Social Justice Goes to Church
The New Left in modern American Evangelicalism
Jon
Harris
2020
194
Year written
Pages
Lived
"The infusion of social justice into the gospel may well be the most dangerous problem facing the church today. Yet, it is going unnoticed in far too many circles. Social Justice Goes to Church can serve as a wake-up call." (Samuel C. Smith, PhD, chair and graduate program director, Department of History, Liberty University)
In order to understand why so many evangelicals recently support left-leaning political causes, it is important to know a little history.
In the 1970s, many campus radicals raised in Christian homes brought neo-Marxist ideas from college back to church with them. At first, figures like Jim Wallis, Ron Sider, and Richard Mouw made great gains for their progressive evangelical cause. But, after the defeat of Jimmy Carter, the religious right stole the headlines.
Today, a new crop of mainstream evangelicals has taken up the cause of the New Left, whether they know it or not. As pro-life evangelicals rush to support movements like #BlackLivesMatter and #MeToo, it is important to realize they are walking in footprints already laid down. Their mission may be more successful, but it is not new. To understand where the evangelical social justice movement is heading, it is vital to understand the origins of the movement.
Social Justice Goes to Church: The New Left in Modern American Evangelicalism answers, from a historical perspective, the vital question, "Why are American evangelicals moving left?"
About the Author:
It seems obligatory in most “about me” sections to mention I went to seminary and grad school.
Now that that’s out of the way:
I was born into a Christian household. My father was, and still is, a pastor. I learned at a young age to respect God’s word and the good traditions passed down to me. I’ve never seen myself as anything beyond a common person making his way through this world, stumbling at times, but walking straighter and straighter with God’s help.
Christ came into my life when I was six years old. This became more real to me in my teenage years when the normal questions teenagers ask loom large.
In college I became active in student ministry and haven’t stopped. I also learned that I enjoyed music and love to write songs and serve at church in that capacity.
Perhaps my most memorable times are spent outside- Hiking, Cycling, Hunting, Fishing, etc. You name it if it’s outdoors and I probably have tried it or plan to.
I married the love of my life in 2016 and she puts up with all my shenanigans.
That’s a little about me. For more, check out the podcast!