The RECORD

"The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary." H. L. Mencken

"We are perpetually being told that what is wanted is a strong man who will do things. What is really wanted is a strong man who will undo things; and that will be the real test of strength." G.K. Chesterton

Governor's Race 06: Will the Economy Be Enough?

The Republican nominee for Governor, Senator Chandler Woodcock, apparently agrees with Bill Clinton who famously declared, "It's the economy, stupid." Woodcock's website positions him to fight on economic ground. This is conventional wisdom in politics today, and I suppose that is so because it works. So far Woodcock has run a perfectly pitched campaign for a Maine Republican. He is hitting the right notes at the right time.

In the lead up to the primary he was strong on the social issues. This created a helpful contrast from his opponents for him in the primary. The press coverage of his abortion views, combined with controversy in the grassroots, flowed together and gave him the edge he needed in the low turnout primary.

He will be challenged in the general election. The elite and economically-minded wing of his own party, the Republicans, will push him to the left on social issues. That started immediately with long time Republicans lamenting Woodcock's victory because he is a Christian. These forces within the Republican Party are running out of ideas and imagination. Either they cannot imagine a Christian candidate who can win or, they simply will not abide a Governor who strongly defends life and family.

One economically conservative columnist applauded the gubernatorial hopeful because he "happened to be a Christian."

The future for Christians in Maine politics is grim. For decades now Christians have been told to go to the back of the political bus in Maine. There is absolutely no seat for them in the Democrat bus, at least for the Christian who is willing to fiercely defend life and family. Democrats decapitate outspoken Christians. They even silenced Maine's Roman Catholic Bishop on marriage last year. They are powerful.

I observed after reading a recent column by a Republican political science professor that Republicans still allow Christians to talk and organize. Republicans in Maine, however, appear to be controlled by elite and monied interests who cause me to conjur in my mind a picture of a person lounging in a chair holding the remote and watching their party on television. They view the political activities of Christians like a Saturday Night Live skit. It is good for a laugh or background noise while they read "The Economist." Most of the time they have the television on mute when the Christians are talking.

Ignorance may be bliss, but it could lead Maine in a troubling direction

Maine Republicans will lose to Governor John Baldacci's party this year, unless they can imagine a future for their party that more fully includes dedicated pro life and pro family Christians.

Turning Around the Mainline

The subtitle of Thomas C. Oden's recent book may be more accurate than the title: renewal movements are definitely changing the church, even if they are not turning around the mainline. The Episcopal church is visibly disintegrating while other mainline denominations are at the very least declining in numbers and influence. There's plenty of spirituality, to be sure, but not as much enthusiasm for classical Christianity.

Oden's book is a report on the vitality of renewal movements within mainline denominations. He rightly perceives that it's not the loss of numbers but the loss of orthodox faith that is most alarming in mainline churches. Liberated denominational leaders and seminaries, he says, "have virtually no immune system against heresy, no defense whatever against perfidious teaching, and no criteria for testing the legitimacy of counterfeit theological currency" (p. 26).

His hope is for patient endurance by renewal groups; he wants orthodox believers to stay in the historic denominations. "This is not a project for a year or a decade. It will take at least a generation, and probably more" (p. 28).

The old ecumenism, represented by the National Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches, has failed in its attempts at organic unity. That was mostly because of its divisive commitment to political activism that alienated people in the churches.

The new ecumenism represented by the Association for Church Renewal is confessional. Truth is important, and heresy a continuing reality. Oden's summary of core teachings is unique and useful. And, Chapter 14 on "The Biblical Teaching of Confession" is worth the price of the book.

Heresy and apostasy are not new problems, nor are they reserved for the Protestant Mainline. Since the earliest days of the apostolic church there have been apostates and heretics, and the Scriptures insist there always will be.

Thomas Oden is the personal and professional embodiment of the turn around in the mainline. While he is hopeful of continuing renewal in multiple denominations, the renewal effort in my own denomination has charted a different course. Since the writing of this book, American Baptist Evangelicals has reorganized as a missional group (Cornerstone Church Network) that is less focused on renewal within American Baptist Churches and more concerned about building healthy churches that impact the culture. When all is said and done, both renewal from within and departure from declining denominations will be continuing options. Both approaches will see success while all Christian churches must face the indisputable fact that both doctrinal and ethical departures from the faith, both heresy and apostasy, will be with us until God's kingdom comes.

Oden's book will be most helpful for those who want to stay in the mainline churches to make a difference over the long term. This year's developments in the Episcopal Church, the Presbyterian Church, the American Baptist Churches, and other mainline denominations certainly temper Oden's optimism. On the other hand, his commitment to "Truth-Driven Unity" strikes me as exactly what Jesus had in mind for his church.