American Evangelicals, Victims, and the Social Contract

Bruce Ellis Benson

In the Hebrew Bible, the clearest moral measure of the health of Jewish society is its treatment of widows, strangers, and orphans. It stands as a contract between God and His chosen nation. As a Jewish rabbi, Jesus constantly talks about society’s duty to those who are marginal, economically and socially. Fast forward to today: we think of ourselves as living in a post-Christian society. Yet the marginalised in western society are now demanding a stronger respect. Thus, we are not nearly as post-Christian as we assume. Yet the flip side of this development is that American Evangelicals, who have largely failed in following Jesus’ emphasis on care for the marginalised, now consider themselves to be victims. While that claim has a tiny bit of truth, Christianity in general has come to be seen as a major source of oppression, with Evangelicals playing a major role. They have failed to show genuine support to the marginalized and are judged by society to be Unchristian.

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