Christian involvement in the public square these days is predictable—not because the increasingly secular society knows its Bible, but because it knows which secular “powers that be” each side of the Christian divide answers to.
Until Christians put their theology first, their activism will be little more rationally motivated than that of Hare Krishnas passing out flowers in airports. We will be moved along, one issue at a time, by charismatic and energetic talk-show hosts, politicians, and religious leaders, and our internal contradictions (such as calling ourselves “pro-life" when in truth we rarely speak up for the poor and oppressed after they’re born) will not win for evangelicalism respect in the eyes of the world even for having the courage of its convictions. What convictions? Activism, agendas, ideology: In the sixties, these were left-wing and called the “social gospel”; in the nineties they are right-wing and called “discipleship.” Activism, agendas, and practical involvement mean nothing without convictions, and convictions come from deeply held beliefs about God and ourselves. And that is theology.
Michael Horton, The Law of Perfect Freedom
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