U. S. Senator Tammy Duckworth 8 South Old State Capitol Plaza
IV. From the Wilderness to the Promised Land (2009- )
Evangelical voter turnout fell sharply, and Christian Right organizations struggled to raise support. A backlash had been growing against the Right, and an Evangelical Left began to emerge in politics. The Right, however, endured but coalesced around an unlikely candidate, the thrice-married celebrity and casino magnate, Donald J. Trump.
A. Backlash and the Evangelical Left
The politization of Christianity created a backlash by the next generation that gave rise to an evangelical left. These were not theological liberals but evangelicals such as Jim Wallis who believed the Bible also spoke about issues such as poverty and racism. Finding common ground with Democrats, the evangelical left helped to elect President Barak Obama.
B. Loss of a Distinctly Christian Witness
The prospect of having another U.S. President who would listen to conservative evangelicals and work to restore America was energizing.
Whether eagerly or hesitantly, 81% of evangelicals voted to elect Donald Trump in 2016. With Franklin Graham, Jerry Falwell, Jr., and Pat Robertson all endorsing Trump, Michael Gerson, Russell Moore, and others have questioned what’s left of evangelicalism and its gospel witness.
ENGAGING THE POLITICAL ARENA
The past two weeks have focused upon a history of evangelicals in the political arena. We will soon boil the entire class into five principles for engaging the political arena. In preparation for this, please review some of the statements issued by a variety of
evangelical leaders. Read each one and then explain some of the problems you see (use Scripture as much as possible).
1. If righteousness is going to prevail, if paganism is going to be turned back, then we must move to restore this nation to being a Christian nation. Otherwise we will lose the war for America’s soul, and the United States as we know it will perish. — Randall Terry.
2. …there are bigger issues now, we can argue about theology later after we save the country. — Jerry Falwell, Jr., speaking to Glenn Beck who is a Mormon.
3. The new political philosophy must be defined by us in moral terms, packaged in non-religious language, and propagated throughout the country by our new coalition. — Paul Weyrich.
4. Christianity and Patriotism are synonymous terms… and hell and traitors are synonymous. — Billy Sunday.
5. All ills from which America suffers can be traced back to the teaching of evolution. — William Jennings Bryan.
WEEK 7
Testimony from Senator Dale Righter
BIOGRAPHY
Senator Dale Righter has served the 55th Senate District since 2003, after having served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 1997 to 2003. He currently serves as Republican Spokesman for the Appropriations I Committee and the Executive Appointments Committee. Additional committee assignments include Assignments, Human Services, Appropriations II, Insurance, and Veterans Affairs.
Senator Righter graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a B.S. in Accounting (1988) and received his Juris Doctor from St. Louis School of Law (1991). He has been an attorney from 1997 to the present.
Senator Righter has two sons, Jonathan and Benjamin. Benjamin attends Eastern Illinois University majoring in Physics and Engineering. Jonathan attends the United States Military Academy at West Point, majoring in Geographic Information Sciences and Technology. Senator Righter is a regular member of our Bible studies in the Capitol, is eager to grow in Christ, and has been an encouraging friend to us for many years.
TIME OF QUESTION AND ANSWER
You are welcome to ask Senator Righter more about his faith, his experiences in Illinois politics, difficulties of being a Christian, or how you can pray for him. Questions about politics or the inner workings of the political arena may be fine as well (just be gracious).
WEEK 8
A Biblical Philosophy for Engaging Government Five Principles
INTRODUCTION
John Calvin wrote a letter on behalf of Geneva’s city council (1539). The city had Protestant leanings, but leaders had expelled Calvin two years prior. Cardinal Sadolet heard of Calvin’s expulsion and wrote a warm letter asking the prodigal city to return to the faith. And don’t forget that eternal life is precious! In other words, return to the Catholic Church or you’ll be damned.
Geneva’s city council asked Calvin to respond on their behalf, and the Reformer thundered to the Cardinal…
Cardinal Sadolet offered eternal life like a salesman offering fire insurance. Get it now, or you’ll regret it later! Thus, the gospel becomes the good news of self-preservation that leaves sinners “entirely devoted” to themselves.
Calvin believed that God’s glory is the central issue of all things in life. As Christians, we are no longer to live for our own hopes and dreams—we belong to Christ. Thus, the question we should ask in all things is: How will this word or that deed exalt Jesus Christ?
QUESTION: Evangelicals have been zealous to live in an upright nation. Do you think that, in general, this zeal has been a biblical pursuit of God’s glory or a man-centered pursuit? Please explain.
The intent of this final class is to provide five principles for biblically engaging the political arena. A “zeal to illustrate the glory of God” must have at least these five…
“
Your zeal for eternal life… keeps a man entirely devoted to himself, and does not, even by one expression, arouse him to sanctify the name of God… Set before man, as the prime motive of his existence, zeal to illustrate the glory of God!— John
Calvin