Call me paranoid….but I can see how pieces of Dobson’s letter could easily come to pass.

One problem I have with the current framing of culture war is the cherry picking on issues. Allowing abortion on demand for virtually any reason at any time isn’t a just law. But a major leader of the religous right sought to have a leader in the National Association of Evangelicals (Richard Cizik) FIRED because Richard Cizik was advocating for environmental stewardship (including climate change) as a moral issue. The leader in the religious right wanted to keep the focus on abortion and opposing gay marriage (even though no fault divorce is a bigger threat, I think to marriage as an institution.) This leader used his considerable clout to seek the dismissal of a Christina brother (it was unsuccessful.) I think this is the kind of thing you get when culture war is the ruling metaphor and the primary alliance is between Christians and one political party.

Let’s take the issue of gun control which is viewed as one of the “culture war” issues. What interest does a Christian as a Christian have on the question of what kind of guns should be available for sale, or what kind of limitations should be place on gun ownership? Where is this concern raised ONCE in the entire Bible? Jesus limited his disciples to one sword, I believe. Well, there is a powerful gun lobby funded heavily by gun manufacturers that has made an alliance with one political party which has made an alliance with a large number of evangelical Christians. This is the kind of thing that “culture wars” produce.

It’s telling, I think, that the Sermon on the Mount, which represents the kingdom agenda of Jesus, isn’t referenced much by those who adopt the culture war motif and view themselves as culture warriors. It certainly isn’t stressed on the major a.m. talk radio shows which fan the flames of the “culture wars.” The fact that we are “a God fearing nation” or a Christian nation is mentioned frequently, but the sermon on the mount is not. The answer I think is that the current culture war as it has been framed and promoted is not a war that Jesus of Nazareth is urging us to engage.

The view from here, at least. Thanks for asking.

Ken…Rather than urge you now to dismiss the Dobson letter as a paranoid screed, I should have said, “…don’t dismiss it as the paranoid screed it is.” I’ve learned to value the voice of the extremist, they are often spot-on in elements of their analysis and point to things others miss. The failure of the extremist is less in their analysis and more in their application in my experience.

Bob- I have the same struggle: (re: Are we to align ourselves with our nation? Or with God and His church? or both? )

I agree completely that those who believe in Jesus ought to focus more on how Jesus is perceived than how they are. Christians are promised persecution, not a prize in a worldwide popularity contest, right? But the image of Jesus in the world can’t be separated from the image of his people.

For those of us Libertarian/Republican/Conservatives who look to our Founding Fathers for their intent on creating our Republic, see Yehoveh’s hand in the creation of our nation and shiver at how the core values of our nation have been shattered.

Are we expected to compromise our values for the sake of “getting along” if we see that the views from the “other side” are damaging our Republic?

From a Christian viewpoint, are we supposed to compromise the message of righteousness and holiness from God’s perspective? Because His values never changed. So that would imply that since He doesn’t change, we have to . . . if we want to get along with Him. (The other alternative is judgment and that doesn’t sound like fun).

Our nation is forsaking Israel, maybe what we are seeing is judgment for that; we have been ignoring and destroying the life of the unborn, maybe what we are seeing is judgment for that; I could go on, but I think you get my point.

I found many of his projections to be flawed, but my disagreement was not so much in his prediction of what the courts might do. He appears to make plausible suggestions. (I would be happy to hear an equally researched position to the contrary).

My disagreement was with how Christians should respond (assuming that the author projected their values into the likely response). Should we close down our agencies and ministries rather than acquiesce to government regulations?

I’d love to see someone respond in kind to the points raised by the letter with an alternate response that is in keeping with Gospel of Jesus.

I also think we need to engage the issue at the end of the letter regarding God’s favor toward the nation. Surely God did show favor toward Israel as His chosen people, from whom would come the annointed King. But now his favor is poured out on all people. Are we to align ourselves with our nation? Or with God and His church? or both? These are deep issue, to me at least, which do require thoughtful dialog, not strident war mongering.

I guess my main point is that ending the culture war doesn’t mean ending engagement with serious issues. We are at war, afterall, just not with flesh and blood.

“So be as cunning as serpents and as innocent as doves.” I live in the corporate world. We have a similar saying, “be hard on the job, and soft on people.” Everyone defaults to the hard on the job side of the quote. This is a very difficult thing to balance and it always seems to be a moving target. Many that claim Christ as Lord, default to the cunning as serpents, but fail on the innocent as doves. We have to strive for both. Only a humble spirit can find its way. And in the process, you will offend some.

So having said that, I agree with the “Damn how we are perceived” comment. I totally disagree with the “…work to reconstruct culture in His name” comment, which is why we are here in the first place. I think embracing the current cultural shifts with respect to environment, politics, and social issues will win you some friends, but will have little impact in the Kingdom of God.