The Promise Keepers (PK) rally in Washington brought national attention, as it should have. Several hundred thousand, if not a million, men standing on the Capitol Mall is certainly a news event. Hopefully the event will spawn discussion and debate around the nation, which might raise the nation’s consciousness about its state of moral decline.

Those supporting Promise Keepers, and those who attended, also should not be surprised at the criticism they do receive. For the news media to get comments from those that might be opposed is just good reporting, and not an actual attack by the media.

This is not to say that editorial writers from around the nation might not attack on various grounds, but even that is good in that it starts discussion and dialogue between people.

It is true that most Promise Keepers are white middle to upper class males, but that in itself is not a crime. They are encouraging men to take seriously their roles in their families and in their own communities. They encourage racial harmony and reconciliation, and they have publicly confessed many sins of the past.

But Promise Keepers should expect some criticism just by the very nature of who they are.

They are followers of Jesus Christ. When Jesus walked the earth he was quite counter cultural and politically incorrect. Eventually they crucified him. True Christianity, in the same fashion, should be counter cultural and politically incorrect. It should also act and speak in love, which is something the Promise Keepers have tried to do.

When Jesus was here he said the world would hate the disciples because of him. He was right, and he is still right. When the gospel is preached, or when a witness is presented, such as the Promise Keeper rally, it is bound to rustle some feathers.

Christianity has been accepted by the culture when it stays in the background, but when it confronts the culture, as one might expect, the culture may become upset. History has shown that Christianity is at its best when it is not part of the dominant culture.

I believe this is normal and good, though really there has not been much criticism leveled at the group. What bad can you say about an organization that encourages its members to be good citizens, to be honest and to love their wives and families?

Some black activists have criticized the fact that PK is mostly a white man’s organization. However, a major tenant of the PK movement is to find racial reconciliation. There are many minority groups represented in PK, and the organization itself seems sincerely interested in healing old racial wounds.

Promise Keepers are right when they say that in God’s eyes there is no race, since we all came from Adam.

However, some activists — both black and white — would rather have the hostility remain for their own political agendas.

Another criticism has come from the leader of the National Organization of Women, who claims that the group is exclusionary and degratory towards women.

However, this shows a faulty understanding of the Bible. True, the Bible does say that wives should submit to their own husbands, but the same passage also tells husbands to give up their own lives and interests for their wives. The Bible teaches mutual submission. The idea of the authoritarian male ruling his castle with an iron fist is completely unbiblical.

Some gays have also found fault because Christianity does say their life-style is wrong. However, PK organizers have never said a gay person could not be a Promise Keeper, but a gay person would probably hear what the Bible has to say about homosexuality. At least they are warned.

The rally should create discussions for a time, and hopefully make people think about what they are doing with their lives.

The organizers realize that the rally in itself is not the point. The point is what the individual men will be doing after they return.

James Jordan is a staff writer for the Dispatch-News. His news beats include government and religion. He has a Master's in Christian Education