Top evangelical resigns after backing gay unions

[Newsjock]

Source: Associated Press

An outspoken and polarizing voice in conservative Christian politics resigned effective Thursday from the National Association of Evangelicals after a radio interview in which he voiced support for same-sex civil unions and said he is "shifting" on gay marriage.

The Rev. Richard Cizik's comments — made on a Dec. 2 "Fresh Air" broadcast on National Public Radio — triggered an uproar that led to his stepping down as NAE vice president of governmental affairs.

A fixture in Washington for nearly three decades, Cizik has played a key role in bringing evangelical Christian concerns to the political table. But in recent years, he earned enemies in the movement for pushing to broaden the evangelical agenda. His strongest focus was on "creation care," arguing that evangelicals have a biblical responsibility to the environment that includes combatting global warming.

The Rev. Leith Anderson, a Minneapolis-area pastor who serves as NAE president, ... said a "combination of things" Cizik said in the interview led to his downfall, including this comment on gay marriage: "I'm shifting, I have to admit. In other words, I would willingly say I believe in civil unions. I don't officially support redefining marriage from its traditional definition, I don't think."

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/12/11/national/a144713S91.DTL&tsp=1

[Critters2]

1. At heart, Cizik is a good man. It's hard for people who grow up in

and feel at home in Conservative churches, when they begin to really read the Gospel. They lose a lot of friends, and sometimes family, when they move from intolerance to tolerance and even affirmation. This took courage.

Yep, he's a good man.

[Lint Head]

2. He has "seen the light" as they say.

The truth 'will' set you free.
:dem:

[BR_Parkway]

11. Maybe it was knowing Ted Haggard that made it real to him, not

just some abstract. Here was one of his own, bathed in the church from every possible angle - and still screwing around with guys. Perhaps now, others are looking at their hard line decision about it being a choice and all that stems from that versus it simply being something that some people are, like blonde or 6'3"

[JuniperLea]

3. To be a Christian, you have to believe that we are all God's children...

That he loves us all equally, that he is not capable of hatred toward his own children. Hate the sin, indeed, but love the sinner. That's what I was taught in Sunday School... but just try to live that way. Just try to walk the talk, and this is what happens.

All this hate is making Baby Jesus cry... and no one in the Christian hierarchy seems to give a tinker's damn. What a sad time this is for those who are truly Christian. They are being lumped together with these faux Christians who are bastardizing what should be a very caring and kind religion.

Born into a Fundy family... but I'm recovering nicely.

[madrchsod]

4. i would say you are..

i think somewhere it is written that we were to take care of mother earth and all things that dwell upon it....

[JuniperLea]

5. Yes...

And to treat all your brothers and sisters as you would treat Jesus himself. Those two things alone are enough to "disqualify" many a so-called Christian from entering heaven... if there's a heaven.

[HillWilliam]

8. ...

:hug:

[JuniperLea]

13. Back at ya...

:hug:

We all need to rise above the hate. It's hard not to judge the haters, and that is what I need to work on. I feel sorry for them because they don't see what carrying that hate around is doing to them. I think that is the first step. We can't fight hate with hate. "Only love can conquer hate." - Marvin Gaye. I think we need to show them and treat them what they refuse to show others. Sometimes it's so hard to take the high road, to be the better person. Hate can suck you in. But anything worth having is worth working toward, right?

[get the red out]

6. The Republicans have turned his religion

into a political movement, nothing more. You don't give lip service to the talking points of the day then you loose your voice. This should absolutely prove it. They accept no disagreement on anything. And I wouldn't care except they do everything possible to push their dominion on all of us. It is the religion of worshipping the rich and slaving for them. They promise a reward in heaven if people are good little obedient surfs.

[CatholicEdHead]

14. Yep, this goes across all religious bounds

not just the groups here but the current crop of Catholic Bishops also talk the same way, you are either 100% or you are 0%, there is no middle ground anywhere.

[Zuiderelle]

7. It's sad and encouraging at the same time.

Good for him for standing up for his personal convictions. It's ironic that his downslide began among his own from him striving to protect our environment, to protect God's earth.

[w4rma]

9. He doesn't sound very polarizing to me. He sounds very anti-polarizing. Brings people together. (nt)

[No Elephants]

10. What downfall? This man has enormous courage. I hope he comes around to gay marriage.

[slackmaster]

12. Those 'cons will stop at nothing to destroy every union they see

:nuke: