“It’s that the entire moral landscape has changed,” he said. “An increasingly secularized America understands our positions, and has rejected them.” — R. Albert Mohler, Jr., president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
While it is true that the moral landscape of America is changing and secularizing, I would not say that America has rejected all theologically conservative positions. Many polls show otherwise. Back in 2008, I asked a question that it appears that theologically conservative non-Hispanic whites failed to answer. Why did black and Latino voters vote so disproportionately for the Democrats, even theologically conservative voters? That question was never answered back then, except by glib statements about how black and Latino voters do not really think, they simply vote their party loyalties, even if they are conservative theologically. Not only was that statement insulting, as it played to the stereotype that only non-Hispanic white voters really think logically, but it also led to the failure to correctly analyze what had happened that election.
During the intervening four years, non-Hispanic white theological conservatives cemented their ties to the Republican Party, and to each and every one of its policies, without critique. It was the unwillingness to critique the other policies of the Republican Party that cost non-Hispanic white theological conservatives their voice with black and Latino theological conservatives. What appeared to be the wholesale adoption of every political position of the Republican Party, or at least the failure to criticize even the most outrageous statements of some of the Republican candidates, gave the impression that non-Hispanic white theological conservatives considered Republicanism to be equivalent to the party of God.
Non-Hispanic white theological conservatives also blocked themselves in when they made abortion the only possible criteria by which a “real” Christian could judge which party to vote for. In doing so they minimized all other criteria to the point that the concerns of any black or Latino theological conservative were not considered to rise to the level that they could possibly overcome the necessity of ending abortion. But, in taking that stance and in failing to try to understand the concerns of theologically conservative black and Latino voters, some very wrong impressions were given and a chance for some significant Christian unity was lost.
The result was what was seen in the election. The only demographic that President Obama did not win was non-Hispanic white males. Even a majority of non-Hispanic white female voters went slightly for President Obama. Latino and black voters went overwhelmingly for President Obama. Did Governor Mitt Romney receive votes from every group in America? Of course he did! There is no such thing as a 100% vote. But, that is not the point. The point has to do with the question from 2008 and now from 2012.
Have non-Hispanic white theological conservatives realized yet why black and Latino theological conservatives voted in overwhelming numbers for President Obama? America has not quite yet rejected all the positions of theological conservatives. But, if non-Hispanic white theological conservatives continue to insist that theirs is the only true theologically conservative voice, America certainly will end up rejecting them. If every time that a Latino theological conservative speaks up about immigration or a black theological conservative speaks up about affirmative action, they are told that this is not an important point, if every time that concerns about voter suppression are brought up black and Latino theological conservatives are told that they should not object to especially rigorous ID requirements or lessened voting hours, etc., if every quality of life related concern that is brought up by black and Latino theological conservatives is labeled socialism, then do not be surprised if the trend continues.
Here is the challenge for non-Hispanic white theological conservatives. Are you willing to dialogue with your fellow black and Latino theological conservatives? Are you willing to reach acceptable compromises so that ALL concerns can be addressed? Notice I said compromises. I did not say that one side would win and the other side would lose. Frankly, the president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary is partially correct. We could all end up losing. Or, since black and Latino theological conservatives are against abortion, as well as having many other moral positions in common, we could dialogue, reach some compromises and have a united witness in various areas that is not tied to one party or the other.
[Note: while typing this blog post I received a forwarded post. The post was written by a non-Hispanic white male evangelical. Sure enough, it was full of phrases such as, “Showing up to vote, however, were interest groups rallied by their self-interest. Like Rome of old, too many Americans have realized that they can vote for their bread and circuses.” Sadly, this is a perfect example of continuing with an attitude that only non-Hispanic white male evangelicals really know truth and the rest only vote their greed and self-interest. In the author’s list of issues which he considered must be fought for, not one of the issues dear to black and Latino theological conservatives was mentioned. Sadly, this is a recipe for continuing defeat, and not because the rest of society is evil, nor because non-Hispanic white theological conservatives are the only ones upholding God’s truth. It is a recipe for defeat because it does not take seriously the idea that there is One Church, One Hope, One Faith, One God and Father of all, and that this oneness needs to include the voices of black and Latino theological conservatives.]
The group addressed here (which includes myself) should have woken up when the Bush administration’s reasons for war in Iraq were shown to be false, and for the flagrant abuses of power which were revealed when we began “enhanced interrogation techniques” that were clearly torture, as the abuses at Abu Graib prison in Iraq made it clear what we were doing. There is simply no excuse for turning a blind eye to these obvious things, as well as the concerns of Hispanic and Black conservative theologians, for that matter. But Protestants (which are the majority of this group) are accustomed to working within their various little camps, each of which has the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, in their minds.
Excellent post. I can only applaud and affirm it all.
I doubt that the white men you’ve referred to who complain that every other demographic wants their “bread and circuses” (or “things, and stuff,” in Bill O’Reilly’s dismissive words) from the government are signing pledges to forego their Medicare, Social Security, and veterans’ benefits, including paying back their GI Bill loans. It appears that they believe that if they receive it, it’s earned benefits, while everyone else just begs for free stuff.
Christian conservatives’ thorough and uncritical adherence to the Republican party has wrought tragic results. How can they be so ostensibly committed to the Bible and the Kingdom of God and yet identify so completely with a worldly, secular political party, even to the point of using spiritual blackmail against their fellow Christians, threatening their eternal salvation if they don’t vote Republican (I’m looking especially at clergy, Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant, who have been doing this lately)?
How different would our country look today if, for the last 30 years, instead of pouring their energy into partisan politics and the corruption and hate-fests that inevitably arise therefrom, conservative Christians had pursued humble, sacrificial service to those in need? Without accepting the tempting offers of political power offered by the Republicans or any party?
Election fraud definitely played a part in this outcome.
I have seen the news stories about election fraud. However, there are equally strong claims about voter suppression. I suspect that both sides are guilty of exaggeration.
It appears that the evidence for voter suppression is fairly obvious. Gov. Scott ordered polling places closed, hours and days reduced, and the lines of people who had to wait many hours to vote were out there on camera for us all to see.