I am not an economist nor am I an heir of the liberation theology movement. Evangelicals are to be commended for strongly presenting Jesus as the only means of salvation. But the entire gospel accounts of Jesus' ministry must be taken into account.
For the woman caught in adultery Jesus' words, "Neither do I condemn thee," are startling. Compare this account to his cleansing of the temple. For the individual sinner caught in the accusatory and judgmental web of Jewish orthodoxy: compassion. For persons using God's house and name for economic gain: the whip. Is it not possible that evangelicals have reversed these two responses? Much condemnation for sexual sin (and the sinner; the two cannot be separated); blindness towards economic sin and the ills that flow from it.
Perhaps it's time for a new Babylonian Captivity of the Church (Luther) to be written. Quite unintentionally, modern evangelicals have been caught up in their religious version of the American Dream. And now they are too much a part of the culture to be a challenge to it.
If Jesus were walking physically among us today where would he take his whip? to the Christian book store, full of books, tapes, CDs, trinkets, manuals, cross necklaces? to the church budget committee, where salaries and benefits take up a huge portion of the budget? to the Bible-teaching cruise in the Caribbean? to the evangelist's million-dollar home? to the successful pastor's Lexus? to the seminary president's mansion?
The 21st century church must find a new way to evaluate its viability other than buildings, bricks, and bodies. It is time for re-evaluation of the evangelical vision. No longer is it satisfactory to be so cozy with the American culture. Culture is moving in the wrong direction; evangelicals must move in a new one.