Richard Cizik is the vice president for governmental affairs of the National Association of Evangelicals, a lobbying organization that represents 45,000 churches. He is a conservative Christian who preaches the message of environmentalism from a pro-life perspective. He talks about creation care in relation to the threat of global warming.
This is the group that Ted Haggard used to be the head of. Haggard had to step down after he was accused of hiring a gay prostitute for sex and using him as a source for methamphetamine.
Why has it taken so long for the evangelical movement to pay attention to stewardship and poverty?
Glossary:
Calvinism
Dispensational Theology
Interesting stuff, but not mainstream in the Evangelical movement. Reason to be optimistic?
If we destroy the environment it will hasten the second coming!
ReplyDeleteman1: how'd you die?
man2: how'd I die?! In the freakin' apocalypse!! It was awesome!
I was first turned on to Cizik when I listened to his interview on Speaking of Faith with Krista Tippett. Let's hear it for public radio!
ReplyDeleteI wonder if Evangelical environmentalism isn't becoming more mainstream (or perhaps there's a growing collective ambivalence). Poverty seems to be a growing concern among even conservative evangelical churches (political conservatives in the U.S., and I'm not sure how Cizik can occupy a top spot in the NAE without some solid support from the church base.
I feel that Rev. Richard Cizik represents the bedrock values of true conservative Evanglicals. He seeks to bring glory to God not by always following the easy path of assimilation, but by offering service to God's creation at a time when such service is wrongly politicized. Moreover, serving Creation is only one of the many ways Cizik is working in core areas following in Christ's footsteps. He is known for his ardent defense of life, and as a Peacemaker, having been among the first evangelicals to develop dialogue with Muslims around themes that might well lead to peace and understanding in a time of considerable angst and hatred. He represents, in my opinion, a brighter future for the spread of the evangelical spirit, in part because he has learned how to gain the admiration and respect of young Christians and also non- evangelicals. Thanks to him, they now have a better acceptance of Christ's Way.
ReplyDeleteGuys, thanks so much for the feedback.
ReplyDeletejohnr, I wonder the same things. I guess I don't have a feel for what's mainstream in Evangelical churches.
michael, I appreciate your insight. Not sure how these attitudes are tracked as mainstream or not, but I do agree with your statement about the bright future. I'm feeling more optimistic.
ryan, you know I'm always a sucker for a good Patton Oswalt bit!