What's the "Christian Right" up to?
By P. Andrew Sandlin
Published April 2008
Welcome the Disciples of the New Humility
Strange noises have issued from certain quarters of evangelicalism ever since the election of Bill Clinton. Some of the very Christians on the vanguard of vocal support for the advancement of the Christian faith in the “secular public square” and opposition to entrenched evil in public and social life – abortion, homosexuality, permissiveness, and so forth – have changed their tune dramatically. They have argued that the presidential election of the new democrat (read: old liberal) heralds a change in strategy in addressing the problems of social evil. Further, they have argued that those retaining the strategy they themselves have, by and large, employed for the last fifteen or so years are proud, pharisaic and divisive.
These evangelicals contend that the election of Clinton somehow indicates God is not pleased with our public, pronounced opposition to societal evils, and that we should repent of our causticity and pride and practice a degree of humility in dealing with the new regime in Washington. Some have gone so far as to extol the virtues of this new king, insisting his evident “waffling” on the issues is a sign of his sensitivity to the “Lord’s leading.” We must, the converts to the new humility assert, follow 2 Chronicles 7:14 (ironically the same text they used in the 70s and 80s to justify their return to the political sphere) and repent of our pride in trying to alter political structures and humble ourselves before God.
True humility is obedience to God
This new evangelical opinion, noble in tone, is nonetheless another example of the ubiquity of muddled thinking in modern evangelicalism. To be sure, humility is a requirement of the people of God: “God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time” (1 Peter 5:5,6). We are warned of the consequences of pride: “Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18). If we as the people of God, who of all people have the least justification for pride (Eph. 2:8,9), nonetheless entertain it in our lives, we stand under divine sanctions.
But the disciples of the new humility are confounding apples with FAX machines. For “humility” in the face of evil is not evidence of virtue, but proof of compromise of God’s honor. Indeed, says Solomon in Proverbs 25:26, “A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.”
The converts of the new humility do not recognize that humility before God and neighbor requires fierce resistance to the wicked and their tyranny. They do not perceive that we cannot exercise humility before God if we refuse to guard His honor. Would the converts of the new humility depict Elijah’s taunting of the prophets of Baal, John the Baptist’s confrontation of Herod, and Paul’s denunciation of the Judaizers as humble? They should. Like Moses, the meekest man in the earth (Num. 12:3), courageous individuals in Scripture were so concerned to protect the honor of God that their humility toward Him required their vocal confrontation of evil and evildoers. They were so vocal and confrontational precisely because they were truly humble.
The disciples of the new humility, by contrast, seem infected by two ideational diseases: kenosis and experientialism.
- Kenosis – a conviction that self-abasement is inherently more “spiritual” than lack thereof. It tends to dominate Oriental conceptions of spirituality. The disciples of the new humility somehow seem to think groveling in the face of murder and aversion to God’s law as an approach to the wicked is preferable. They believe we should be humble before, not contend with, law breakers. Possibly this trait is due to a century’s influence of antinomian liberalism; but whatever its cause, its effect has been the emasculation of the evangelical church and the concomitant escalation of evil in the private and public spheres.
- Experientialism – the idea that rigorous theological reflection and a resultant sound theology are unnecessary and distasteful and do not contribute to real Christianity: feeling good and getting excited about Jesus. In the case of the disciples of the new humility, the approach is having disastrous consequences.
The revival of social and political activism among evangelicals over the last two decades was basically and ad hoc endeavor: they perceived the pervasiveness of unrighteousness and loss of liberty in the United States and, acting instinctively and intuitively, devoted their time energy to combating these evils. They were not on the whole acting on theological grounds, for their theology, especially their social theory and eschatology, would not permit such activism, at least not with consistency. They overlooked the inconsistency their activism posed to their theology, and plunged in. When they discovered that the election of Reagan and Bush to the presidency did not significantly reverse the social depravity and that the war they waged was extensive and laborious, and especially when they saw what many of them interpreted as a defeat with the election of Clinton, they largely threw in the towel as far as activism is concerned.
There is a simple reason for this abandonment. They did not possess a solid and robust theology (including social theory and ecclesiology) by which long term activism will be sustained; therefore, their instinctive and reckless activism was short-lived. An activism not supported by a sound theology will always be short-lived.
If they are to become effective in their activism, the disciples of the new humility may take up two powerful weapons.
1. A social theory undergirded by a conviction of the relevance of divine Biblical law which in its applicability to modern society may serve as an instrument of dominion.
2. A victorious ecclesiology that sees the church as presently reigning with Christ (Ephesians 1:20-23;2:5,6) and therefore not merely privileged but under compulsion to combat evil in all earthly spheres with the confidence of success by the hand of God.
In their pietism, conversely, the discplies of the new humility have a confidence that God has predestinated Satan’s kingdom to defeat Christ’s kingdom in the present age and that all their activistic endeavors to oppose God’s predestination of Satanic success are doomed to failure. The conversion of the disciples of humility indicates they are perhaps seriously considering abandoning their activism and becoming consistent with their pietistic theology: they wish to be humble before the godless and are uncomfortable around those who wish to be haughty before the godless in order to be humble before God.
We wish the activistic evangelicals would make up their minds: either retreat into their haven of fatalistic pietism or champion the cause of biblical revival and reformation by which they can sustain a long-term and successful campaign against Satan’s kingdom.
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The Silent Scream (DVD) Eight Languages
“When the lives of the unborn are snuffed out, they often feel pain, pain that is long and agonizing.” – President Ronald Reagan to National Religious Broadcasters Convention, January 1981
Ronald Reagan became convinced of this as a result of watching The Silent Scream – a movie he considered so powerful and convicting that he screened it at the White House. More recently, it was by catching just a glimpse of what this film reveals that Planned Parenthood director and abortion advocate Abby Johnson turned and became a strong advocate for the pre-born.
The modern technology of real-time ultrasound now reveals the actual responses of a 12-week old fetus to being aborted. As the unborn child attempts to escape the abortionist’s suction curette, her motions can be seen to become desperately agitated and her heart rate doubles. Her mouth opens – as if to scream – but no sound can come out. Her scream doesn’t have to remain silent, however … not if you will become her voice. This newly re-mastered version features eight language tracks and two bonus videos.
“…a high technology “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” arousing public opinion just as Harriet Beecher Stowe’s 1852 antislavery novel ignited the abolitionist movement.” – Sen. Gordon Humphrey, Time Magazine
Languages: English, Spanish, French, South Korean, Chinese, Russian, Portuguese, Japanese
Running Time: 28 minutes
$17.95 — ORDER NOW!
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Reversing Roe: The Norma McCorvey Story (DVD)
In 1969, a pregnant 21 year old Norma McCorvey felt abortion was her only answer. He case was used to challenge the Texas abortion law and she eventually became the Jane Roe of the 1973 US Supreme Court decision, Roe v Wade. She never had an abortion, but instead became an icon in the national abortion debate. For 22 years, Norma McCorvey’s life was a battlefield. She worked inside abortion clinics. She promoted legalized abortion. But she was tormented by what she saw and felt. In the summer of 1995, her life changed forever.
Through the friendship of a pro-life leader and a special invitation from a 7-year old child, Jane Roe finally died so Norma Leah McCorvey could live. This is her story.
Running Time: 28 minutes
Watch a clip from Reversing Roe.
$19.95 — ORDER NOW!
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The Real Jesus: A Defense of the Historicity and Divinity of Christ (DVD)
Who is the Real Jesus?
Ever since the dawn of modern rationalism, skeptics have sought to use textual criticism, archeology and historical reconstructions to uncover the “historical Jesus” — a wise teacher who said many wonderful things, but fulfilled no prophecies, performed no miracles and certainly did not rise from the dead in triumph over sin.
Over the past 100 years, however, startling discoveries in biblical archeology and scholarship have all but vanquished the faulty assumptions of these doubting modernists. Regrettably, these discoveries have often been ignored by the skeptics as well as by the popular media. As a result, the liberal view still holds sway in universities and impacts the culture and even much of the church.
The Real Jesus explodes the myths of these critics and the movies, books and television programs that have popularized their views. Presented in ten parts — perfect for individual, family and classroom study — viewers will be challenged to go deeper in their knowledge of Christ in order to be able to defend their faith and present the truth to a skeptical modern world – that the Jesus of the Gospels is the Jesus of history — “the same yesterday, today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). He is the real Jesus.
Speakers include: George Grant, Ted Baehr, Stephen Mansfield, Raymond Ortlund, Phil Kayser, David Lutzweiler, Jay Grimstead, J.P. Holding, and Eric Holmberg.
Ten parts, over two hours of instruction!
Running Time: 130 minutes
$19.95 — ORDER NOW!
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The Beast of Revelation: Identified (DVD)
Who is the dreaded beast of Revelation?
Now at last, a plausible candidate for this personification of evil incarnate has been identified (or re-identified). Ken Gentry’s insightful analysis of scripture and history is likely to revolutionize your understanding of the book of Revelation — and even more importantly — amplify and energize your entire Christian worldview!
Historical footage and other graphics are used to illustrate the lecture Dr. Gentry presented at the 1999 Ligonier Conference in Orlando, Florida. It is followed by a one-hour question and answer session addressing the key concerns and objections typically raised in response to his position. This presentation also features an introduction that touches on not only the confusion and controversy surrounding this issue — but just why it may well be one of the most significant issues facing the Church today.
Ideal for group meetings, personal Bible study — for anyone who wants to understand the historical context of John’s famous letter “… to the seven churches which are in Asia.” (Revelation 1:4)
Running Time: 145 minutes
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Amazing Grace: The History and Theology of Calvinism (DVD)
Download the Free Study Guide!
Just what is Calvinism?
Does this teaching make man a deterministic robot and God the author of sin? What about free will? If the church accepts Calvinism, won’t evangelism be stifled, perhaps even extinguished? How can we balance God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility? What are the differences between historic Calvinism and hyper-Calvinism? Why did men like Augustine, Luther, Calvin, Spurgeon, Whitefield, Edwards and a host of renowned Protestant evangelists embrace the teaching of predestination and election and deny free will theology?
This is the first video documentary that answers these and other related questions. Hosted by Eric Holmberg, this fascinating three-part, four-hour presentation is detailed enough so as to not gloss over the controversy. At the same time, it is broken up into ten “Sunday-school-sized” sections to make the rich content manageable and accessible for the average viewer.
Running Time: 257 minutes
$19.95 — ORDER NOW!
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