As we approach the general election, the term “evangelicals” will once again be understood as a homogeneous group of individuals who are mostly associated with the Republican Party. The term will be used by the media in terms of this group’s political leanings and will be completely divorced from the context of faith. Although it is not completely the media’s fault that the representation of “evangelicals” may be rather unfair given how vocal many pastors and churches have been in regard to their one-sided political positions, it is also not fair to isolate the term from its Christian faith. I know personally many friends who may fall under the category of “evangelicals” and, yes, they only watch Fox News, have a “W” sticker right by an NRA one in the back of their cars and literally despise any of the “unchurched” as they have made it known to me. On the other hand, I know friends who are also “evangelicals” and are deeply in love with God and go from one church to another seeking to fulfill their longing for community. Although I am a Catholic and they know it, a few of my friends from the latter group of “evangelical” friends have come to me with very deep concerns about their pastor’s political leanings and how they cannot reconcile them with what they read in the Bible day in and day out. I have to say that I have been deeply moved with how heart-wrenching these issues are to my friends: “Do I leave the church and the community that I love just because of my pastor’s political views?”
Whether they despise the unchurched or disagree with their pastor’s views, these are people that do a lot for the communities around them. I have seen how they reach out to families in need and go out of their ways to help. I experienced this firsthand when I lived in Louisiana and how right after Hurricane Katrina and Rita these churches were literally opening their doors to people in need and were offering to pay for hotels or meals to those who were homeless after the storms. As a Catholic, I have to say that these people sometimes make me feel like a mediocre Christian, to say the least. I have learned very valuable lessons from all of them on how to become a true Christian. This is why I feel that the term “evangelical” understood strictly within a political context is absolutely unfair.
At the same time, many evangelical leaders feel that it is the responsibility of the evangelicals themselves to make the term have less of a political association and I commend them for doing that and that is the main reason behind the Evangelical Manifesto: A Declaration of Evangelical Identity and Public Commitment. I personally feel that “evangelicals” (as well as Catholics) have been used in the latest elections, because politicians know what issues, as Christians, are important to us and they change their political rhetoric to fit our needs. Enough is enough. We need to become credible Christians by making the world understand the why of our political positions. We need to dialogue so we can make others understand our arguments, but at the same time without compromising our views, because they are simply true.
“Evangelicals” are learning their lesson and so should we. They are learning that it can be indeed dangerous when Christians associate themselves strictly with one political party. My theory is that we should make politicians fight for our votes (like banks fighting for customers in the LendingTree commercial) and make them accountable for the way they vote in Congress or the laws they sign. What is the fear of not having a party at all? Why do we feel that we have to have a political party? What do we fear to go at it by ourselves? We cannot ever allow a political party to think that they will “automatically” get our vote regardless of the direction the party as a whole may take. If the issues we fight for in the public arena are so important and we believe they are true, then we should fight as if they were regardless of political lines and let these parties know that they will not box Christians into whatever category they feel it is appropriate. Enough with the Christian mediocrity. Enough with making up excuses for politicians and the immoral decisions they make after we elect them. Enough is enough. Let us stand up without fear of not having a political party and make our God and the truths revealed to us through Our Lord Jesus Christ credible once again by letting them know “the reason for our hope”:
“But even if you should suffer because of righteousness, blessed are you. Do not be afraid or terrified with fear of them, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, but do it with gentleness and reverence, keeping your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who defame your good conduct in Christ may themselves be put to shame.” (1 Peter 3:14-16)
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