Jackson Free Press

Right now, I'm listening to an amazing interview with National Association of Evangelicals Vice President Richard Cizik on "Speaking of Faith" about why his views on the issue of climate change has changed so dramatically. He says that evangelicals have ignored science for too long and have to reject becoming a "wholly owned subsidiary of the GOP." This is a must-listen interview. It's breathtaking; every word out of his mouth is amazing.

" I think the solution to 911 ... is good theology and thus I'm engaged in dialogues with Muslims internationally. I have to be."

Here's the blurb from the Web site:

Last month, conservative Christian leaders demanded that Richard Cizik be silenced or removed from his post. They charged that his concerns about climate change and torture have shifted attention away from moral issues such as gay marriage and abortion. But for Cizik, poverty, war, and the environment are moral issues too. We revisit Krista's 2006 conversation with Cizik that took many listeners by surprise.

Previous Comments

ID

112241

Comment

Here's part of an e-mail Cizik wrote "Speaking of Faith," which talks about NAE's plans for Earth Day: Hello, and warmest greetings. Thank you for your well wishes and the news of your intent to re-broadcast the program. This is terrific news, as it will coincide with our efforts to help promote "Earth Day" on April 22. Earlier that week in April, we'll be co-hosting a press event at the National Press Club (with LEEDS, Kathleen Rogers of "Earth Day," the Energy Star folks at EPA, and pastors) urging churches to seek status as "green buildings," and to devote some special attention that Sunday on biblical creation care. This is just wonderful. Cizik is one of my heroes.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-04-15T08:57:27-06:00

ID

112242

Comment

More from that e-mail: The Board of the Association on March 9, 2007 unanimously affirmed, once again, our commitment to all the principles in our 2004 document "For the Health of the Nation." These principles include religious freedom, human rights, sanctity of human life, protection of the traditional family, justice for the poor and oppressed, peacemaking and not least of all, creation care. The Board of NAE, was, in effect, also saying "amen" to my speaking out on all of these concerns. Why? Because they are God's concerns. Thus, I will continue to sound a clear trumpet about the threats to God's creation posed by climate change, habitat destruction, species extinction, pollution and the spread of human infectious diseases. And, I will also continue to speak out about global hunger and climate change, genocide, and all denials of human dignity, such as posed by torture.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-04-15T10:26:55-06:00

ID

112243

Comment

He's got a point; the evangelicals are at risk of losing sight of the word of God and following the word of the GOP.

Author

Ironghost

Date

2007-04-15T14:42:50-06:00

ID

112244

Comment

I respect that Cizik isn't willing to be a subsidiary of the GOP, however I want to point out that "sanctity of human life" means he also condemns a woman's right to govern her own body, and "protection of the traditional family" means he condemns my right to marry a man and likely to adopt as well. Cizik does deserve to be praised for his progressive positions. But I can't ignore that he's still promoting some old time religious one's as well, and with them their terrible political implications.

Author

Brent Cox

Date

2007-04-15T22:35:15-06:00

ID

112245

Comment

Let me clarify: I really do respect Cizik's defiance. I only wish it were consistent. But I know very few religious leaders about whom I don't feel the same.

Author

Brent Cox

Date

2007-04-15T22:38:51-06:00

ID

112246

Comment

What I like about having evangelicals on the side of the environment is that they're often much more engaging speakers than some of the folks who have historically spoken out on environmental issues. I saw an interview a month or so ago on CNN, with a scientist and some evangelical (both concerned about global warming). The scientist was very off-putting in his style and language. The evangelical brought the message home, made it personal (protecting our children is a family value, after all), and was extremely articulate. Could be a match made in heaven. Or in a virgin redwood forest.

Author

kate

Date

2007-04-16T07:09:01-06:00

ID

112247

Comment

Brent, if he's defying them also on abortion and homosexuality he wouldn't be a Christian. (I've had that debate with Tom, before he got in a snit and left, seemingly.) The fact that someone is willing to point out that there are issues outside the well worn big two speaking points of the GOP is a novelty.

Author

Ironghost

Date

2007-04-16T07:45:52-06:00

ID

112248

Comment

Ironghost, I like Rick Warren's (Saddleback...Purpose Driven Life guy) take and it's mine as a Christian as well. I'll work with the feminists when it involves the degradation of women. I'll work with the others on Global Warming. I admire the Evangelicals coming out saying they will not be defined by one political party anymore. If folks view my connection with a church as a negative, then oh well. Can't control that :) And Bill O'Reilly with his new term "Secular Progressive" is very diminishing. He's attemptingn another "liberal" tag with the political shift that began in the 2004 elections. Another attempt to box my views as non-Christian while the seculars box me as too-Christian. It's a pain huh? I can be progressive AND Christian, and sucks for them if someone refuses to listen to my views because of it.

Author

emilyb

Date

2007-04-16T08:08:59-06:00

ID

112249

Comment

Also, I would be absolutely Pro-Life if we could all agree on what that means. The "abortifacient" thing keeps me for choice. The new amendments proposed to combat Roe Vs. Wade include no "abortifacients" which could limit my access to birth control pills. When the Pro-Life stance gets real about women's needs, I'll get real with them about abortion.

Author

emilyb

Date

2007-04-16T08:11:38-06:00

ID

112250

Comment

Iron, that "argument" is ridiculous. You can be Christian and support abortion rights (many, many Methodists, Presbyterians and Episcopals do) as well as homosexual rights (ditto). You seem to have mistaken "Christian" for "evangelical," but God be praised, they are not the same.

Author

Brian C Johnson

Date

2007-04-16T08:20:19-06:00

ID

112251

Comment

[quote]Iron, that "argument" is ridiculous. You can be Christian and support abortion rights (many, many Methodists, Presbyterians and Episcopals do) as well as homosexual rights (ditto). You seem to have mistaken "Christian" for "evangelical," but God be praised, they are not the same.[/quote] You seem to be separating "Evangelical" and "Christian". It's God's word that counts, and his judgement that shall rule in the end. The word of man won't count for anything then. The Methodists, Prebyterians and Episcopals have made their decisions with regards to those Hot Button GOP issues. I'm glad someone is willing to open up other areas of concern, rather than the tired twosome of abortion and homosexuality. Listening to current dogma, you'd think that's all God cared about. It isn't.

Author

Ironghost

Date

2007-04-16T18:02:23-06:00

ID

112252

Comment

I seem to have missed your sarcasm, Iron. All I know is that my folks, like Jesus, taught me that God loves the meek. If Jesus hated abortion, he would have mentioned it once, considering that he was omniscient. If Jesus hated fags (as my fellow Jayhawk Fred Phelps puts it), he would have mentioned it. Once. Instead, he said that God is love and humility. We do not fight Romanofascism (which was, you know, actual fascism). Instead, we let the Romans execute us for crimes we did not commit. That is love. That is God. No one said it is easy, but all those who fail him fail themselves.

Author

Brian C Johnson

Date

2007-04-16T20:16:20-06:00

ID

112253

Comment

[quote]I seem to have missed your sarcasm, Iron[/quote] Usually it's not that hard to miss. Must be a bad night. ;) [quote]All I know is that my folks, like Jesus, taught me that God loves the meek. If Jesus hated abortion, he would have mentioned it once, considering that he was omniscient.[/quote] Exodus 20:13 "Thou Shalt Not Commit Murder". Now, I know I've had this go-around with others about the beginning of life and other logical hair-splitting, so I'm not into debating it as much. I believe Abortion is covered under that. On the flip side, I don't believe in such a thing as a "Just Cause" for war, either. I'm also anti-death penalty. [quote]If Jesus hated gays, he would have mentioned it. Once. Instead, he said that God is love and humility. [/quote] Let's not mention Phelps, okay? He gets his jollies off of hate, not Christian Love. I'll treat everyone nicely, and encourage Civilization to do the same. As for the theology, I haven't heard it explained well enough and I do believe the hate is misplaced badly.

Author

Ironghost

Date

2007-04-16T21:37:17-06:00