Evangelical left
Encyclopedia
Evangelical left is a term used to describe those who are part of the Christian
evangelical
movement in the United States
but who generally function on the left wing of that movement, either politically or theologically, or both. While the evangelical left movement is related to the better known Christian left
, those who are part of the latter movement are not always viewed as evangelical.
Typically, members of the evangelical left affirm the primary tenets of evangelical theology
, such as the doctrine
s of Incarnation
, atonement, and resurrection
, and also see the Bible
as a primary authority
for the Church
. Unlike many evangelicals, however, the evangelical left supports what are often considered "liberal" or "left wing" political policies. They are often, for example, opposed to capital punishment
and supportive of gun control
. In many cases, they are pacifist or pacifist-oriented. They also often support and utilize modern Biblical criticism
, whereas some other evangelicals reject it.
While members of the evangelical left chiefly reside in mainline denominations, they are often heavily influenced by the Anabaptist
social tradition.
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
evangelical
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
movement in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
but who generally function on the left wing of that movement, either politically or theologically, or both. While the evangelical left movement is related to the better known Christian left
Christian left
The Christian left is a term originating in the United States, used to describe a spectrum of left-wing Christian political and social movements which largely embraces social justice....
, those who are part of the latter movement are not always viewed as evangelical.
Typically, members of the evangelical left affirm the primary tenets of evangelical theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
, such as the doctrine
Doctrine
Doctrine is a codification of beliefs or a body of teachings or instructions, taught principles or positions, as the body of teachings in a branch of knowledge or belief system...
s of Incarnation
Incarnation
Incarnation literally means embodied in flesh or taking on flesh. It refers to the conception and birth of a sentient creature who is the material manifestation of an entity, god or force whose original nature is immaterial....
, atonement, and resurrection
Resurrection
Resurrection refers to the literal coming back to life of the biologically dead. It is used both with respect to particular individuals or the belief in a General Resurrection of the dead at the end of the world. The General Resurrection is featured prominently in Jewish, Christian, and Muslim...
, and also see the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
as a primary authority
Authority
The word Authority is derived mainly from the Latin word auctoritas, meaning invention, advice, opinion, influence, or command. In English, the word 'authority' can be used to mean power given by the state or by academic knowledge of an area .-Authority in Philosophy:In...
for the Church
Church Body
A local church is a Christian religious organization that meets in a particular location. Many are formally organized, with constitutions and by-laws, maintain offices, are served by pastors or lay leaders, and, in nations where this is permissible, often seek seek non-profit corporate status...
. Unlike many evangelicals, however, the evangelical left supports what are often considered "liberal" or "left wing" political policies. They are often, for example, opposed to capital punishment
Capital punishment
Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
and supportive of gun control
Gun control
Gun control is any law, policy, practice, or proposal designed to restrict or limit the possession, production, importation, shipment, sale, and/or use of guns or other firearms by private citizens...
. In many cases, they are pacifist or pacifist-oriented. They also often support and utilize modern Biblical criticism
Biblical criticism
Biblical criticism is the scholarly "study and investigation of Biblical writings that seeks to make discerning judgments about these writings." It asks when and where a particular text originated; how, why, by whom, for whom, and in what circumstances it was produced; what influences were at work...
, whereas some other evangelicals reject it.
While members of the evangelical left chiefly reside in mainline denominations, they are often heavily influenced by the Anabaptist
Anabaptist
Anabaptists are Protestant Christians of the Radical Reformation of 16th-century Europe, and their direct descendants, particularly the Amish, Brethren, Hutterites, and Mennonites....
social tradition.
See also
- Christian socialismChristian socialismChristian socialism generally refers to those on the Christian left whose politics are both Christian and socialist and who see these two philosophies as being interrelated. This category can include Liberation theology and the doctrine of the social gospel...
- Christian communismChristian communismChristian communism is a form of religious communism based on Christianity. It is a theological and political theory based upon the view that the teachings of Jesus Christ compel Christians to support communism as the ideal social system...
- Christian anarchismChristian anarchismChristian anarchism is a movement in political theology that combines anarchism and Christianity. It is the belief that there is only one source of authority to which Christians are ultimately answerable, the authority of God as embodied in the teachings of Jesus...
People
- Tony CampoloTony CampoloDr. Anthony "Tony" Campolo is an American pastor, author, sociologist, and public speaker known for challenging evangelical Christians by illustrating how their faith can offer solutions in a world of complexity. With his liberal political and social attitudes, he has been a major proponent for...
- Jimmy CarterJimmy CarterJames Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
- Stanley GrenzStanley GrenzStanley James Grenz was an American Christian theologian and ethicist in the Baptist tradition.-Early years:...
- Stanley HauerwasStanley HauerwasStanley Hauerwas is a Christian theologian and ethicist. He has taught at the University of Notre Dame and is currently the Gilbert T...
- Brian P. Moore
- Ron SiderRon SiderRonald James Sider is a Canadian-born American theologian and Christian activist. He is often identified by others with the Christian left, though he personally disclaims any political inclination. He is the founder of Evangelicals for Social Action, a think-tank which seeks to develop biblical...
- Jim WallisJim WallisJim Wallis is an American evangelical Christian writer and political activist. He is best known as the founder and editor of Sojourners magazine, and of the Washington, D.C.-based Christian community of the same name....
- William Willimon
- Philip YanceyPhilip YanceyPhilip Yancey is an American Christian author. Fourteen million of his books have been sold worldwide, making him one of the best-selling evangelical Christian authors. Two of his books have won the ECPA's Christian Book of the Year Award: The Jesus I Never Knew in 1996, What's So Amazing About...
Print resources
- Hauerwas, Stanley & William Willimon, Resident Aliens: Life in the Christian Colony (ISBN 0-687-36159-1)
- MacGregor, Kirk, A Molinist-Anabaptist Systematic Theology (ISBN 0-7618-3851-1)
- Wallis, Jim, God's Politics : Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It (ISBN 0-06-055828-8)
- Young, Shawn David. "From Hippies to Jesus Freaks: Christian Radicalism in Chicago’s Inner-City." Journal of Religion and Popular Culture. Vol 22(2) Summer 2010.