. Immediately, I wanted to be offended–to view it as treasonous. After viewing the video attached to the top of my post, I grant him more than pardon, I offer a standing ovation.
(update: October 2008)
Today, I’m not as quick to applaud. I simply don’t think that Don has been getting his newspaper. Frankly, I’m frustrated.
1. It’s about far more than pro-life or pro-choice. I get it. But this leads me to number 2.
2. If the important issues are to move beyond a cultural stalemate brought about bipartisan politics, then I believe that Don has cut off his nose to spite his face.
3. What matters to me that are not important to Don or his favorite, black (affirmative action), historic, candidate:
a. The responsible end to the humanitarian aid in Iraq.
b. It’s not about race or gender, its about economy and security.
c. McCain does not equal 4 more years of Bush. Thus the “hatchet” mentality on government spending.
d.. Educational Vouchers
e. Christian values and right to life.
f. Strong-handed defense and preemptive strikes on Iran or N. Korea if needed.
g. a balanced federal budget.
The ABC’s for Don or anyone else who just want to see a black man become president of the U.S.
Left (liberal)—————————-Moderate———————-Right (conservative)
Here’s Barack…….Hilary…….Bill Clinton……..McCain……..Bush
ncarnes said,
August 30, 2008 at 8:09 pm
I liked a good bit of what Don said in this video, but my honest opinion towards this is that he loses some credibility in what he is saying when he out rightly attacks and criticizes Republicans almost to an annoying level in his book “Blue Like Jazz.” – I firmly believe that liberals can be Christians just as Conservatives can be Christians, but what I see a lot of “liberal” (in the political sense) Christians doing is taking their political views and trying to wrap them around some scriptural context, just as Don accused Conservative Christians of doing because we may support the war. I Support the war, but not one time have I tried to find scripture to back up that claim, however I see liberal Christians who are concerned with AIDS/HIV, Poverty, and other like issues using scripture to back up their claim as to why the Government should turn itself into a socialist operation to answer those needs. The Bible calls the church to tackle those issues, not the Government, yet liberal Christians want to use the Government to carry out their passions, and I believe to a point they believe it will make Christ happy, but I disagree. I think it makes him happy when people give and serve and try to make a difference because its in their heart not because Government is forcing it on them and stealing their money to make it happen.
Its funny, books like Un-Christian attack and put down Christians with conservative views saying they are too political, yet liberal Christians do the same thing…its just an effort to silent those who actually have different political views than them, not different religious views. I lost a lot of respect when Don decided to use his prayer platform at the DNC to give a speech on his liberal policy issues. I think he would gain a lot more credibility if he put forth the same efforts to make a difference through both parties, but you cannot do that when your political views create a bias in your Christian ministry. I like a lot of what Don does with his foundation, but currently I see him as a Democrat Christian who is using Christianity to push his liberal views, and that is why it was so easy for him to answer the call to talk with the democrats when they requested it. He also speaks about his democrat activism in Blue Like Jazz, so I think he, needs to do a little more reaching across the isle to be taken serious outside of being viewed as a biased Christian democrat.
Charles said,
September 2, 2008 at 7:18 am
I don’t have a problem with Don Miller praying (or rather, giving the benediction) at the Democratic party convention, any more than I’m bothered by a Christian leader appearing among the Republicans. What troubles me is the belief among many evangelicals that one party or the other is more biblical in its values. The reality is that neither party is enough in line with the Scriptures that Christians should wholeheartedly support that party’s agenda. But that doesn’t mean that Christians should avoid participating in the political process and even work within one party or another to accomplish their goals. The danger is not being involved; the danger lies in coming to believe that any human political party can represent authoritatively the full values of the biblical tradition.
What discourages me the most about the evnagelical church is that so many believers don’t get it. They do not think deeply enough and prayerfully enough about the issues of the day from a Christian viewpoint that they adopt whatever their pastor or some Christian celebrity says about an issue. That has led Christians today to vote for candidates who oppose abortion, but who also believe in giving taxpayer money to major corporations in subsidies and tax relief. That doesn’t make much sense to me.
And it remains very difficult to discuss issues with many evangelicals today because the minute you begin to question any of their suppositions, they trot out all their simplistic labels to explain away all of your questions. They assume everyone who disagrees with them is a liberal, whereas anyone who has traditional conservative values ALSO will disagree with the stuff that passes for political “conservatism” today. The world is a complex place, and I’m glad to see someone like Donald Miller willing to take a stand outside the evangelical comfort zone. As long as he remembers that the Democrats are not any more divinely inspired than the Republicans. And if he puts his trust in any political leaders, he will find his trust eventually stamped upon and his hopes dashed. For, as the psalmist says, “there is no one who behaves righteously–no, not one.”
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December 25, 2008 at 9:04 am
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