John M. Buchanan, the editor of Christian
Century pointed out in this months issue that the Wall Street Journal never
misses an opportunity to malign mainline protestant churches. Seems an odd
thing doesn’t it, and something few of the country are aware of or care.
They are particularly abusive of the World Council of Churches and
the National Council of Churches (along with Reader’s Digest for reasons I
cannot fathom.)
Why? Buchanan explains it clearly in that mainline protestant
churches have a long history of promoting the idea that the gospel of Jesus has
much to say about social, economic and political conditions. And, His sayings
are often in opposition to the individualistic ideology of the Journal.
The Wall Street Journal now may have to broaden its attack to
include the evangelical churches. Those churches in recent years have been more
open to the ideas that Jesus talked more about poverty than he did sex. In
other words, the Evangelicals have become more open and more progressive when
it comes to social issues. See the articles I have written about Brian McLaren,
Jim Wallis (editor of Sojourners). Other noteables in this category include,
Tony Campolo, Philip Yancy and President Carter.
I am glad to see this new coalition of mainline protestants and
progressive Evangelicals uniting in efforts to work for the common good of our
society. The Wall Street Journal, while a revered magazine with excellent
writing, also stands behind the policies of the three plus decades of
individualism at the expense of the common good that has led to the improper
distribution of wealth in this country and the lack of concern for the middle
and lower classes.
Barton Swain of the Wall Street Journal reviewed Elesha J. Coffman’s
book The Christian Century and the Rise
of the Protestant Mainline. It is a harsh review indicting folk like Harry
Emerson Fosdick who Swain calls an “anti-fundamentalist preacher.” Swain
demeans that idea of the best minds in the church in their efforts to influence
the laity. That is a bad idea? That was my calling for my entire career and I
fail to see it as evil. Swain also condemns Martin Marty for “dirty tricks”
with Billy Graham. Swain further condemns the mainline churches for denying the
authority of scripture and telling people they cannot know that God exists.
This seems simplistic and just plain stupid and fails to understand the
humility theologians need in knowing that all our understanding of God is
limited and should be understood as such. It is just conceit to proclaim to
know fully the mind of God.
In my humble opinion Americans would understand the world better by
reading the Christian Century that the Wall Street Journal and when it comes to
authoritative knowledge of religion the seems clearly more reliable.
Christianity has the right and the responsibility to apply the
teachings of Jesus to economic, social and political issues. If that makes them
a pain to elitist capitalists, so much the better, they are doing their job.
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