Sojourners Faith & Politics Forum

Sojourners' forum for the Democratic frontrunners on faith and politics, which aired tonight on CNN, was a real coup for the organization. It was one of the clearest signs in years that the religious landscape in the United States has changed and that it's no longer possible to assume that all Christians are conservative Republicans. Jim Wallis, Sojourners, and many other progressive American Christians deserve a lot of credit for the years and years of work they've committed to changing the perspectives on faith and politics in the United States. Not to mention, they got politicians to speak on the record about the poor. That's rare.

The era of dominance by the Religious Right is fading, which I'm happy about. But I also believe there are limits to the compromises people of faith can make with politics if they want to maintain their authenticity and calling to seek the peace and wholeness of the world through spirituality---not material or political power. A Religious Left will trip into the same pitfalls as the Religious Right did, and end up being used by the Democrats for their own purposes. That might help change the disastrous course that Bush has set in motion, but in the end it won't do much more than that.

For years Sojourners worked hard to stay independent and offer a prophetic critique on politics from the outside. I am sure they will continue to critique the powers that be, no matter who is elected. However, the opening up of this new religious landscape is as uncharted as a journey through the wilderness, where temptations abound and it's easy to become lost if you lose sight of the ancient signs: a pillar of smoke by day and a pillar of fire by night. Surrounded by danger and drama, the only one you can trust is the Creator of all that is, who summoned you on this journey.