Review of Randall Balmer, Thy Kingdom Come: How the Religious Right Distorts the Faith and Threatens America: An Evangelical's Lament

Why are evangelical Christians often so politically conservative? Does Christianity/Scripture require them to be conservative? Or do they have conservative personalities, first, then adapt Christianity to fit their political position? In this book, a liberal evangelical, Randall Balmer, argues for the latter.

Balmer points out that there are three characteristics to being an "evangelical" (pages xviii-xix): 1) The importance of a "conversion experience" (see John 3:3). 2) The obligation to share the Gospel ("good news") with others (see Matthew 28:19). 3) The importance of taking the Bible "seriously" (see 2 Timothy 3:16).

In Balmer's view, the above three conditions need not entail one's becoming a political conservative. (After all, American politician William Jennings Bryan (1860-1925) was an evangelical--but also supported progressive causes and pacifism.) Rather, Balmer observes that a right-wing ideology only flows from what he describes as a self-serving "slavishly...selective literalism" when it comes to Biblical interpretation (page xviii). (Why, for instance, do conservative Christians focus so harshly on contraception and abortion, about which Scripture says little or nothing, but don't march against, say, liberalized no-fault divorce laws--especially when the Gospels present Jesus as condemning divorce? [see the Sermon on the Mount, at Matthew 5:31-32, for instance]. Why block abortion clinics and not divorce courts? Why oppose gay marriage so loudly but remain so silent concerning straight divorce? (chapter 1))

Balmer then goes on to explain how a more careful, holistic reading of the Christian scriptures engenders progressive attitudes toward poverty (see Matthew 25:40), the environment (chapter 5), public schools (chapter 3), Darwin's theory of evolution (chapter 4), and the separation of Church and State (chapter 2).

Balmer's book is a rich and thought-provoking book. He, of course, realizes that his "progressive evangelicalism" is a minority viewpoint; nonetheless, it's refreshing to see a committed Christian explain how Scripture admits of a more open ideological stance. I'd definitely read this book again--and I'm tempted to check out his book, Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory: A Journey Into the Evangelical Subculture in America, for more background on evangelicalism and American politics. 
 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1901378688