Richard Cizik

RICHARD CIZIK

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One of the most prominent Evangelical lobbyists in the United States, Richard Cizik is Vice President for Governmental Affairs of the National Association of Evangelicals, which is the most distinguished evangelical organization of its kind in the United States, with a membership of 51 denominations, 43,000 churches, and 27 million adherents. In his position with the NAE, Cizik's primary responsibilities are setting the organization's policy, and lobbying the White House, Congress, and the Supreme Court. Cizik also serves as NAE's national spokesman and edits a monthly magazine, NAE Washington Insight.

Cizik graduated with a B.A. in political science from Whitworth College, received a M.A. in public affairs from George Washington University, and earned a Master of Divinity from Denver Seminary. Rev. Cizik has been involved in international religious liberty causes for the Association since 1980, when he urged policy-makers to add "religion" to the annual human rights report. Rev. Cizik is frequently quoted in The New York Times, Washington Post, The Washington Times, and regularly appears on CNN Headline News, C-SPAN, PBS "Ethics & Religion News Weekly," Voice of America, and many other media outlets. He has published over one hundred articles in scholarly publications and is regularly called upon to speak on topics as diverse as the Bush Administration's "Faith-Based & Community Initiatives," Evangelicals and Human Rights, and "The New Evangelicals: Who Are They?"

Ideas recorded on: 6/25/07

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Faith & Beliefs

Re: How should the Bible be interpreted?

12/18/2007

Description: The Bible is authoritative.

Transcript: Well I think that the Bible is authoritative. I believe it’s infallible and inerrant in the original autographs. It is my basis for life and conduct. And what that means is that if the Bible from Genesis to Revelation says that we’re to be stewards of the earth, then we are to be stewards of the earth. If in Genesis it says that we are to protect and care for it, and yes, exercise dominion over all living things – the birds of the air, the fish of the sea – and exercise a dominion that’s balanced with this kind of stewardship . . . And then it also says in Revelation that God will judge those who destroy the earth. In fact it says in Revelation 11:18 that God will destroy those who destroy the earth. That is a warning. That is a warning to all of those who would say this doesn’t matter. And so for those who have an argument on this issue, I say, “I’m sorry. Your argument is not with me. Your argument is with God, because either His Word says this or it doesn’t, and it does.” So if it says we are to be a steward over all of it, and that we someday have to give it back to Him, and will be held accountable in what shape we give it back to Him . . . therefore if that’s the case, we have no right either to plunder, or pillage, or destroy it, or allow others to do that in our name. And so for those who think, “Well it’s not my duty,” or, “It’s not my responsibility,” or, “I won’t be held accountable.” Au contraire. I say that’s not right. You will be held accountable by God’s word. Because at the end of time, we’ll either be found to be a steward – “Well done my good and faithful servant,” the Lord will say – or He will say otherwise. “Why didn’t you do that which I commanded you to do? What was it? Were there blinkers on your eyes that allowed you to just say, ‘Oh well this is just a Democrat or blue state issue.’ Or ‘It’s the greens, the environmental issue. It’s their duty, not my duty.’” I don’t think God lets us off the hook that way.

Recorded on: 6/25/07