Motivators for the Evangelical Christian Right

What motivates evangelical Christian right (ECR) members to propagate their beliefs? Irrespective of the issue, the answer is found in four areas.

First among ECR motivating factors is a psychotic condition called the messianic complex. It is defined as a delusion of having a mission from god to save the world. Intrinsic in Christianity is evangelism. Messianic belief goes beyond evangelism. It is rooted in a personal relationship with a god who has told the believer to accomplish god's plan for humankind. I suspect leaders of the ECR movement would admit to both messianic and evangelic motivations. To do less reduces the fervor and validity of their roles.

Secondly, the evangelical mission itself provides a motivational framework for adherents to support the ECR position on issues. Evangelical characteristics are found at http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Evangelical-Christian:
1. Being a "born again" Christian.
2. Using the Bible (God's revelation) as the ultimate religious authority.
3. Sharing one's beliefs in the gospel with others to convince them to convert.
4. Focusing on Christ as the means for salvation and the forgiveness of sins.
5. Describing God as the all-knowing, all-powerful, perfect deity who created the universe and still rules it today.

Being "born again" stresses a personal relationship with god much like a messianic complex, although for the former hearing god's voice is not needed, merely an indwelling of god's spirit. Justification for many ECR issue positions is based on scriptural interpretation. Beyond sharing the gospel, the ECR broadcasts its worldview as an extension of the gospel. For them, Jesus is not only the way, failure to accept their position, as supported by Jesus' teachings, is a denial of god's truth. And, since ECR beliefs hold that god is without error and omniscient, their belief in god is a mandate for action.

Third, the Christian persecution complex reinforces ECR motivations. Being persecuted for their beliefs can be taken as a badge of honor for Christians. The gospel includes admonitions about persecution, that believers should expect it. When ECR members experience opposition to the worldview they espouse, disagreement with their position is taken as an attack on them as followers of Christ. Just like Christ's death on the cross for his teachings was ultimate persecution, so the opposition they receive is found to be without merit, merely a fulfillment of the scriptural expectation of persecution. A member of the ECR is motivated to achieve the full Christian experience and emulate Jesus by adhering to the issue positions of the ECR, even if it means ridicule or worse.

Finally, money is a motivator of the ECR. The multitude of radio stations, television networks, evangelists, fundamentalist mega-churches, Christian bookstores, home-school products, lobbying groups, political action entities, etc. all depend on money, and vast amounts of it, to sustain and expand their existence. The money stream supporting the ECR's efforts is provided by believers who are energized to be donors or customers by the propaganda disseminated by the ECR mass-communication infrastructure. Maintaining an aroused constituency requires old issues be reiterated with fresh tenets and new issues raised to fuel the ECR propaganda machine. The large salaries and extensive perks enjoyed by the ECR juggernaut leaders motivate them to hone the infrastructure and keep their issues in their constituent's attention.

The messianic and persecution complexes, the tenets of evangelism and the need for financial resources all motivate the Evangelical Christian Right in their efforts to dominate political and social thought in the United States. What will motivate opposition to the Evangelical Christian Right? I suppose visiting the Focus on the Family Web site might do it. Perhaps the words of John Fitzgerald Kennedy (1958) will help motivate opposition to the religious right:

"There is an old saying that the course of civilization is a race between catastrophe and education. In a democracy such as ours, we must make sure that education wins the race."