Conservative Christians Anxious Over Declining Clout
I first saw this article Tweeted out by Janet Mefferd, who happens to be a conservative Christian. I happen to like her and respect her, although I don’t always see eye to eye with her on every single topic.
She Tweeted a link to this article (hosted on a Fox news site) and didn’t care for it, because she feels that the author is trying to make conservative Christians look like nuts, loons, or alarmists.
I differ with her a little bit here. I think the main point of the article is right on the money.
I was a conservative Christian since youth, I’m in my 40s now. I’m only very barely holding on to the Christian faith anymore (I am strongly questioning it lately), and I am now more moderate than a hard-right winger as I used to be (not that I was ever a total wing nut, though).
Anyway, my point is, I grew up in this culture.
And yes, conservative Christians do in fact become scared, unsettled, or angry when they see culture shifting away from Judeo-Christian values and beliefs to a more secular stance. The article is quite correct in that.
I have seen conservative Christians on various news shows, Christian shows, and social media screaming, worrying, complaining, or crying about how the nation is going after Christians now, how they are upset that the nation is turning its back on God, how church membership is declining, yada yada yada.
I’m not here in this post to question if all this is in fact true. There are liberal Christians or ex- Christians who mock American Christians who feel as though America is persecuting them – that is another topic for another blog post.
But my point is that yes, it is in fact a reality, that many Christians are unsettled, fearful, or angry that American culture is becoming more secular and seemingly less friendly towards Christianity.
Here are just one or two examples (Lotz and Graham are both well-known Christians):
- (Link): Anne Graham Lotz: ‘God, You’re Bringing Judgment on America. We’re Imploding’
- (Link): Is Anne Graham Lotz right to say God allowed 9/11 ‘to show us we need him’?
- (Link): Franklin Graham Makes Prophetic Call for Daniels to Arise
- (Link): Franklin Graham Warns of the Coming Persecution in America
Some conservative Christians do have their panties in a wad over the secularization of American culture. Maybe Mrs. Mefferd doesn’t follow the same circles I do, or watch the same Christian television programs I do or read the same Christian magazines and blogs that I do, but I see this Christian fear everywhere.
Below is the link to the article she Tweeted the other day; she seems to think the reporting is inaccurate or a hit piece of sorts on Christians, but I find it pretty truthful and accurate.
There are some conservative Christians who are so afraid of societal changes, where they see Christians (from their view) being marginalized, they are doing things like encouraging white American Christians to “out breed” “the heathens.” I’ve blogged on that a time or two before (see (Link): this post).
I’ve seen some well-known Christians suggest that Christians drop out of the culture wars.
Janet Mefferd has done many radio programs stating her concern about homosexual rights groups who are suing Christian bakers and photographers for not serving homosexual weddings – so I’m rather surprised she seemed to be denying the veracity of this news report.
(Link): Conservative Christians Anxious Over Declining Clout
Excerpts:
- Conservative Christians are anxious about their future after losing the fight over gay marriage, and amid the growing share of Americans who have left organized religion. Here’s a look at why white evangelicals are feeling so alienated from other Americans and at the changes fueling this anxiety.
- WHAT’S CHANGING?
- The U.S. remains solidly Christian, but between 2007 and 2014, the share of Christians in the country dropped from about 78 percent of the population to just under 71 percent, according to the Pew Research Center.
- … The membership ranks of some evangelical denominations, such as the Southern Baptist Convention, are shrinking.
- At the same time, evangelicals are wrestling with being on the losing side of the fight over same-sex marriage. It was not only a defeat on a deeply significant religious and moral issue, but also evidence of a lack of conservative Christian influence over public opinion. More than half of Americans now support same-sex marriage.
- WHY ARE CONSERVATIVE CHRISTIANS SO ANXIOUS?
- Evangelicals are deeply worried about the fallout from the spread of LGBT rights and the growth of secularism.
- They point to cases like the fines levied on a New Mexico photographer and Oregon baker for refusing business related to gay weddings. Conservative Christians fear their schools and colleges could lose their tax-exempt status or accreditation over codes of conduct barring same-sex relationships.
- ….HOW ARE EVANGELICALS REACTING?
- Evangelicals are debating whether they should even more fiercely wage the culture war, withdraw back into their own communities or stay engaged with Americans of other views, not only to help shape public discussion of morality but also to try and bring people into the church.
Related Posts:
(Link): The Myth of the Good Ole Days by A. Bevere
(Link): Republicans Ditch Family Values As Strategy (article)
(Link): NFL Star Benjamin Watson: America Is Not a Christian Country
(Link): Some of My Thoughts Regarding ‘Why do evangelicals lose their faith?’ – Podcast by Unbelievable
(Link): The Myth of The Good Old Days (editorial by some guy)
(Link): Social Conservatives Plot ‘Coup’ Against GOP over Family Issues
(Link): Republicans Turning Backs on Christians – Social Conservatives – Values Voters
(Link): Neo Calvinists / Neo Reformed Are The New Religious Right
(Link): Republicans Turning Backs on Christians – Social Conservatives – Values Voters
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