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Why am I not surprised? Is there any institution, agency, culture issue, etc., not moving to the left today? Since the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) was founded in the 1940s to counter the "religious left," they would not succumb, would they? Wrong. They are headed toward the left coast.

In a recent press release and also noted on two of their Web sites, www.nae.net and www.revision.org, they announce some new strategy. They are taking a left turn to pay more attention to the social gospel. It is not that social issues lack importance, but they should take a back burner to issues such as salvation, sin, repentance, and preparing for eternity as that's what the founding of the NAE was all about.

Perusing the two Web sites referenced, here is what I found. Hardly anything about spiritual issues but an emphasis on:

* Environmentalism. Their rep in this issue, Richard Cizek, is called "the green evangelist." At the same location they reference Bill Moyers' recent TV documentary "Is God Green?" I was interviewed for that program as Moyers' team flew to Minneapolis to do so a year ago.

* Torture. An important issue? Yes, but is it a church/evangelical issue? Hardly.

* Justice for the poor, or a fair economic system as they also call it, for the "marginalized."

* Praise for the United Nations Universal Declaration on Human Rights. The U.N. advocates cruelty very often, not goodness. They have let genocide go unchecked in many places including Darfur. The U.N. is the most corrupt institution in the world. Why are "evangelicals" praising it? The best thing for America would be to pull out of the U.N. and the church condemn it, not praise it.

* Native American abuse. My ancestors did not abuse Native Americans.

* Slavery. They refer to America's "racist past" and the exploitation of the descendents of slavery.

* Anti-war rhetoric. In other words, seek peace, avoid war if possible. The despots of the world care less about smoking peace pipes, lighting candles, and singing "Give Peace a Chance."

I could go on but I hope you get the point. Why am I reading on NAE Web sites and press releases a plea for social action but no plea for spiritual action? Why is there not one line that all of the above and more are the result of man's sinful nature which can be washed clean by a living relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ?

On the Web sites there were some good positions on anti-Semitism, abortion, etc., but they were several years old and under other leadership. The Interim President is Pastor Leith Anderson of Wooddale Church in Eden Prairie, MN, a suburb of Minneapolis. He was also the spokesman for the "Evangelical Environmental Network" that surfaced over a year ago. That committee stressed the importance of evangelicals focusing on ridding the world of man-made global warming, a totally unproven science.

On the surface there doesn't seem to be a dime's worth of difference between the NAE and the World and National Council of Churches. Maybe they should unite and be one big happy family.

The hour is so late and so many souls are still lost, yet time, effort, and money by the NAE are going toward some of the above issues. For years the NAE focused on salvation issues. Not any longer. Another sign of the times? Yes, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't speak up. To address the issue, call the NAE at 1-202-789-1011. The NAE's most recent press release of March 11 is their endorsement of "An Evangelical Declaration of Torture."

Tell them you want an “Evangelical Declaration on Saving Lost Souls.”

(Jan is founder/director of Olive Tree Ministries. For her free print newsletter, e-alerts, and “radio archives,” visit her Web site, www.olivetreeviews.org .)

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