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January 31, 2005
Time Magazines 25 Most Influential Evangelicals in America
I came across Time Magazine's story on the The 25 Most Influential Evangelicals in America as I was surfing through the blogosphere. Of course, who else is going to bring you the news before anyone else? Not the Main Stream Media! Evangelical Outpost had posted his own list of Know Your Evangelicals months ago and there are many similarities.
Time Magazine is correct in stating that "American Evangelicalism seems to defy unity, let alone hierarchy. Yet its members share basic commitments." So it is not surprising that I found the "usual suspects" on such a list, such as pastors' Bill Hybels and Rick Warren, or evangelistic icon Billy Graham. I was sort of surprised, but not really, to find Emergent Church "guru" Brian McClaren. That was not a surprising find for the circles that I run in, but I was surprised that Time Magazine picked it up. Then there are the scholars such as Mark Noll or JI Packer. Not surprising for the most part.
I think what I was most surprised about were the number of people that were in politics, or fundraising, or in law. People such as David Barton, Douglas Coe, Michael Gerson, Rick Santorum and Jay Sekulow.
But really, is that that surprising? Should I be surprised that some of the most influential people in American Evangelicalism are in politics? Christian Evangelicals such as James Dobson and Chuck Colson have been involved in theology and politics for years. They both made the list. And isn't good to have Christians involved in the political sphere?
I guess my concern is this, and is it a legit concern or not? Why does most of the influence that affects change in American Evangelicalism derive from the political sphere? Are churches failing? Are theologians not making the impact they once did?
But I also am concerned with Time Magazines perception of what is American Evangelicalism, and what and who influences it. To Time, it would seem that those who make the noise, or have political agendas are truly the most influential. But then, how did someone like JI Packer or Mark Noll make the list? They hardly come across the radar screen when you think of theological politics. Theology for sure, since they are two heavy hitters, but not so much politics, though I'm sure they are well versed in that area.
So I guess I need to tip my hat to Time Magazine for coming up with such a list, and for putting such a variety of people on the list...true to the diversity of American Evangelicalism. But I want to know where we as a church are headed? Where are the voices of the minority? Where are the voices for opposing viewpoints than we typically find in American Evangelicalism, such as those coming from White, republican males? Of which I am one. Where are the Stanley Hauerwas' (by the way, he was Time's 2001 Theologian of the Year), or the Glen Stassen's? But then again, influence does not mean that everyone's voice is spoken for, but rather influence is about who wields the power, and maybe things are shifting.
The partnering of politics and theology are not new. Christ confronts the political and religious leaders of the day in his teachings, and Paul in Romans 13 advises us to obey the rulers that have been put in place. And two of my most favorite theologians Karl Barth and Dietrich Bonhoeffer were involved greatly in politics.
I am just concerned that as we move forward, that we don't equate following Christ, and the Church, with belonging to a certain political party, or carrying certain political beliefs. As many have said before me, God transcends political parties, and there are great Christians, and great political views, and great political battles in each camp.
And ultimately, if asked that question, "Who are the 25 Most Influential People in American Evangelicalism" we all would have very different things to say, because we all are influenced by different people.
Ultimately, I may not care who is doing the influencing, as long as Christ's Word is the main driving force behind that. So influence may come from the church. It may come from Congress. It may come from Bono.
Who are the 25 Most Influential Evangelicals in America?
Why wasn't Dr. Richard Mouw, or Dr. Stanley Grenz on that list? They are super influential. But I guess the question is, are they influential in the right circles to make Time's list. I guess not.
Evangelicalism truly covers a diversity of people, movements and beliefs, and we are all not going to be in agreement
Posted by rhett at January 31, 2005 03:41 PM
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