My old classmate Russell Moore demonstrates. Here is a long screed that basically threads that needle between old timers from the Faith while keeping those to the left on good terms. He does this by referencing the problems with abortion, while making sure those in the Ivy league and New York press offices notice his constant drumbeat against White Nationalists, White Supremacist, Racist Evangelicals and similar deplorables.
Especially entertaining was his acceptance of the racist motivation theory for Evangelicals. In this case, the accusaiton that the only reason Evangelicals cared about Roe was to get back at Carter for bravely cutting off funds to racist white people and organizations (a spin on the old Southern Strategy narrative for Republicans):
Randall Balmer argues against the idea that Roe v. Wade mobilized evangelicals into political action, saying that this a myth. Balmer contends that the motivating factor was, in fact, religious conservatives’ backlash against Carter administration initiatives to remove tax exemptions from racist all-white “segregation academies” run by church groups. Balmer is hardly the only one to make this case.
Of course he does this under that intoxicating idea of 'don't be part of tribal loyalties.' Ah, I remember that one well. Mark Shea went there over a dozen years ago. He read someone somewhere who spoke of the evils of tribalism. Overnight, Mark cast a pox upon all tribal houses, declaring himself - in a less subtle way than Russ - above such tribal partisanship.
At the time I warned Mark to be careful. It's not so easy to be purely of the Gospel with no social or cultural loyalties. We are creatures of our time and place after all, often beholden to others for what we have. Eventually, if you're not careful, you end up being part of the worst tribe of all: The dreaded "I'm not part of any Tribe" tribe. And there are few tribes more incorrigible than that one. I believe it was Sean Dailey who mocked me for my warning.
But beyond that, this is a case where those trying to keep one foot in Hell and one in Heaven are working right now. Of course Russ makes many of his points in the vaguest terms, often pointing to nothing or no one in particular for examples of those making others 'invisible' or being scared to address racism for fear it might anger their racist allies.
Again, this is the part of the church that can no more be trusted than Laval or Quisling. Arnold was more trustworthy. Unlike the full apostates who have abandoned the Faith verbally and in name, or those who simply align with the Left wherever the Left may go:
Russ represents that middle of the road, two feet in the World's camp but one foot back in that old time religion ... for a time. I fear there will come a time when most in that last camp will finally sever all ties when the pushing becomes outright shoving. As it is, they do much to muddy all waters, make sure the appropriate groups are spat upon - mainly traditional believers, white skin conservatives, or whatever group the Left has targeted - and keep just enough loyalty to the Faith by suggesting issues like abortion or gay marriage are technically something less than ideal, but only that. Just in case.
It's not a screed. It's a vapid, badly-edited meander. The editors at Touchstone do not publish dreck like this, which may be one reason he hasn't placed an article there in ten years. And deceitful, too. The seamless garment peddlers want to weaken anti-abortion efforts by throwing the kitchen sink in, so he responds with antagonism to someone who wants focus (and implicitly impugns the motives of people resisting action on other issues). He quotes Randall Ballmer, a man who has made his hostility to evangelical subcultures quite plain (to the point where Alan Jacobs said he was baffled by some of Ballmer's public remarks as the man had to know he was making false statements; Jacobs is no one's idea of an evangelical sectary). He chatters about 'Christian nationalism', something which does not exist outside the minds of sketchy academicians like John Fea. "White nationalism" hardly exists; Richard Spencer's outfit has all of one employee. "White supremacy" does not exist either; it's an epithet hurled at people who complain about contrived insults and abuse directed at the white population and at people who think the law should be vigorously enforced.
ReplyDeleteIf the evangelical media and the evangelical academy are serious about their educational mission, these poseurs get put out on the curb. Not holdin' my breath.
Knowing Russ, I don't think the demand of assuming worst motives will be a tough one. But remember, Russ defined his new version of himself when he said he could not attend a gay wedding, but he would happily attend a gay wedding reception. As he edges closer to the Left, I expect more and more revisions and accepting of hard left narratives - like anything right of center is Nazi.
Deletehe said he could not attend a gay wedding, but he would happily attend a gay wedding reception.
DeleteIsn't that cute?