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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Stop bashing evangelicals
I'm fed up with a bunch of people -- some of whom say they are Christian -- whacking evangelicals.
Evangelicals are Christians who think it is important to spread the good news of the Gospels. I'm a Christian, but not an evangelical. I agree with my minister, Robert Campbell, of Westminster United Church, who said in a sermon: "I think I would just die if Jesus ever paired me up with another disciple and sent me out to knock on doors."
But, he quickly added, we can spread the good news by living our lives to show "the true power in this world is the power of peace, of hospitality, of simplicity, of restoration, of healing, of reconciliation."
From my experience, I think a lot of evangelicals would agree with that.
But is it right to proclaim Jesus in a multi-faith world? Jim Christie of the University of Winnipeg, a leading theologian who knows a lot about the ecumenical movement, says yes. "If you can preach your religion," he says, "then I can preach mine."
Some writers belabour evangelicals because they confuse the terms evangelical and fundamentalist. Fundamentalists form a minority of most religions, including Christianity. They take their holy books literally. A man, for example, did live in a whale. They have a problem, though, in trying to fit age-old descriptions and prescriptions to contemporary life.
Evangelicals are back in the news again because of a new book by journalist Marci McDonald, The Armageddon Factor: The Rise of Christian Nationalism in Canada.
"What drives (the) growing Christian nationalist movement is its adherents' conviction that the end times foretold in the Book of Revelations are at hand," she writes. "Braced for an impending apocalypse, they feel impelled to ensure that Canada assumes a unique, scripturally ordained role in the final days before the second coming -- and little else."
I think she's talking about fundamentalists, who have been preaching about the end of the world ever since I was a kid.
McDonald is also worried about the fact some evangelicals take a big interest in politics. Having worked in politics for some years, I have to say they are not the only ones. Wandering around with politicians, it's difficult not to trip over Islamists, ardent reformers from the United Church, aboriginal elders and dedicated Catholics -- all of whom want something done about suffering in the world.
The issue that sets off religious fireworks is abortion. We learned last week public servants thought Ottawa's presentation to the G20 on maternal and child-health programs for Africa should include "safe abortion services (when abortion is legal)." The government did not take this advice.
Hillary Clinton, who might be called the leader of the Canadian Liberal party, soon complained about lack of principle. Her adjutant, Michael Ignatieff, agreed with her. Now, I believe in freedom of choice for women on abortions, but abortion is a sensitive issue in Africa and some G20 countries. I don't think we should jeopardize a useful program for African women and children by shoving our ideas on abortion down a bunch of throats.
St. Hillary seemed to be saying my way is the only way -- and that sounds a lot like a Liberal fundamentalist.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper tried to clarify matters by making it known the government would neither initiate nor support legislation on abortion. And he said he would not vote for Winnipeg Tory MP Rod Bruinooge's bill that would add new Criminal Code penalties for those who coerce women to have an abortion.
Rather than worrying about Harper and abortion, religious people should be supporting an international religious event in Winnipeg June 21-23 that will see 80 high-profile religious leaders collaborate on a message to the G8/G20 meetings.
The religious leaders want the G8/G20 to remain true to the development goals the United Nations ratified 10 years ago. At present, many G8 nations are well behind in meeting their goals.
"Society is growing ever more ambivalent (toward) the role and influence of the world's faiths and their leaders. This is ultimately an exercise in proclaiming what we believe together and acting on it together," says Karen Hamilton, general secretary of the Canadian Council of Churches.
She notes virtually all the world's major faith traditions hold to some form of the golden rule: Treat your neighbour as yourself.
The conference's guest list is impressive: The spectrum of Christian faith traditions as well as comprehensive representation from Jewish, Islam, Buddhist, aboriginal, Hindu, Sikh, Baha'i, Shintoist faith communities and others.
As my grandpa used to say; "That's a lot of hay in the hayloft."
The conference's experienced hosts are not going to jeopardize the useful work that can be done by dogmatically insisting on issues that create sparks.
Tom Ford is managing editor of The Issues Network.
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 31, 2010 A14
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