The Gospel: People Doing WTF Jesus Would Do - Pt. 1

Welcome to The Gospel: People Doing WTF Jesus Would Do. It's a new thing I'm trying on for size. See, every once in a while I get good news that pops up in my mailbox, and I want to share it with you guys. So here it is: the first edition of The Gospel. Enjoy.

Evangelical Christian Lobbyist is Awesome, Gets Fired, Then Comes Back With a Vengance


From Newsweek (courtesy of Morgan):

Richard Cizik remembers it this way: he had just come home from a week in Australia and was about to jet off to Paris when he sat down on Dec. 2, 2008 for

A few minutes later, she asked the question that would cost Cizik his job: "Have you changed on gay marriage?"

"I'm shifting," Cizik answered, truthfully, "I have to admit. In other words, I would willingly say I believe in civil unions."

Now, this wouldn't be particularly impressive were it not for the fact that Cizik had been the Washington lobbyist for the National Association of Evangelicals for over 30 years. Unfortunately for Cizik, however, these remarks cost him his job. But the story doesn't end there.

After a year of keeping a low profile, Cizik is "making a comeback," as he puts it. This week he announces the formation of the New Evangelical Partnership for the Common Good, a group devoted to developing Christian responses to global and political issues such as environmentalism, nuclear disarmament, human rights, and dialogue with the Muslim world. . . . For years, Cizik has been saying that the evangelical right needs to reframe its politics, to walk away from divisive name calling and find common ground with opponents, even on hot-button issues like abortion and gay marriage.

Way to go, Mr. Cizik. Walkin' the path of the righteous, you are. Nice work.