Pew Poll: Most Americans want churches to stay out of politics

August 21st, 2008 at 02:41pm Chuck Sweeny

This is from today’s Politico.

“For the first time in a dozen years, a majority of Americans believe that churches and religious institutions should “keep out” of politics, according to the annual Pew Religion and Public Life Survey.

“It’s the highest level of public concern with faith’s effect on politics since Pew began asking the question in 1996.

“The rise in Americans’ desire to separate religion and politics – from 44 percent in 2004 to 52 percent today – appears due to a surprising increase in conservative distaste for mingling the institutions – from 30 percent in 2004 to half of conservatives expressing the view today.

Among white evangelicals, 36 percent want religious groups to stay out of politics, a dramatic rise from 16 percent four years ago.

“The findings come in the wake of the Saddleback Civil Forum Saturday, when in unprecedented fashion both presidential candidates – Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama – joined popular evangelical leader Rick Warren at his mega church for their first back-to-back campaign appearance. “

I think this is especially interesting. I’ve always defended the church’s role in the political discussion, and our leaders’ personal convictions and beliefs are considered so important in the USA that the first forum showcasing the two candidates took place at Rick’s Church Americain. (Everybody  goes to Rick’s.)

The Pew poll reflects what I’ve seen here in Rockford: The evangelical movement is changing. Evangelicals are realizing that over the past two decades they’ve been essentially rolled by the Republican Party; courted and flattered by the elephant men to get their votes, then largely ignored after the elections.

The Republicans are not the social conservative party. The Republicans are the “green” party.

Warren’s church is but one of example of how evangelical churches are acting out their faith commitment in a “boots on the ground way.”  Look at how Heartland volunteers are quietly rehabilitating Rockford’s public schools, three at a time. Warren’s church is heavily into a Rwanda reconciliation and rebuilding project, and Pastor Rick is pushing orphan relief and poverty issues  without making overt and obnoxious political pronouncements about what he’s doing.

The attitude of these Christians is more Bono-esque than Dobson-diatribe. The thinking really is,  “What would Jesus Do? ” instead of “Which Republican would Jesus elect to enact His program on earth?”

It is dawning on evangelicals that His kingdom is not of this world.

Entry Filed under: Rick's Church Americain