Posted on 11/03/2007 2:28:38 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
The cover story of Sunday’s New York Times Magazine pronounced the demise of the religious right in America. The ranks are demoralized, split, and liberal evangelicals are taking over with a new agenda for the environment and the poor. On the editorial page, the acerbic Frank Rich coordinated his column with the magazine, concluding, “Inauguration Day 2009 is at the very least Armageddon for the reigning ayatollahs of the American right.”
Wow! Just three years ago the press touted conservative evangelicals as the most powerful voting block in America. What happened?
Nothing. The press is up to its old tricks. When I was in the White House, the press heralded me as Nixon’s brilliant political strategist. Then within a year, once having built me up, I was called the “White House hatchet man” and a lot worse. The press loves to create monsters, build them up, and then take credit for slaying them. It sells papers.
The press’s portrayal of the religious right was always a caricature. Take Jerry Falwell. They had fun printing unflattering pictures of him and playing up his extreme statements. Yet they paid no attention to the good things Jerry did, like reaching out to homosexuals and unwed mothers. And the same thing applies to Jim Dobson. He is upbraided for his political statements, but his heroic defense of the family is ignored.
And where was the press in 1999 when Bill Bennett and I started a campaign against sexual trafficking? Or when I and others, like Franklin Graham, urged President Bush to fight against AIDS in Africa? And how about the legislation to stop prison rape or enact prisoner reentry legislation? The media yawns.
Now they say we are dying, but the agenda has not changed one lick in the last 15 years. All evangelicals—Rick Warren, Bill Hybels, Jim Dobson, Jim Wallis, Ron Sider—all of us, right and left, in our own way, are battling for traditional values, defending life, and pursuing justice and caring for the poor. We do it in the name of God, which is what sets the media’s teeth on edge. And sure, abortion has been out front—and has been since the first century—because it goes to the whole dignity of human life. It’s what drives me to go into the prisons and care about prisoners.
What is really happening here is that the liberal media, aided by liberal politicians, is desperately anxious to marginalize the evangelical movement and to try to drive a wedge between us and get us fighting. So, the most important thing, right now, is for serious evangelicals of all political interests to join together to proclaim the Good News, protect the family, build the Church, help the suffering, and defend the truth—all the while avoiding, as I have written for years, becoming a special interest group or placing ourselves in the hip pocket of one political party.
I am sorry to spoil the fun of the New York Times, but Inauguration in 2009 will not be Armageddon for the religious right or religious left or evangelicals, unless we fight each other, which is what the press really wants. It makes the best copy.
But if we reject their prophecy, a biased caricature, we will prove the New York Times wrong. All we are called to do is to stick to our job and work together.
No matter who wins or loses the election, I am sorry to tell you, Mr. Rich, the kingdom of God will continue to reign stronger than ever on Inauguration morning.
Hallelujah!!!
Thank you!!! ;-)
“..the kingdom of God will continue to reign stronger than ever on Inauguration morning.”
That is one shining light in this otherwise depressing world of politics.
Very smart man, Mr. Colson.
The media may find that dividing and conquering is harder with some people than with others.
What a puppy Frank Rich is. Time he grew up.
Chuck is for shamnesty. I used to send his ministry money before he spouted off about that.
Right on. They will drive me into sending a little more money, and I have less to give than I used to.
Worth repeating....
Chuck is a God send, his books and devotion to prison ministry has given him The Good Life.
As for "... a new agenda for the environment and the poor.", that's part of the Religious Right's natural policy realm.
While I see the drift to the middle-left in some people, I think there’s a strong core there no matter who’s in power.
Colson is right about one thing.
The MSM-Clinton strategy is to divide and conquer at every turn.
That’s why I reject the third party concept completely.
It is very hard to take a little of the poison that comes with politics, we still have to chose the lesser of the evils.
This is why the MSM pushes periodic vote splitting candidates.
They distract the weak with ronpaul.
They TRIED to rehabilitate McCain and failed.
They currently push a dead ender like Huckabee.
They are continuing to foist Rhodham Giuliani on us as a no choice but to vote for Hillary or vote for Hillary.
The leftists of the MSM want to discourage the conservatives as much as possible.
This is why they are not pushing “let every vote count this time.”
Beware the emerging church!
Beware contemplative spirituality!
Beware purpose-driven anything!
I recommend the book “Faith Undone” for better understanding of these false teachings that are deceiving the church. I am reading it now.
bump
The MSM greatly exaggerated the influence of the religious right, and now they exaggerate their decline.
Build up, tear down, & repeat.
sounds like what Frank Rich really wants is to destroy truth, that way he can have liscence to do anything (sin including destructive habits and behaviors) he wants, without consequences including being held accountable by God..it’s a pride thing, I’m sure that he won’t come to Christ..! THAT’S HIS ANAMOSITY: (And many like him..)
I’m sorry that sounds wrong: What I meant is not to prophecy that he will never come to cross; but that this explains his current Anamosity toward Christ (and His followers..)!
Thanks Abigail A. ;).
You are welcome! Just trying to do what I can to warn people about these heresies. :-)
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