BY BILL REAGAN
“Evangelical” has become a political term. Politicians and pundits have redefined the word to mean “conservative white person.” This is unfortunate in the extreme.
The modern English word “evangelical” is really a synonym of “gospel.” The original Greek word is “euangellion” which means “good news,” as in “Behold, I bring you Good News of great joy, for unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.”
Evangelicals (as in the proper sense of the word) take seriously the message of Jesus and attempt to live in such a way that their lives demonstrate the Gospel of Jesus and the teachings of the Bible. We hold the Bible in high esteem and are very conservative about new interpretations of the Bible or the Gospel message. The Republican Party has won the support of many evangelicals by aligning it’s message with conservative theology and identifying political conservatism with religion.
Conservative theology and conservative politics are not the same thing. Many evangelicals (as in the proper sense of the term) support positions at odds with the both major political parties. We evangelicals should oppose political conservatives when their political considerations are at odds with the message of Jesus and the Bible.
Some say that the message of Jesus and the Bible is a matter of personal interpretation or opinion, citing contrasting views of doctrine among religious people. Our precious freedom of religion allows us all to keep whatever opinion we want about God or faith, but as President Truman said “that’s what lets the crackpots in.” Frankly, to reduce the evangelical faith to a matter of personal opinion is to take the lazy and dishonest path of the crackpot. Evangelical teachings are clear, historical and straightforward – love for God and for neighbor, the power of forgiveness, service to the poor and vulnerable, justice tempered with compassion, the intrinsic value and dignity of all human life, accountability of government to the people and to God.
We evangelicals (in the proper sense of the word) should take into consideration the political positions of all who aspire to govern. We should also consider the character of those who would lead us. Evangelicals should not blindly follow of political positions just because they are called conservative. Our vote and our political conversation should demonstrate the rich morality of the Gospel. Evangelicalism is the Gospel way of life.
Bill Reagan is executive director of Loaves & Fishes of the Rio Grande Valley.
