The "Religious Left": 1933 - 2005
--> Posted to Jans_Articles for February, 2005
The Religious Left: 1933 – 2005
By Jan MarkellI have reported in other commentaries my frustration with the "religious Left." At one time I ministered in their churches--Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist, Congregationalist, and more--and something didn't make sense. While their average church attendance was in the thousands, there were never more than a dozen who came to my adult forums between services. And most came to argue. They didn't want to hear my kind of a message: They wanted to hear about poverty, equal rights, the "cause of the Palestinians," etc. To be sure, there were individuals within each of those churches--the ones who invited me, usually--who were saddened by this fact.
I was a fish out of water gasping for air so in the mid-1980's I gave up my effort to bring them truth. I have concluded, however, that there isn't much that has changed with the "religious Left" since the l980's or even all the way back to 1933. Let me illustrate.
We have recently witnessed the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, the concentration camp that claimed so many lives during the Holocaust. The "religious Left" had some complicity back then as well. Many of those churches, both Protestant and Catholic, turned a blind eye to the plight of those being gassed and starved. A few denominations and individual churches co-operated in it all because they had been seduced by Hitler.
There were denominations and individual churches that refused this kind of co-operation to be sure. They would not put Hitler's picture on their wall or altar as they were commanded to do. I write about this in my book about Holocaust survivor Anita Dittman. Her pastor from the Lutheran Confessional Church ignored the Nazis sitting in his service and aided the Jews of his community as well. Some of them paid with their life. My book, "Trapped in Hitler's Hell," is available on my Web site, www.olivetreeviews.org (go to Our Products), or through my print newsletter.
But during WWII, many of Europe's and America's "religious leaders" were pre-occupied with America's "economic and social agenda" as the "religious Left" is today on both continents. Albert Palmer, President of Chicago Theological Seminary said Americans should be solving the problems of social and economic justice at home rather than condemning Germany through a haze of Allied propaganda."
Methodist leader Ernest Fremont Title claimed that Nazism could be overcome non-violently which is vaguely reminiscent of John Kerry's wish to fight a "kinder, gentler war" with Islamofascism. Thus churches and denominations were protesting wars then as they do now.
As news of the destruction of Jews in Europe reached the American press, America's Christian leadership failed to even lobby for immigration reform. Thus, from 1933 to 1941 more than 100 anti-Semitic groups appeared in the U.S., many with "Christian overtones."
How is the "religious Left" operating today? Most of these items and much more are posted on their Web sites, including the National Council of Churches--www.nccusa.org. Here are a few illustrations:
* The United Church of Christ and Disciples of Christ today have endorsed the World Council of Churches' (WCC) program to "implement their plan to end the violence of the occupation of Palestine."
* The National Council of Churches (NCC) insists that hundreds of Palestinians in prison, mostly for terror-related crimes, be released by Israel for they have been "wrongfully detained."
* Last Fall over 50,000 Evangelical churches observed the "International Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem Day." The WCC and NCC had their "Day of Prayer for Peace." They quoted Arafat-loyalist Hanan Ashrawi on a PA Web site as she spoke about Middle East peace, a subject she knows nothing about. There was no mention that on that same PA Web site was footage of two PA TV programs showing official religious leaders openly calling for the genocide of Jews.
* The Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA) openly opposes "Christian Zionism" as do many other members of the "religious Left." They do not like the theology that goes with it--that is, Israel's key present and future role. They say that what comes with the territory is the sentiment that Christian Zionists have no concern for the plight of the Palestinians. Christians show favor to Israel based on a phony "biblical mandate" which ignores the basic rights of the people who are also made in the image of God--the Palestinians. Christian Zionists invite contempt for fellow Arab Christians in the Middle East. Note to the PCUSA: It's not Israel or Christian Zionists making things tough for Palestinians or Palestinian Christians. It's their own leaders!
* At this same time, the PCUSA was visiting Hizbollah stating the PCUSA "treasures the precious words of the group and their good will towards America", when in fact, Hizbollah desires the destruction of America.
* The PCUSA is urging their people to divest all funds from Israel due to her illegal occupation of the land. They denounce Dispensationalist theology (which has been dropped by most churches today for their new "seeker approach"). This theology supposedly "divides" and "focuses excessively on Israel." And since most Israelis favor a two-state solution, i.e., a Palestinian state, Christian Zionists are being anti-Semitic for going against their wishes. How convoluted can thinking get today?
* All churches comprising the "religious Left"--both Protestant and Catholic--embrace "Replacement Theology"; that is, that the Church is the new Israel. Israel blew it and now the Church reigns. That makes it much easier to embrace and justify some of the issues presented here.
So how much has changed in the climate of the organized church since 1933? My conclusion is, very little--except for the "remnant." May your numbers increase. You brighten my day and remind me that God will always reveal truth to those who earnestly seek it. There really is a sub-set of believers who are more interested in being biblically correct than politically correct, and in doing what is right rather than what is popular or trendy theology. You apply this across the board, not just on this particular issue. You stand up for what is right and speak about it at all costs. And that is what we are commanded to do, for the entire book of Jude is about "contending for the faith"--standing up for truth.
Also note the Web site of White House correspondent Bill Koenig, www.watch.org, who is tackling many of these issues.
(Jan Markell is founder/Director of Olive Tree Ministries. To receive her email alerts, print newsletter, or further information, consult her Web site, www.olivetreeviews.org.)