Evangelical Manifesto considered

In a recent correspondence, a colleague wrote:

But just because Christianity contributed to the forming of our country does not mean our country is Christian. Composed of may Christians, sure. But as far as I can tell the only true Christian government is the one where Jesus Christ rules in the flesh - and that doesn't happen until after the resurrection.

First of all, thank you for clearing up my misunderstanding - so much revisionist history is out there severing well-established historical connections with Christianity (glaring example: the European Union constitution, of all things), that I was not sure where you were coming from. I also agree that America is "Christian", in the sense you employ; however, it is NOT "post-Christian"'; far from it. Or else it would look more like some soviet or Islamic state (or worse). A Christian presence is still quite ubiquitous in American life and culture - if it were not so, the anti-Christian lobby ( a truly motley crew) would not be so enraged, incensed and organized to stamp it out. They would just let it die a nice quiet post-Christian death. Ain't happenen'.

I agree with the (somewhat overblown self-righteous?) statement in the Evangelical Manifesto (http://www.anevangelicalmanifesto.com/), but what motivates this group anyway? And why a manifesto? Isn't that something Karl Marx did a century and half ago, and that humanists update every couple of years? (Have you seen the latest version, by the way?) I am not a stranger to American Evangelicalism all these years, warts and all. Yet I feel no over-riding compulsion to go out of our way with a bunch of mea culpas to show to the supposedly dominant new Left. These people don't give a hoot about what Evangelicals believe - they think of us as Stalin did his "useful idiots"; so why act like the part? What is wrong with just leading people to Jesus and telling them all about Him? The root of "evangelical" is, after all, "evangel".

Now, how come these things weren't brought up in those long "Bull" years; now that the "Bear" has come to Evangelicalism, politically at least, it's suddenly cool to gloss over all that has happened, spiritually, since the Billy Graham crusades of yore clear up to PromiseKeepers and beyond, as if nothing of significance happened except for scandal, duplicity and hypocrisy. Fact is. lots of folks "got saved" (or whatever they call Christian conversion these days). All of a sudden, Christians are welcoming (failed) socialist approaches, uncritically, naively, as if it's new. If you don't believe it, look at the new life breathed into some of these old goats, like Sojourners. Do they really have something new to say to me that I didn't get the first time around? Well, I'm not buying it. Their is just a whiff of Franky Schaefferism in some of this stuff that makes me a bit skeptical - or at least, not quite ready to jump on the bandwagon. After all, the core of all those decades of activity and, yes, activism, was the Gospel message itself - spoken not like Liberal denominations, nor other parts of Christendom which would dilute the preaching of the Cross and the salvation that each person needs, etc. - unabashedly and boldy preached. Even with my advanced degrees and decades of campus culture, I am still cautious of the diluting effect the university (including, or especially Christian ones) can have on an believer's genuine vibrant faith in Jesus and the love that engenders all around. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of the Lord then dwell in the tents of evil men...(one reason I admire C.S.Lewis, and my dad, and others, so much, is that, while they worked in those tents, they never dwelt there.)

But maybe I am over-reacting (like many of those of whom I speak). Perhaps some of us overindulged or are just coming to terms with things we never thought about before. Or perhaps we are just adjusting to new technologies, like the internet and global culture, etc. I'm cool with that part. But next time. tell these evangelical nay-sayers not to quench the Spirit when some of us Pentecostal types have a word to speak...maybe next time, they'll listen. But will there be anyone left to prophesy?