Social Justice Goes to Church
The New Left in modern American Evangelicalism
2020
194
Year written
Pages
"The infusion of social justice into the gospel may well be the most dangerous problem facing the church today. Yet, it is going unnoticed in far too many circles. Social Justice Goes to Church can serve as a wake-up call." (Samuel C. Smith, PhD, chair and graduate program director, Department of History, Liberty University)
In order to understand why so many evangelicals recently support left-leaning political causes, it is important to know a little history.
In the 1970s, many campus radicals raised in Christian homes brought neo-Marxist ideas from college back to church with them. At first, figures like Jim Wallis, Ron Sider, and Richard Mouw made great gains for their progressive evangelical cause. But, after the defeat of Jimmy Carter, the religious right stole the headlines.
Today, a new crop of mainstream evangelicals has taken up the cause of the New Left, whether they know it or not. As pro-life evangelicals rush to support movements like #BlackLivesMatter and #MeToo, it is important to realize they are walking in footprints already laid down. Their mission may be more successful, but it is not new. To understand where the evangelical social justice movement is heading, it is vital to understand the origins of the movement.
Social Justice Goes to Church: The New Left in Modern American Evangelicalism answers, from a historical perspective, the vital question, "Why are American evangelicals moving left?"
To understand what's currently happening in evangelical Christianity in Summer of 2020, must understand events & individuals of the recent past, specifically the 1960-70s.
Table of content & notes below:
I. New Left Radicals
1. Jim Wallis
- while at Michigan State joined Students for Democratic Society. Soujourners, Red Letter Christians
- Please do not confuse with Jim (Warner) Wallace!
- Young activist in Soujourners, World Council of Churches, managed 1st campaign as sophmore in HS in Chicago with Hillary Rodham (Clinton). Managed senators campaings using Post-American magazine, paved way with Jim Wallis ('71) to move Soujourners to Washington DC to fight Vietnam War. meeting with North Vietnam leaders. Wrote book How to Change you Church. Now is chair of board of Soujourners.
3. Sharon Gallagher
- Berkley, CA commune Christian World Liberation Front in 1969. Wrote for Right Om magazine on womens lib favoring of Betty Friedan, until becoming dotor in '73. Spent "little bit of time at Labri" Francis Shaefer's retreat in Switzerland.
4. John Alexander
- After fraduating from Trinity College in Chicago, pastored inner city Cleveland church joining NAACP. In 1965 published Freedom Now newsletter & within year started teaching at Wheaton College, advocating for Social Action Forum, Americans for Democratic Action, & Young Democrats. Moved newsletter to Philadelphia in 1970, changing name to Other Side criticising mainstream evangelicalism.
5. Richard Mouw
- Organier for Students for Democratic Society. Graduate school of Univerity of Chicago. In 1973 wrote "Political Evangelism". Taught in Calvin College 17 years, advocating his academic voice, then later 20 year president of Fuller Theological Seminary (1993-2013), before returning to Calvin to be senior research fellow in Christianity and Politics..
6. Ron Sider
- Yale educated & involved in InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. Became minimalits with graduated tithe concept for "Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger" book. Francis Schaefer's son called it the most dangerous book of the decade. Started Evangelicals for Social Action. Wrote 2020 book "The Spiritual Danger of Donald Trump".
7. The Chicago Declaration (of Evangelical Social Concern, 1973)
- advocated & signed by all 6 of the above, & other noteables like John M Perkins.
- Please do not confuse with 1978 Chicago Statement of Biblical Inerrancy!
II. An Altered Orthodoxy: Formation of a New Left Christiainity
8. A Biblical Basis
9. The WHOLE Gospel
- there's only 1 gospel, many FALSE gospels such as the Woke Church...Gal 1:6
10. A Radical Community
11. An Unfiltered Jesus
III. An American Revival: The Religious Roots of the Evangelical Left
12. Neo-Evangelical Step Child
13. Fundamentalism Reborn
14. Northern Revivalism in the 1970s
IV. The Fall and Rise of the Evangelical Left
15. The Fall
16. The Rise
Appendix: Tim Keller and Progressive Evangelicalism (free video)
About the Author:
Jon was born into a Christian household. My father was, and still is, a pastor. He learned at a young age to respect God’s word and the good traditions passed down to me. Christ came into his life at six years old. This became more real in his teenage years when the normal questions teenagers ask loom large. In college Jon became active in student ministry, and went to seminary and grad school. Jon was married in 2016.