"A Christian Looks
At the Religious Right"
The Secretive World of Foreign Affairs Conducted by the Religious Right
In the summer of 1997, delegates and speakers from a California based religious group traveled to Zambia for a meeting called a Chalcedon Conference. The conference was sponsored by a group known as Reconstructionist .(1) R. J. Rushdoony is the founder of the group who practices an extreme right wing form of the Presbyterian faith. Rushdoony and followers believe it is the duty of believers to exercise their dominion and take over the government. It was thus the measure of true faith to instruct Zambian followers on their mandate to take over the state. Conferences such as this will no doubt prove to cause suspicion from foreign governments regarding the role of incoming missionaries. Unfortunately this peculiar event is not an isolated episode amidst a growing influence of this nation's Religious Right.
The strength of Religious Right groups is subject to debate in the nation. Most Christians appear not to be identified with the name. Yet the airwaves and seminar circuits are being filled with adherents to this form of the faith known as Dominion Theology. Christians believe moneys sent to foreign lands are used for soup kitchens and winning converts. Many would be shocked at what has taken place with the blessings of mission boards.
Earlier in the century Gerald Winrod, a fundamentalists minister turned politician, journeyed to Hitler's Third Reich to be entertained by Nazi officials.(2) Winrod, known as the Jayhawk Nazi, blamed American problems on an international Jewish conspiracy. He almost won a seat in the U. S. Senate. At the Baptist World Alliance meeting in Berlin in 1934, messengers to the meeting found themselves tempted with affirming Hitler's reign. Mature Baptist statesmen like George Truett were cautious about embracing the Nazi political machine. Others like Dr. H. E. Dodd, who was president of the Southern Baptist Convention, excused Hitler's treatment of Jews as justified because of the international Jewish link with Communism he suspected.(3) Even though the world did not know much of the future reign of terror that would come from Berlin, embarrassing statements like this left a hard legacy to overcome.
Billy Graham seldom make such disastrous public statements like some of his fellow Southern Baptists. Graham tried to steer clear in his ministry from political involvement. He was often accused of such efforts. The fact that even the Soviet Union opened up to Graham is a testimony to his political neutrality.
Right wing ministers have at times filled the communication airwaves with strong opinions on foreign affairs. One of the leading outspoken proponents for right wing causes was and is Carl McIntire. Carl often tried to influence audiences to encourage the United States to abandon the United Nations. McIntire, who often espoused anti-Semitic viewpoints, at times held rallies for the Viet Nam War.(4) McIntire and Winrod's opinions on foreign affairs were not marked by direct intervention. Other media evangelists have taken a more direct route in foreign affairs.
The contemporary version of the movement is seen in Pat Robertson. Not satisfied with the Christian Coalition's influence on American politics, Robertson is extending his tent overseas. Pat has diamond mining interests in Zaire and often gets entangled in Zaire's political activities.(5) In Guatemala Robertson promised to send aid to keep the current political powers in office.(6)
In Sara Diamond's book, SPIRITUAL WARFARE, she has an entire chapter about Religious Right entanglement in the governments of South America. Some of these participating church groups directly aided military groups.
Many foreign affairs experts are puzzled at the affirmation Religious Right leaders like Robertson and Jerry Falwell gave to the South African apartheid government. Other Religious Right preachers tried to sway public opinion in favor of the old regime. Some, like Billy Hargis, called Nelson Mandela a Communist leader.(7)
Moderate Southern Baptists are disturbed at recent remarks made by the new head of the mission board among Baptists in the South. The new leader, Robert Reccord, sent out tapes of his presentation on Pat Robertson's 700 Club.(8) Reccord uses "Christian Nation" terminology which is set in a Dominion framework. The tape has an endorsement from Peter Marshall Jr. who is a leading spokesperson for doing away with separation of church and state. Some Baptist fear missionaries will be doing more than spreading the Gospel in foreign lands.
Religious Right leaders Tim LaHaye, Cullen Davis, and Nelson Bunker Hunt, who have ties with the John Birch Society, have teamed up to form a secretive organization known as the Council on National Policy. This secretive group attempts to have influence on governments around the world as well as at home.(9) Other religious right darlings like Senator Jesse Helms work with secretive organizations seeking influence over seas.(10) Of peculiar interest is these groups financing which comes at times from sincere Christian believers. It is interesting that as the century comes to a close the efforts to influence foreign governments from these tax exempt organizations continues to be on the rise. Readers would do well to head the advice from author John Roy Carlson. During the 40s Carson wrote his award winning book about the far right in America. He wrote,"The familiar device of a demagogue exploiting the name of Christ for political purposes has always disgusted me."(11)
ENDNOTES
1. Rushdoony, Ed., CHALCEDON REPORT, Oct. 1997, cover.
2. John Roy Carlson, UNDER COVER, E.P. Ditton, N.Y., N.Y., 1943, pg. 167.
3. William Loyd Allen, "How Baptist Assessed Hitler", CHRISTIAN CENTURY, Sept. 1-8, 1982. pg. 891.
4. CURRENT BIOGRPAHY, 1971, PG. 248.
5. Bill Sizemore, "Taken for a Ride", CHURCH AND STATE, June 1997
6. Sara Diamond, SPIRITUAL WARFARE, Southend Press, Boston, Na., 1989, pg. 164.
7. Billy Hargis, "It's Christmas But Our Work Goes On", CHRISTIAN CRUSADE. Dec. 1997, pg. 17.
8. David Winfrey, "Reccord Wants to Restore Christian Nation," BAPTIST STANDARD, June 23, 1997, pg. 3.
9. Russ Bellant, THE COORS CONNECTION, Southend Press, Boston, Ma., 1988, pg. 31-32.
10. Willlam Snider, HELMS AND HUNT, Univ. of N. C. Press, Chapel Hlll, 1985, pgs. 62, 73.
11. John Roy Carlson, 294.