Russell Moore, the editor-in-chief of Christianity Today and a prominent evangelical leader, has raised a poignant alarm about the direction in which Christianity is heading. Here’s the whole story.
Christianity Is Veering Too Far to the Right
Moore believes evangelical Christianity is veering too far to the right, where even the teachings of Jesus, as found in the Sermon on the Mount, are dismissed as “weak” and irrelevant.
Interactions With Pastors
Moore’s concerns stem from his interactions with pastors who faced disbelief and even scorn when quoting the Sermon on the Mount, a foundational teaching of Jesus.
They Were Questioned
These pastors found themselves questioned for promoting what is arguably the central message of Christianity of love, forgiveness, and turning the other cheek.
Liberal Talking Points
Moore says that when quoting Jesus is met with skepticism and accusations of promoting “liberal talking points,” it signals a crisis within the evangelical community, where political divisions are infiltrating religious teachings.
Seeping Into Churches
According to Moore, the intersection of faith and politics has become increasingly complex, leading to polarization now seeping into churches across America.
Politics Is the Issue
Moore points out that divisive U.S. politics have packaged many issues as existential threats, creating a belief that desperate times necessitate extreme measures.
Donald Trump the Savior
In this climate, the evangelical community found a champion in Donald Trump. He aligned himself closely with evangelical Christian values, addressing perceived threats through policies like relocating the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem and appointing conservative judges, including those on the Supreme Court.
Alignment With Political Ideology
However, Moore asks at what point does the alignment with political ideology erode the essence of religious teachings.
The problem is that evangelical Christians, who historically championed moral values and integrity, found themselves rallying behind a leader whose actions and rhetoric often contradicted these principles.
Policy Shifts
Moore shared Trump’s presidency, which saw significant policy shifts, from anti-abortion measures to the rollback of LGBTQ protections, actions that appealed to many evangelicals.
Jesus’s Quotes Are Weak
Speaking to the media, Moore said, “What was alarming to me is that in most of these scenarios, when the pastor would say, ‘I’m literally quoting Jesus Christ,’ the response would not be, ‘I apologize.’
The response would be, ‘Yes, but that doesn’t work anymore. That’s weak’”.
We’re in a Crisis
“When we get to the point where the teachings of Jesus himself are seen as subversive to us, then we’re in a crisis,” he added.
Online Users Expressed Their Views
Several online media users shared their thoughts on the incident.
One user wrote, “Hey here is a hint: They are not really Christians if they don’t like Jesus!”
Moore Is the Problem
Another user added, “The biggest problem is that Russell Moore and other leading evangelical voices ushered in the current state of American evangelicalism over the last decade(s), well before Trump. No repenting from Russell and others though. But now they want credit and book deals for speaking out.”
False Prophet
A third user commented, “They’ve been anti-Christ long before they started following their false prophet, Trump. It’s just more obvious now, including to themselves.”
Bible Fanatics
A fourth user wrote, “Given how little they seem to care for Christ’s teachings, I think they should be referred to as Bible Fanatics from now on, rather than Christians.”
The post Christianity’s Crossroads – Evangelical Leader Alerts on Shifting Views of Jesus’s Teachings first appeared on Pulse of Pride.
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