Richard Cizik was forced from a leadership position at the National Association of Evangelicals last week largely because his views on maintaining a never ending anti-gay jihad are shifting and he seems to recognize that the evangelical Christianity of James Dobson, Tony Perkins and other professional homo-haters is becoming increasingly toxic with moderate and independent voters not to mention the youngest generation of Americans who increasingly see Christianity in a negative light. Cizik's sin of actually having an expansive view of the problems facing the world was a mortal sin for those who in my view come across as closet case homophobes. Seriously, no one gets as hysterical about homosexuality as Dobson, Wildon, Perkins, et al unless they have some pretty serious personal emotional issues going own. In my experience, heterosexuals who are comfortable with their own sexuality are no frightened by LGBT people. *
I believe that the gay-hating evangelicals will lead to the decline of Christianity with future generations if their hate filled mantra is not eliminated and a more tolerant and embracing version of Christianity adopted. In keeping with this view are comments that Jim Wallis at Sojourner made on Cizik's forced reignation. Here are highlights from his remarks:
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Rich Cizik has been a pioneer in the "new evangelical" movement and a real hero, especially to the next generation of young believers. Rich has helped lead the way to putting "creation care" and climate change on the mainstream agenda of the evangelical movement. His pilgrimage to a deep passion for the planet that God made for us has been, in his own language, a "conversion" and an "epiphany." Because of that, he has become a powerful spokesperson for many in the Christian world who are having that same conversion.
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Rich Cizik still supports the Christian tradition of marriage between a man and a woman, which he reiterated after the interview, and that his strong pro-life commitments certainly included abortion, even though in the interview he said that pro-life commitments should include more than just abortion. He pointed out in the interview that younger evangelicals don't have all the same views on gay and lesbian and rights as their parents do, that more of them have friendships with gay people, and are more sympathetic to their equal protection under the law and issues like civil unions. That Cizik admitted that he identified with those shifts created the firestorm.
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All of this is very sad for many reasons. . . . . Already, leaders from many faith traditions, including many national evangelical leaders, have expressed great dismay at the loss of Rich Cizik in such a key role. And the Religious Right is already using Cizik's resignation to attempt to roll back the wider social justice and environmental agenda of the NAE.
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I encourage the NAE's leadership to stay on the path they have chosen and resist the efforts of those who would again seek to narrow the evangelical agenda in unbiblical ways and make it again subservient to a conservative political agenda.
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As for Rich Cizik, he will continue to be a leader in the new faith coalition that is emerging now, and that will replace the Religious Right, without becoming a religious left. Pioneer's sometimes get into trouble and even pay a price for their explorations into new territories. But in the new moral center that is now visible, Rich's prophetic voice and leadership will continue to be heard and felt.
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I hope Wallis is correct in his hopes. The Christian Right is neither right nor Christian and have turned the Gospel message into a message of hate. The sooner Dobson, Perkins and others of that ilk are banished to the political and religious wilderness, the better for all people of good will.
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