The Tea Party movement in general—and the San Antonio Tea Party in particular—has attempted to create a tent big enough to unite unnatural allies on a common set of core issues. Libertarians and social conservatives, for example, who comprise the bulk of Tea Partiers across the Nation, have agreed to disagree on a host of issues (from regulations on abortion and illegal drug use, to defense of traditional marriage, to name several). While neither group is likely to embrace the other’s thinking any time soon, they have agreed to subordinate those issues to the Tea Party’s unifying issue of fiscal conservatism.

Social conservatives (often evangelical Christians) make up a strong constituency, perhaps even two-thirds of the movement. While they may put social concerns on the backburner when working on a Tea Party team, their desire for fundamental reform of the status quo burns on high heat, and they are passionately driven by a worldview shaped by more than economic concerns.

In the 1970s they answered the age-old question “Should Christians be involved in politics?” with a resounding “YES!” and have played a decisive role—either by their action or inaction—in every election since 1976. Today the question is “What role should Christians play in the Tea Party movement?” A panel of three knowledgeable and thoughtful Christians recently answered that question in a Christianity Today feature (http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2010/october/32.55.html?start=1#related). The answers were “on the outside,” “on the inside,” and “in the front.” (Let me remind the reader who is unfamiliar with social conservatives, they are as diverse of a group as are Tea Partiers!)

David P. Gushee is Distinguished University Professor of Christian Ethics and Director of the Center for Theology and Public Life at Mercer University. He sees the movement as “most interesting” in its opposition to expanded government power and spending which has been led by both major political parties. But his stance that Christians belong “outside the tea party” is based on “ugly weaknesses” such as “visceral opposition to President Obama,” “birthers,” and “racially tinged incidents and comments” (the latter of which he does not detail and we still await evidence). Granted fervent political opposition can often turn ugly—even unchristian—in tone. Yet, can Christians avoid “ugliness” by maintaining their Christian witness in the political arena? Can they join in opposition to what they perceive as unscriptural, but do so in a scriptural way? Can they join the fight as Christian soldiers without succumbing to “the weaknesses of … libertarianism in terms of Christian social ethics”? Many believe they can.

Among those is Wendy Wright, president of Concerned Women for America, the nation’s largest public policy women’s organization. She argues Christians must be inside the Tea Party because Tea Party issues have their roots in the Judeo-Christian tradition. Tea Party principles—rule of law, equality of people, representative government, separation of power—are Biblical principles, either introduced directly in Scripture or as logical outgrowths of Biblical concepts. When government and society founded on Biblical standards stray from their roots, who better than Biblical people to guide them back? Christian women in particular with direct experience in balancing family budgets, managing family healthcare needs, and educating their young—and adversely impacted by government’s feeble attempts at all three—are natural activists in the movement.

David Brody, White House correspondent for the Christian Broadcasting Network, goes further in arguing that conservative Christians must not only participate in, but lead the movement. He notes Ralph Reed, political strategist and former leader of the Christian Coalition, wisely observed that even if social conservatives were to win the battle to protect life and marriage, yet lose the battle against a climbing national debt, they ultimately lose the war. Traditional hot-button issues (such as abortion) will be fought on non-traditional battlefields (such as healthcare reform), common turf for all Tea Partiers. Thus, if the issues are of Biblical or social import and if the Tea Party is a forum in which to engage for moral change, then Christians must be not only “present for duty,” but among the first ranks!

While there is no clear consensus from the Christian community on a Christian’s role in government, much less within the Tea Party movement, there is striking common ground. First in the conclusion that America is hemorrhaging—culturally, socially, fiscally. Second in agreement that Christians must act—to be that proverbial “salt” and “light” of Scripture. But third that Christians must never surrender the moral high ground by abandoning their Christian witness, through word and action, even in a godly cause.

If nothing else, the Christianity Today discussion exemplifies a model for civil discourse and civility in disagreement. Perhaps that is the greatest lesson that Christians entering the political fray might share by example with others in the movement, who often too quickly lose focus on the real opposition and critically wound each other in the uncivil wars before the main battle begins.

The San Antonio Tea Party for one welcomes those whose faith and social concerns call them to engage from within. Respecting diversity for the strengths it brings, may we co-labor stronger, more wisely, and always pure in heart.

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