audiobook Evangelicals and American Foreign Policy by Mark R. Amstutz in History

Review

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. A Thoughtful BookBy Dr. W. Terry LindleyThis is a thought-provoking study of evangelicals’ engagement with American foreign policy on a wide-ranging set of issues from nuclear weapons; the war on terror; and Israel to global warming; global poverty; and HIV/AIDS. Mark Amstutz; professor of political science at Wheaton University; begins with a discussion of America’s religious heritage; a definition of civil religion; and an overview of evangelical development. Then he examines relations with Israel as well as evangelical successes and failures in the area of diplomacy.The chapter on evangelicals and Israel is the most interesting part of the book. Amstutz is correct in asserting that evangelicals support for that nation is more than just for prophetic reasons. Other factors include a common democratic heritage; similar strategic concerns; and Christianity’s debt to Judaism. He downplays the influence of dispensational theology in evangelical support of Israel. However; I believe that dispensationalists have been more influential in U.S. policy toward Israel than Amstutz argues; especially in the early years. The author mentions the Left Behind series of books twice; but he completely ignores the importance of Hal Lindsey’s The Late Great Planet Earth; which was the best non-fiction seller of the 1970s.Evangelical successes in American foreign policy include their support for religious liberty worldwide; opposition to “human trafficking;” and involvement in combating HIV/AIDS. Failures comprise the issues of global warming; U.S. immigration policy; and the use of coercive interrogation in the war on terror. For example; on the issue of climate change; Amstutz demonstrates the diversity of beliefs among evangelicals; who cannot agree on the cause of or man’s role in it and are just as divided on the solution. The author also faults the National Association of Evangelicals for issuing policy statements on nuclear weapons and immigration that advocate solutions without first laying a biblical or moral foundation.Amstutz’s closes with how evangelicals can be more effective in the area of public policy. Relying on the work of Reinhold Niebuhr; he provides guidelines which will hopefully make political engagement by evangelicals more successful. These include such things as “a thorough understanding of the problem or issue;” differentiation between the earthly and heavenly kingdoms; adoption of a teaching methodology over policy promotion; and approaching all issues with the spirit of humility.There are occasional errors. On page 28; he mentions a Republican presidential debate that took place on 13 December 2000; when he probably meant 1999. And on page 36; he describes the revival of 1880 to 1910 as the “Third Great Awakening.” This term is usually used to describe the Businessmen’s Revival of 1857-58 and the revivals in the Union and Confederate armies during the Civil War.In conclusion; this is more a book about Christian ethics and the need for evangelicals to promote morality regarding foreign policy issues than a study of evangelicals’ role in influencing diplomatic policy. The author raises a number of points for both individual Christians and the church to think; mediate; and pray about.