Pastor Tony Evans Criticizes Both Democrats and Republicans

Tony Evans, the African-American pastor of megachurch Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, Texas, is telling his congregation how to vote. Not who to vote for, but how Christians should evaluate candidates. 

"The Bible is pregnant with politics," he told me during a recent visit to New York. "You cannot read the Bible from Genesis through Revelation and go through too many chapters that are not involving politics. So it is not a minor issue or a marginal issue. It is a central issue."

Evans started Oak Cliff in 1976 with a handful of members meeting in his home. Today the 9,500-member church has gained nationwide attention for its National Church Adopt-a-School initiative where churches adopt local public schools to provide mentoring, tutoring, and family-support services. Oak Cliff has adopted 65 urban public schools.

Evans, 63, also serves as chaplain to the NFL's Dallas Cowboys and the NBA's Dallas Mavericks. He was the first African-American to earn a doctorate in theology from Dallas Theological Seminary, and former President George W. Bush credited Evans with helping to launch his office of faith-based initiatives. (Curiously, Evans has never met Joshua DuBois, President Barack Obama's director of the White House faith-based office. Evans shrugged when I asked why, and said, "I'm available to be met with.") 

Evans doesn't speak on politics often--his array of books addresses basic theology, marriage, and racial reconciliation--but this year he wrote a political book titled How Should Christians Vote? (Moody, 2012). He makes clear he isn't endorsing anyone or any party, but he's clear in his criticism of President Obama's positions on abortion and the family.