The people who have the hardest time accepting the existence of what sociologists call white evangelicals are what sociologists call white evangelicals.

There are six major reasons for this.

First, white evangelicals largely diminish or ignore their cultural, political heritage.

We may value church history, but we generally do political heritage.

We may value church history, but we generally do not value things like the Anglo-common-law tradition.

When sociologists test for social differences, they are detecting habits that are the result of

various historical developments. In this case the most external indicator of

something like a voting pattern is the designation white evangelical. But behind this is clearly

a set of circumstances that go far deeper. We do not recognize something that exists in reality because we diminish its importance.

Do not move the ancient boundary which your fathers have set.

Proverbs 22 verse 28.

Second, white evangelicals are very influenced by a certain type of ideological thinking

that reduces many issues into a biblical binary. This binary certainly exists, but it does not explain everything.

There are many cultural issues, political positions, etc. that do not fit neatly into this mold.

An easy way to see this is to compare the large differences between Christian communities

across time and space or the small differences that exist between different churches and denominations.

There are important identity conferring ways to arrange one society that do not come directly from the pages of scripture.

We are right to apply scripture to life, but many are wrong to assume this application explains all difference.

You shall not detest an Edomite, for he is your brother.

You shall not detest an Egyptian because you were an alien in his land.

The sons of the third generation who are born to them

may enter the assembly of the Lord,

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