Friday, November 12, 2004
Who are the members of the Evangelical Magisterium?
Evangelicals (Protestants) love to jab Catholics and indicate that they stand Scripture (Sola Scriptura), not the pronouncements of the Pope and the House of Cardinals (the Magisterium). Leaving aside the theological debate that follows, is the charge really fair? Don’t today’s evangelicals take their cues from the celebrity Christians on radio, TV, and in the bookstore?
Yes, they do. A good Christian friend recently told me, after listening to my CD "Why Conservative Christians Are Re-evaluating George W. Bush...", that people he respects had vouched for Bush's character and he trusted these people. Now he doesn't circulate in high-fallutin' circles, so more than likely he was referring to Evangelical celebrities.
Here’s a partial list of the Evangelical Magisterium, starting with the man who is virtually the pope of the American evangelical movement.
1. Dr. James Dobson, Focus on the Family
2. Dr. Jerry Falwell, Liberty University, pastor Thomas Road Baptist Church, Lynchburg, VA
3. Mr. Pat Robertson, 700 Club, Regent University
4. Chuck Colson, Prison Fellowship Ministries
5. Dr. Richard Land, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, Southern Baptist Convention
6. Roberta Combs, Christian Coalition of America
7. Mr. Louis Shelton, Traditional Values Coalition
8. Mr. Tony Perkins, president, Family Research Council
9. Mr. Jack Graham, former president of the Southern Baptist Convention
10. Mr. Don Wildmon, American Family Association
11. Ralph Reed, formerly Christian Coalition, Southeast regional chairman for Bush-Cheney '04
12. Gary Bauer, former president, Family Research Council, former GOP presidential candidate
13. Rush Limbaugh, radio talk show host
14. Sean Hannity, radio talk show host
15. Glenn Beck, radio talk show host
16. Michael Medved, radio talk show host
Yes, I realize that three of the last four are secular radio hosts and Medved is Jewish, but all three are loved and adored by the Christian Right; all worked hard for George W. Bush’s re-election, even though they all knew Bush isn’t really a conservative and is likely to betray the Christians on judicial appointments. Hannity even chose a sacrilegious title for his book and was invited by James Dobson to his radio show to plug it.
In a new radio show sponsored by Genesis Communications that will be heard in five states and on the Internet, I will begin explaining why the aforementioned folks have had too much faith placed in them. The show starts in December, so for now, I recall the words of Isaiah, "O My people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths." Isaiah 3:12 "For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed." Isaiah 9:16
Evangelicals (Protestants) love to jab Catholics and indicate that they stand Scripture (Sola Scriptura), not the pronouncements of the Pope and the House of Cardinals (the Magisterium). Leaving aside the theological debate that follows, is the charge really fair? Don’t today’s evangelicals take their cues from the celebrity Christians on radio, TV, and in the bookstore?
Yes, they do. A good Christian friend recently told me, after listening to my CD "Why Conservative Christians Are Re-evaluating George W. Bush...", that people he respects had vouched for Bush's character and he trusted these people. Now he doesn't circulate in high-fallutin' circles, so more than likely he was referring to Evangelical celebrities.
Here’s a partial list of the Evangelical Magisterium, starting with the man who is virtually the pope of the American evangelical movement.
1. Dr. James Dobson, Focus on the Family
2. Dr. Jerry Falwell, Liberty University, pastor Thomas Road Baptist Church, Lynchburg, VA
3. Mr. Pat Robertson, 700 Club, Regent University
4. Chuck Colson, Prison Fellowship Ministries
5. Dr. Richard Land, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, Southern Baptist Convention
6. Roberta Combs, Christian Coalition of America
7. Mr. Louis Shelton, Traditional Values Coalition
8. Mr. Tony Perkins, president, Family Research Council
9. Mr. Jack Graham, former president of the Southern Baptist Convention
10. Mr. Don Wildmon, American Family Association
11. Ralph Reed, formerly Christian Coalition, Southeast regional chairman for Bush-Cheney '04
12. Gary Bauer, former president, Family Research Council, former GOP presidential candidate
13. Rush Limbaugh, radio talk show host
14. Sean Hannity, radio talk show host
15. Glenn Beck, radio talk show host
16. Michael Medved, radio talk show host
Yes, I realize that three of the last four are secular radio hosts and Medved is Jewish, but all three are loved and adored by the Christian Right; all worked hard for George W. Bush’s re-election, even though they all knew Bush isn’t really a conservative and is likely to betray the Christians on judicial appointments. Hannity even chose a sacrilegious title for his book and was invited by James Dobson to his radio show to plug it.
In a new radio show sponsored by Genesis Communications that will be heard in five states and on the Internet, I will begin explaining why the aforementioned folks have had too much faith placed in them. The show starts in December, so for now, I recall the words of Isaiah, "O My people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths." Isaiah 3:12 "For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed." Isaiah 9:16
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