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Is Evangelical Morality Still Acceptable in America?
The Atlantic ^ | 07/17/2014 | Alan Noble

Posted on 07/17/2014 7:09:20 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

People who disagree with same-sex marriage and birth-control use have been met with accusations of bigotry. Are some Christians being unfairly shamed out of the public sphere?

Is evangelical Christian morality still viable in American public life? This is the question lurking in recent debates over religious-liberty issues, from the Supreme Court’s Hobby Lobby decision to the Christian bakers who object to baking cakes for gay weddings. In discussions of these cases, objections to same-sex marriage and contraception are described as a retreat from “secular society.” And in some cases, evangelicals actually have retreated: Since the Boy Scouts of America decided to allow openly gay Scouts to participate, a “Christian” alternative has been created, giving Christian parents a "safe" space where they can send their kids. But these incidences of retreat have actually been rare. Ultimately, the idea that evangelical Christian morality is incompatible with modern life isn’t sustainable.

In The Atlantic, Jonathan Rauch argued that if the evangelical church is to last long into the twenty-first century, certain parts of its moral codes have to change—American society is progressing, and if the church won't progress with her, then it will be abandoned.

This is based on a popular conception about evangelicals: that they’re toxic. The refusal to serve gay weddings is called bigotry. Laws written to protect businesses that refuse to provide such services are compared to Jim Crow laws. Hobby Lobby's unwillingness to pay for certain contraceptives is derided as misogynistic.

(Excerpt) Read more at theatlantic.com ...


TOPICS: Evangelical Christian; Moral Issues; Religion & Culture; Religion & Politics
KEYWORDS: abortion; academicbias; alannoble; antichristian; antitheism; contraception; culturewar; evangelicals; hobbylobbyaftermath; homonaziagenda; homonazism; homosexualagenda; hookupculture; jonathanrauch; moralabsolutes; morality; morals; religiousliberty; samesexmarriage; sexpositiveagenda; smashthepatriarchy; waronchristianity; waronreligion; waronwomenmeme
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1 posted on 07/17/2014 7:09:20 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

No, it’s getting less acceptable all the time!

Of course we see that Jesus says it will become more and more like the time of Noah and the world-wide flood. Jesus says that judgement will come once again, because of this deteriorating condition.

Get ready for the return of Jesus, the Messiah of Israel!


2 posted on 07/17/2014 7:15:52 AM PDT by Star Traveler (Remember to keep the Messiah of Israel in the One-World Government that we look forward to coming)
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To: SeekAndFind; GeronL

THOUSANDS of years of universal belief (not just under “Christianity” but around the globe for hundreds of generations homosexuality and abortion were taboo).

All of this post-68 Red Revolution crap CAN be beat down.

50 million dead babies in America alone from abortion.

Widespread birth control in the West has seen birth rates plummet (including problems with fertility when the couples DO decide to procreate).

We are told the “solution” is to import more foreigners (who are alien to the concepts of the native government).

This has been a socialist plot to smash the establishment and kill of the natives (through self-administered genocide).

The “new morality” is immoral. By who’s standard is this “moral”?


3 posted on 07/17/2014 7:15:55 AM PDT by a fool in paradise (The new witchhunt: "Do you NOW, . . . or have you EVER , . . supported traditional marriage?")
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To: SeekAndFind
B+. An unexpectedly thoughtful treatment of the subject from a secular mainstream publication.
4 posted on 07/17/2014 7:17:54 AM PDT by ConservingFreedom (A goverrnment strong enough to impose your standards is strong enough to ban them.)
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To: SeekAndFind

“if you keep My word, then you are truly My disciples . And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (Jesus, John 8:31)

“Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Jesus, Revelation 2:10)

As the old hymn says, “I’m but a stranger here. Heaven is my home.”


5 posted on 07/17/2014 7:18:15 AM PDT by txrefugee
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To: Star Traveler

“still acceptable”... hmmmm...

That implies that something has changed, and it’s not God.


6 posted on 07/17/2014 7:19:18 AM PDT by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter admits whom he's working for)
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To: SeekAndFind
Jonathan Rauch argued that if the evangelical church is to last long into the twenty-first century, certain parts of its moral codes have to change

Then it ceases to be a Christian church and instead becomes a social club.

7 posted on 07/17/2014 7:20:57 AM PDT by ScottinVA (If it doesn't include border security, it isn't "reform." It's called "amnesty.")
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To: a fool in paradise
50 million dead babies.

It's so odd. You would THINK that those women who would ABORT their own flesh and blood would take some of the MANY, MANY and EASY precautionary birth control measures.

Having abortions ISN'T like taking a couple of aspirin, so WHY would these baby-murderers put themselves through the dangers of abortion? It's so much easier and safer to NOT get pregnant.

Do they WANT to kill their babies? 50 million women did...

God have mercy on those poor babies.

8 posted on 07/17/2014 7:21:46 AM PDT by cloudmountain
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To: ScottinVA
Then it ceases to be a Christian church and instead becomes a social club.

You have a GOOD point.

I sometimes wonder if they aren't that already.

9 posted on 07/17/2014 7:22:56 AM PDT by cloudmountain
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To: MrB

Christianity flourishes under persecution. Let them scream all they want to. They have no weapons to defeat God.


10 posted on 07/17/2014 7:23:27 AM PDT by WVNan
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To: SeekAndFind
This is based on a popular conception about evangelicals: that they’re toxic

Which explains in part why Christians will again face mass persecution. The left is laying the groundwork for it.

11 posted on 07/17/2014 7:24:07 AM PDT by ScottinVA (If it doesn't include border security, it isn't "reform." It's called "amnesty.")
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To: SeekAndFind

Let’s list the fallacies this idiotic article has:

-doesn’t recognize that the Hobby Lobby case is a fiscally conservative decision rather than one dealing with access to abortion. If you can’t pay for something, tough s***. Don’t come crying to taxpayers.
-People should have the right to refuse service to anyone for any reason. Go patronize a cake store which supports sodomites instead of forcing a Christian one to comply. If you can’t find one, tough s***, you don’t have a legally sanctioned right to a Sodomite cake.
-Compares Christian morality, synonymous with correctness, to the morality of the death cult Islam.
-believes that Christians should go along with society rather than try to make it become Christian, a viewpoint which would lead to the death of Christianity and has led to the deaths of millions of unborn babies.


12 posted on 07/17/2014 7:25:28 AM PDT by Objective Scrutator (All liberals are criminals, and all criminals are liberals)
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To: SeekAndFind

This is why the phrase “God Bless America” is tragically comical. God DID bless America during its founding, but this country went badly astray, turning away from that blessing.

Some say we need Divine intervention... that’s what I believe is occurring now, but I suspect God is highly pissed at this country, so that intervention may not be what we prefer.


13 posted on 07/17/2014 7:27:45 AM PDT by ScottinVA (If it doesn't include border security, it isn't "reform." It's called "amnesty.")
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To: ScottinVA

RE: This is why the phrase “God Bless America” is tragically comical

How about IN GOD WE TRUST embedded in our currency?


14 posted on 07/17/2014 7:31:44 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

God gave us all free will.

People are free to ignore and resist evangelicals, or any religion.

The Christian movement has had its ups and downs for centuries.

If you are an evangelical, you should be impervious to all this as it is normal. The task is the same as ever.


15 posted on 07/17/2014 7:39:42 AM PDT by SaxxonWoods (....Let It Burn...)
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To: SeekAndFind
In The Atlantic, Jonathan Rauch argued that if the evangelical church is to last long into the twenty-first century, certain parts of its moral codes have to change—American society is progressing, and if the church won't progress with her, then it will be abandoned.

Jonathan Rauch has it backwards. IF American society is to last long into the twenty-first century, the Evangelical church will need to flourish. If not, America will be abandoned - as fallen Empires of yore.

Psalms 9:17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.

16 posted on 07/17/2014 7:44:16 AM PDT by El Cid (Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house...)
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To: SeekAndFind

Nope. Not in the least. Not even close. And it will only get worse. We are a dwindling few that hold the torch.


17 posted on 07/17/2014 7:48:12 AM PDT by RIghtwardHo
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To: a fool in paradise

**50 million dead babies. **

And who knows how many babies weren’t even born because of the selfishness of contraception?


18 posted on 07/17/2014 7:49:06 AM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Salvation

Exactly. The focus of society has radically shifted.

This isn’t to say that couples would’ve had all of those kids, but it has pushed up the average age for marriage and pushed down the overall rate of marriage.

Hookup culture means never having to say ANYTHING.


19 posted on 07/17/2014 7:52:52 AM PDT by a fool in paradise (The new witchhunt: "Do you NOW, . . . or have you EVER , . . supported traditional marriage?")
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To: Salvation
And who knows how many babies weren’t even born because of the selfishness of contraception?

Still need more research; my theory is the USA as we knew it is gone, not from illegal immigration, but from the reduced birthdate of American women since the widespread use of contraception.

20 posted on 07/17/2014 7:58:41 AM PDT by af_vet_1981 (The bus came by and I got on, That's when it all began)
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