Since the 1980s evangelical leaders have moved past discussions of morality and embraced conservative rhetoric about individual rights
, the congregation at Hyde Park Baptist Church welcomed the Holy Spirit into their two-storey, stained-glass sanctuary. Along with the spirit came their pastor, Kie Bowman, accompanied by a full jazz orchestra. He summed up his sermon as: “to impact culture, love the Bible”. But interspersed with this joyful invitation to share the Gospel were some spiky remarks, such his assertion that “you have to be convinced by the media that God does not exist.
Mr Bowman’s statements reflect the battle that evangelical denominations have been fighting since the 1980s, when evangelical leaders began to move past discussions about morality and embraced conservative rhetoric about individual rights. Andrew Lewis, author of a book about this phenomenon called “The Rights Turn”, says that Republicans and conservative Christians now have a shared approach to the law.
The argument about how to restore lost greatness has been running for 40 years. In the late 1970s the Southern Baptist Convention , an umbrella organisation for evangelical churches, was roiled by a confrontation between modernisers, who were in charge of the organisation, and traditionalists, who blamed them for presiding over a levelling-off in church attendance. The traditionalists won, but on their watch the malaise has worsened.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Former governor: Cutting Electoral College would hurt whitesBANGOR, Maine (AP) — Former Maine Gov. Paul LePage says any elimination of the Electoral College would hurt white people.
Read more »
People Are Faking Travel Using Random Objects And It's So Ridiculous It's Kinda FunnyThe 'Fake Plane Challenge' Is Now A Thing And I Don't Know What To Believe Anymore
Read more »
Opinion | The Right Hurts Its OwnOpinion: Sen. Josh Hawley saw an opportunity to raise his political standing with social conservatives at the expense of a talented conservative nominee, Neomi Rao
Read more »
Missouri day care worker flung child into cabinet then reported she was hurt in 'fall': LawyerMissouri day care worker flung child into cabinet then reported she was injured in 'fall,' attorney says.
Read more »