I appreciate the ability to have a conversation here. I have found the need to simplify and refer to myself as a follower of Jesus. I often will say I am a Christian (I am no longer afraid to use the word) and apologize for the misrepresentation of our Savior. I was struck by a recent quote that brought me back to being wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove. We both pay attention to the political world but I am a bit more distanced in my public comments. The prince of the power of the air still holds great sway among the governments of this age. I want to people to encounter Christ and be transformed by beholding Hi, That includes Bible study as taught by the Spirit, church relationships and service, and healthy interaction with anyone who has a knowledge of Jesus no matter what their denominational (or non) framework.
You definitely have me thinking this morning about “strivers” and “evangelicals”. I have struggled to identify as an Evangelical because the word today has so many different meanings to people. But I believe you are right about the elite and middle class. Just last week, hubby and I were considering visiting an Anglican Church and taking a break from the evangelical or Bible church - wonder what that means??
Many Anglican churches in the U.S. are thoroughly evangelical; certainly mine is. Don't let the liturgy throw you off! The evangelical core and even much of the culture is often there.
Oh I love liturgy!! One of the reasons we want to go back to Anglican is for that! Sort of exhausted with contemporary love songs to Jesus 🙄 but let’s see where we land. Dallas has its share of high churches!
I don't think you can say with the current administration that "we’re still on the outs." Evangelicals (of some variety) hold high political positions all over the government. They are literally operating the levers of power. And it seems like the fundamentalist/evangelical distinction is long gone. Nobody really cares about the fundamentals anymore. Look at the issues that animated Kirk and TPUSA. That's what's driving people. Now you could call it something like MAGA evangelicals as opposed to CT evangelicals.
I understand what you mean and agree that this is an important consideration too, but I think this turns on a different idea of "the elite" than I'm talking about here (and that Renn talks about in his original posts about striving). It's not state power; it's influence in relatively high-brow culture-making institutions, especially media (of some kinds) and academia. Sometimes that coincides with state power, and state power is obviously also very important, but these aren't one thing.
I think that's fair. But, Evangelicals will never be part of the liberal elite, because it is liberal. But I don't think Evangelicals care anymore. Top cable news channel, top podcasts, all owned by the right. Academia is cowering in fear. Once progressive companies are disavowing their DEI policies. Why desire to be a part of this losing coalition when you can be part of the cudgel that's beating it?
Eh, I don't think these institutions and conversations are necessarily liberal in the way you mean; they weren't in living memory. And I think this mistakes some short-term, executive order-driven changes for permanent shifts. That said, the larger answer to your question is that as much as I wrote about "evangelicalism" as one thing, the desire to join that conversation or not will, of course, vary considerably within the movement. Some evangelicals have the attitude you describe going forward. Some don't. This was more of a backward-looking post.
I appreciate the ability to have a conversation here. I have found the need to simplify and refer to myself as a follower of Jesus. I often will say I am a Christian (I am no longer afraid to use the word) and apologize for the misrepresentation of our Savior. I was struck by a recent quote that brought me back to being wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove. We both pay attention to the political world but I am a bit more distanced in my public comments. The prince of the power of the air still holds great sway among the governments of this age. I want to people to encounter Christ and be transformed by beholding Hi, That includes Bible study as taught by the Spirit, church relationships and service, and healthy interaction with anyone who has a knowledge of Jesus no matter what their denominational (or non) framework.
You definitely have me thinking this morning about “strivers” and “evangelicals”. I have struggled to identify as an Evangelical because the word today has so many different meanings to people. But I believe you are right about the elite and middle class. Just last week, hubby and I were considering visiting an Anglican Church and taking a break from the evangelical or Bible church - wonder what that means??
Many Anglican churches in the U.S. are thoroughly evangelical; certainly mine is. Don't let the liturgy throw you off! The evangelical core and even much of the culture is often there.
Oh I love liturgy!! One of the reasons we want to go back to Anglican is for that! Sort of exhausted with contemporary love songs to Jesus 🙄 but let’s see where we land. Dallas has its share of high churches!
I don't think you can say with the current administration that "we’re still on the outs." Evangelicals (of some variety) hold high political positions all over the government. They are literally operating the levers of power. And it seems like the fundamentalist/evangelical distinction is long gone. Nobody really cares about the fundamentals anymore. Look at the issues that animated Kirk and TPUSA. That's what's driving people. Now you could call it something like MAGA evangelicals as opposed to CT evangelicals.
I understand what you mean and agree that this is an important consideration too, but I think this turns on a different idea of "the elite" than I'm talking about here (and that Renn talks about in his original posts about striving). It's not state power; it's influence in relatively high-brow culture-making institutions, especially media (of some kinds) and academia. Sometimes that coincides with state power, and state power is obviously also very important, but these aren't one thing.
I think that's fair. But, Evangelicals will never be part of the liberal elite, because it is liberal. But I don't think Evangelicals care anymore. Top cable news channel, top podcasts, all owned by the right. Academia is cowering in fear. Once progressive companies are disavowing their DEI policies. Why desire to be a part of this losing coalition when you can be part of the cudgel that's beating it?
Eh, I don't think these institutions and conversations are necessarily liberal in the way you mean; they weren't in living memory. And I think this mistakes some short-term, executive order-driven changes for permanent shifts. That said, the larger answer to your question is that as much as I wrote about "evangelicalism" as one thing, the desire to join that conversation or not will, of course, vary considerably within the movement. Some evangelicals have the attitude you describe going forward. Some don't. This was more of a backward-looking post.