You’re certainly right that subgroups of the PC(USA) do face this danger . . . and I admit, I tend to overlook it. It does need to be opposed / argued against / pleaded against.

Interesting observation about confusing culture with kingdom. I think this does describe the temptation well.

This was far more a post about certain religious elements in the USA as a whole, not the PC(USA) specifically.

I agree: Like you, I don’t see the PCUSA, at least right now, falling into the idolatry of the religious right, and more as having the potential of confusing culture with the kingdom (a broader religious-left ideological temptation than the more narrow confusion of a political party (say the Republicans or the Democrats) with the aims of the Gospel.)

But certain subgroups/churches of the PCUSA might well be close to the temptation of aligning its christian right views with the republican party. I can think of a few in my presbytery, in fact, that come VERY close to it. But its not a large number.

Thanks for the comments, Will.

That said, I have what may be a stupid question. When I look at the PC(USA)I see zero chance that it will fall for the idolatry of the religious right (at least officially). I see a very large chance that it will fall for the idolatry of the religious left. (We’re we, for example, Southern Baptist, I’d be far more inclined to be alarmed at the religious right. As is, I’m alarmed at the reflexively left stands.)

It could be that we just see different things in the PC(USA), but it occurs to me that we are more likely approaching this from different perspectives — you’re not looking so much at the PC(USA) as at the United States as a whole — and you’re responding to the fact that the right is currently in power?