Monday, August 30, 2021

A Lost Opportunity for Evangelical Christianity

You are the salt of the earth.  But if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored?  It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.  

You are the light of the world.  A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.  In the same way let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.  

Matthew 5:13-16, ESV 

Dan Darling, who was the Senior Vice President of Communications for the National Religious Broadcasters, appeared on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" program August 2 and spoke about how his Christian faith motivated him to get a COVID-19 vaccine.  

"I believe in this vaccine because I don't want to see anyone else die of COVID-19" said Darling.  "Our family has lost too many close friends and relatives to COVID, including an uncle, a beloved church member and our piano teacher," he said.  He expressed similar views in an opinion piece in USA Today. 

Darling stated that it was the command in scripture to "love our neighbors" that informed his decision to get vaccinated.  He encouraged fellow Evangelical Christians to get vaccinated, following his example of loving their neighbor, talking to their doctor and considering it in order to avoid having anyone else die from this lethal, contagious virus.  

For making those statements in public, Darling was fired.  Yes, fired.  He was told that NRB's position on the vaccine was "neutral" and that he was being fired for violating the policy.  He was offered the choice of signing a statement admitting to being insubordinate, or being fired with no severance.  He chose the latter.  

This statement can be found on NRB's website, in their statement of faith: 

"The church and all her ministers and ministries should publicly witness to society and to the state regarding the intrinsic, inherent, and inviolable dignity of all human life, from fertilization to natural death."  

And in their code of ethics, Point #3 states, "I will recognize and respect what the Lord is doing through other individuals and organizations while refraining from unnecessary criticism of them (I Peter 3:8-9) emphasis mine.  In point 7, "Nothing herein shall be construed so as to prohibit a member from expressing his genuine concern to another brother in a spirit of love and in accordance with Matthew 18:15-17.  

Perhaps the most ironic statement from the NRB is this tweet, "We are committed to fighting for the right of Christian communicators to speak freely and truthfully without fear of censorship."  

And yet one of their executives, publicly witnessing the proven value of vaccinations against COVID-19 for preserving human life, prompted by his faith and basing his perspective on scripture, was fired for doing so.  He was critical of those who shame those who don't get vaccinated and those who rejoice when someone who is unvaccinated, or who is openly critical of vaccination gets sick or dies from COVID, saying that such an approach "is not helpful." If that didn't meet the organization's standard for "neutral," it was certainly fair and unbiased.  

But I'm having difficulty understanding how an organization that can be so decidedly pro-life can be "neutral" on a pro-life issue like vaccination against COVID?  The only argument that can be made to take that position is that getting vaccinated is a "personal choice" based on "individual rights."  Isn't that the argument that pro-choice advocates make?  An anti-vaccination argument cannot be made from Christian doctrine based on Biblical truth.  

Darling's August 2 appearance took place on "Morning Joe" which airs on MSNBC.  I have no doubt that the leadership at NRB took offense at the fact that he even appeared on that particular network while taking a position that runs counter to extremist right wing politics, though completely consistent with Christian principles.  USA Today is not exactly an approved right wing media source either.  Darling's appearances, and the content of his message, might have had the effect of letting people know that there are Evangelical Christians who still hold to their Christian convictions and believe in the power of God rather than the power of politics.  It's clear evidence that there are Evangelical Christians out there who have not bowed their knee to the Baal of secular right wing politics.

An Accurate Characterization of Current Evangelical Attitudes

But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.  Remember, therefore, from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first.  If not, I will come to you and remove your lamp stand from its place unless you repent.  Revelation 2:4-5 ESV

How Evangelical Christians, who once claimed that moral character was the main qualification for serving in American political office, could give almost unqualified support to a man whose lifestyle and reputation was built on immoral behavior that characterizes what the Apostle John called "the spirit of antichrist," is a legitimate question that many people, including many Evangelicals themselves, are asking.  It is also legitimate to doubt the sincerity of their faith since their support was given to Trump in exchange for his use of political power to achieve their ends.  If politics is the way to get things done, who needs prayer? 

Turning the pandemic into yet another political battlefield has denied American Evangelicals a major opportunity to achieve their mission and purpose.  One of the most effective ways the church has in its possession to win converts to faith in Christ is a visible testimony of unselfish service to others.  But instead, many Evangelicals have opted to whine about government "over-reach" and "tyranny," opposing mask mandates and vaccinations on the basis of political misinformation, echoing the same claims as pro-choice advocates do when asserting "my body, my choice." 

There's no Christian doctrine or Biblical principle that supports opposition to mask wearing or getting vaccinated.  But doctrine and principle among Evangelicals on the political right is no longer based on the Bible.  And those who attempt to call them back to repentance, like Dan Darling, will face the wrath of the political power that is being challenged.  

The salt has lost its taste. 



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