A Liberal Who Gets It

New York Times columnist, Nicholas Kristof, correctly identifies what bothers Evangelicals about Liberals. Namely, they claim tolerance but show very little tolerance of conservative Christianity. Here is part of what he said:

Hug an Evangelical

By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF

I've argued often that gay marriage should be legal and that conservative Christians should show a tad more divine love for homosexuals.

But there's a corollary. If liberals demand that the Christian right show more tolerance for gays and lesbians, then liberals need to be more respectful of conservative Christians.

One of the most ferocious divides today is that between evangelical and secular America. Some conservative Christians are all too quick to sentence outsiders to hell. And liberals denounce stereotypes of Muslims but not of "Christian nuts."

It's encouraging that the right is less hostile to gays and lesbians than it used to be. President Bush argued in his 1994 run for governor that gay sex should be illegal, while now he feels comfortable hitting up gays for campaign contributions.

On the other hand, the left seems more contemptuous than ever of evangelicals. Sensitive liberals who avoid expressions like "ghetto blaster," because that might be racially offensive, blithely dismiss conservative Christians as "Jesus freaks" or "fanatics."

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That scorn is deeply resented. A poll this month found that three-quarters of evangelicals believe "the mass media is hostile," and nearly half agreed that "evangelical Christians are looked down upon by most Americans."

This resentment is global. In a Tyndale Lecture in England last year, Cristina Odone complained: "The chattering classes . . . pride themselves on being tolerant. . . . Yet they share one prejudice that turns them into rabid persecutors: Christians."

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Moreover, saying that one will tolerate evangelicals who do not evangelize — well, that's like Christians saying they have nothing against gays who remain celibate.

It's always easy to point out the intolerance of others. What's harder is to practice inclusiveness oneself. And bigotry toward people based on their faith is just as repugnant as bigotry toward people based on their sexuality.

Here's my response on Mr. Kristof's forum:

This Evangelical Would Like a Hug

I truly appreciate the effort shown by Nicholas Kristof in promoting respectful dialog between Evangelicals and theological Liberals. (It is possible to be a political Liberal and an Evangelical. So, from now one when I use the word Liberal I am implying the theological sense.) Furthermore, he also sees the appropriate path to get there, mutual understanding.

Nobody wants to be tarred by the nuts on our "side". The goal ought to not be the eschewing of labels but to strive for accurate ones. On this score, Mr. Kristof has to travel down this road a little farther. Namely, Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses are not Evangelicals. Nevertheless, I do appreciate the effort and realize Evangelicals need to be clearer on who we are and who we are not. Thus, it easy for outsiders to get confused.

Towards this end, in every forum I am in I disavow Fred Phelps. He is not an Evangelical or even a Christian and to put a point on it, positively evil.

There is hope for Mr. Kristof's approach. If Liberals want to give Evangelicals a hug, not only might we stand still to receive it we might just return in kind.