by Bruce T. Gourley
Published November/December 2015
(Baptist Studies Bulletin Archives Index)
For much of America’s history, white Christians have occupied first class seats in society, culture and economics, while persons of other faiths, no faith or other skin color jockey for second or third class seating somewhere in the back of the room.
Baptists of earlier generations warned Christians not to think too highly of themselves, insisting that all persons deserved freedom of conscience and religious liberty. In the First Amendment, America’s founders enshrined Baptist principles of freedom of conscience, religious freedom for all and church state separation. Yet America’s founding as a secular nation angered many theretofore first class (white establishment) Christians, who in the early nineteenth century mounted a campaign to force the government to tear down the wall between church and state. Over two centuries later, many (primarily white, older evangelical) Christians, insisting they should be privileged above others, are often quick to falsely claim persecution when someone of another faith, no faith, another skin color or different sexual orientation seeks equality.
Young millennial Americans across the theological and ideological spectrum largely see today’s self-centered evangelical Christians for what they are: spoiled brats who have hijacked the monikers “evangelical” and “Christian” for their own selfish ends.
Millennials by and large know that white evangelical complaints of an increasing “cultural cost of being a Christian” are nonsense, as are accusations of Christians being forced into hiding inside church walls because of public hostility directed toward them. In reality many privileged, evangelical, majoritarian, white Christians are angry over the prospects of sharing cultural, social and economic power with minority others. From a sense of entitlement they demand freedom for themselves only in the form of exclusive first class privileges. Sadly, many Baptists, having long ago abandoned their own faith heritage of equality for all, have joined the ranks of the entitlement-minded.
Look no further than this year’s presidential primaries, where many candidates are verbally jousting for the evangelical Christian vote by staking out strong positions against non-evangelicals, non-Christians, the LGBT community, persons living in poverty, immigrants, and minorities seeking voting rights. The answer to America’s problems, they insist, is exclusive civil, religious, social, cultural and economic liberties for conservative and fundamentalist Christians, persons of inherently superior religious pedigree. The angrier the tone in making such demands, the more many white evangelicals seemingly roar their approval.
Many observers perceive that the spoiled brats ranting and raving and demanding special privileges under the banner of evangelical Christianity are far removed from the teachings and witness of Christ. Tragically, the further away from Christ that entitlement-minded evangelicals flee into their self-centered theology, the more likely are Americans to join the rapidly growing ranks of the “nones.”
On the other hand, an increasing number of inclusionary Baptist millennials in church, ministry, denominational and non-profit leadership positions bear witness to Jesus’ non-discriminatory message of equality, love and embrace of all persons.
In this publication throughout this year we’ve read the stories of some of these remarkable young Baptists. This coming holiday season let us give thanks for the witness of faithful young Baptists, and let us receive the Christmas gift of salvation from the destructive shackles of a privileged, selfish, entitlement-minded mentality.