Israel and the Christian Left

David Bernstein is writing about liberal Christian denominations divesting themselves from Israeli interests. The speculation is that they are attempting to hurt Evangelicals by this.

I think it is far more likely that this is an almost completely political move by the denominations. The effort started with the PCUSA in September 2004. Since then several other denominations have joined in.

Liberal denominations are socio-political entities, much more so than conservative denominations. The conservatives really only care about abortion, sex, and education. Of those only sex and abortion are pulpit issues. Education is just the result of the movement towards home and Christian schooling apart from the public system. Liberal churches tie religion into these too, but they also inject religion directly into environmentalism, gun control, the national deficit, and many other mostly political or social issues. The left is the church of the social gospel, not the right which preaches the spiritual gospel. If you look at any major liberal movement, churches will be listed as organizers and supporters. You don't see that in conservative political movements.

So this isn't about Jesus. It's about politics. Those that say it is a a reaction against Bush and conservatives are correct. And it doesn't bother me much. Peace and prosperity is breaking out across the Middle East and they're divesting now? Heh. Way to buy high and sell low guys.