A few weeks ago as I did my daily scan of The New York Times online I saw a headline that read, “Democrats Wrangle Over Words and Beliefs.”
As much as the Democratic presidential candidates invoke faith, justice and lofty motive, it seems naive to think of it as anything more than attempts to gain political ground.
But this looked different. The article said things like, “The sponsors of Sunday night’s forum, moderated by Campbell Brown of CNN and Jon Meacham, editor of Newsweek, hoped it would be an exercise in earnestness on pressing moral and social issues, a 90-minute break from the political thrust and parry of the presidential campaign trail. And for the most part, the questioners and candidates complied, addressing religious beliefs in at times starkly personal terms.”
And as for the candidates: “Mr. Obama noted several times that his Christian faith underlay his commitment to social justice and was a central part of his work as a community organizer in Chicago before he went into politics.”
While: “She [Clinton] said she had felt God’s grace as she faced unfaithfulness in her marriage as well as in more uplifting moments in her life. ‘It didn’t have to be a hard time,’ she said. ‘You know, it could be taking a walk in the woods. It could be watching a sunset.’"
To me this represents an extremely positive outing for these candidates, a chance to lay aside at least a smidgen of rhetoric and talk about issues of faith in a frank, non-combative setting. Although the article does report snubbing and scoffing by the candidates toward each other, even the name of the event, "The Compassion Forum", indicated the night was about something bigger.
Really though, what I could not believe is that all of this positiveness took place at the behest of Messiah College, a decidedly Christian institution from the name down.
A year ago I graduated from John Brown University, a sister school to Messiah in that both institutions are members of the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities. While a student there I enjoyed a wonderful academic education and spiritually rich environment. However, even with a fond alumni glow warming my heart, I have come away from my university experience convinced that Christian schools are lame when it comes to national political and cultural influence.
Why? Because they are small, poorly endowed, often unwelcoming to cultural relevant figures who do not eschew their beliefs, and turn out a high number of missionaries and elementary school teachers per capita. Not that important things and people do not originate at Christian institutions—many people at these schools are vibrant innovators, carried by the belief that Christian faith demands vocational excellence.
This was the case at Messiah last month. For a shining moment a Christian institution took the lead, gathered together the movers, shakers and thinkers, and showed that faith is a relevant conversation in public life. Despite the conviction held by so many that post-modernity has finally caused the last thinking Christian to turn in their Awanas patches, The Compassion Forum is proof of life.
-a
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