New York Times: Not All Evangelicals are Republicans
Posted July 30, 2006
This month, I spent two weeks with Latino theological students from across the United States. Most considered themselves "evangelico" but not necessarily "evangelical."
Literally translated, "evangelico" is simply the Spanish word for the English word "evangelical." It comes from the Greek word "evangel" meaning "Good news." South of the Rio Grande River, "evangelico" is synonymous with Protestant. But cross the border into the United States and the word carries additional baggage. For many, it suggests "white, conservative, Republican, pro-Bush, pro-Iraq war, anti-immigration."
That's not an image Latino immigrants are eager to embrace. Increasingly, it's an image that troubles Anglo evangelicals as well.
Laurie Goodstein has a story in today's New York Times about a Minnesota megachurch pastor who has cut ties to the GOP establishment. Rev. Gregory A. Boyd realized the Republican-Evangelical coalition had gone too far when he watched another church's Independence Day tribute -- featuring a choir singing "God Bless America" and a video of warplanes screeching over Mt. Calvary.
Such images would be unthinkable outside the U.S. In Latin America and the Caribbean, evangelicals come from all over the political spectrum. Most strongly oppose the U.S. war in Iraq. Most favor amnesty for illegal immigrants. In Cuba there are even evangelical leaders in the Communist Party who believe it is possible to follow Cristo y Castro -- Jesus and the elderly bearded Marxist.
Traveling around central and South America, I have discovered incredible diversity within the evangelical community. It is not a monolithic block -- overseas or within the United States.
Despite the stereotypes, evangelical Christianity is not a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Republican Party. It never has been.
Since 1980, evangelicals have favored Republican presidential candidates, but substantial minorities continue to vote Democratic. (Exit polls indicate that Bush carried 78 percent of the white evangelical vote in 2004; 68 percent in 2000.)
Despite the stereotypes, Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson -- anointed by CNN and others as the "voice" of evangelical America -- do not speak for most evangelicals.
In December 2004, when the Barna Group polled Protestant ministers, it asked them to name the three "most trusted" spokesmen for Christianity. Fifty-eight percent listed Billy Graham, 20 percent Dobson and 14 percent Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life. Only 6 percent mentioned Falwell. Four percent listed Robertson.
Linking politics and faith too closely is risky. The pastor in the New York Times article saw his membership plunge after he stopped embracing Republican politics. But many megapastors don't have to worry about suffering a similar fate. They've known all along that their congregation is made up of Democrats and Republicans and Independents who disagree about politics, but agree about the gospel.
These pastors encourage their members to vote and to pray for the nation's leaders. Some of them take stands on social issues -- abortion and gay marriage for example. But they're careful not to embrace an individual candidate or party.
Others gladly loan their pulpit to politicians around election time. Calvary Baptist Church in Latonia, for example, allowed former Vice President Dan Quayle to campaign for a Northern Kentucky Republican congressional candidate in 1998.
The public show of piety wasn't enough however. The Democrat, a devout Christian who refused to campaign in church on Sundays, won the race.
Laurie Goodstein's article: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/30/us/30pastor.html?pagewanted=2
Archived Comments
I realize this thread is so old that no one will probably read this, but I wanted to thank you, Frank, for posting this article. I had read it earlier and my hope was piqued that this notion that Christians and Republicans are the same would begin to die a horrible death.
It is so important to remember that Jesus was apolitical. He would not have endorsed either party but more likely would have pointed out the greed of one and the moral pandering of another as evidence that they are irrelevant. As institutions of men, following a political party is not in the same ball park as follwing Christ. Not even close.
I am a Chjristian But I do not support the Conservatives all the time..
CANADA TODAY - Used
Poll: Tory surge gone OTTAWA (CP) - A new poll suggests Stephen Harper's post-election surge in popularity has dissipated and dimmed his chances of turning his minority government into a majority. The prime minister's Conservatives lost ground in the country's two crucial battlegrounds, Ontario and Quebec...
A politician goes to Ottawa and pays little attention to even his core constituents, and then realizes he needs to win their affection if he wants to win reelection. Therefore, in the months leading up to Election Day, he demands a vote on bills that are favored by his supporters but have no chance of passing. These politicians and their advisers they carefully calculate what needs to be said to placate the supporters, subject them to dramatic emotional appeals that are aimed at manipulation rather than persuasion, and then they move on to do what is necessary to cultivate the continued support of the business and special interest groups who mainly fund their campaigns. The voters are glad the politician is finally taking action on key issues; but knowing the politicians 's motives, they rather should feel used. We all should we recoil at the popular notion that it is okay to use people as a means to someone else's end. Such users they have a game plan: they pay lip service to a few subjects that animate "values voters" mostly before the election to get reelected. Where Christian conservatives themselves are often no more than a mass of voters to be energized and mobilized fore election purposes mainly. And how many of theses games does our PM Stephen Harper use now? Which one are they? The programs and Plans that will not succeed, be accepted by others are being proposed anyway? One too many? It is the clear Crooked people firstly who are users of others.
Clearly even the Conservative supporters should require of their politicians more than mere demagoguery over hot-button issues such as "Did you know that Israel is threatened with extinction It's true! "SEND US YOUR MONEY NOW!" "
Generally most people are used but they should not like to be used. We all should use things, not people. It is not okay when a business owner mistreats, underpays and overworks his staff, even if it advances his own financial interests. We all should generally have a low view of people who are "users" of others. Such as the provincial politician who disrespects the poor and needy persons most of his term and then gives them a refund cheque at the end of his term to try to buy them off.
All Politicians and the PM Stephen Harper do now stop merely "using" the Christians in Canada in an effort to secure their Politicians. Sooner or later they will find out too that they have been merely used, used like a dirty wash cloth and really not like it.
It is never OK to exploit others. Once exposed We all do generally have a low view of people who are mostly "users."
http://groups.msn.com/CanadaToday4
"WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The religious right, which helped re-elect President Bush in 2004 by rallying opposition to abortion and gay marriage, is now facing a pushback from the religious left. With a faith-based agenda of their own, liberal and progressive clergy from various denominations are lobbying lawmakers, holding rallies and publicizing their positions. They want to end the Iraq war, ease global warming, combat poverty, raise the minimum wage, revamp immigration laws, and prevent "immoral" cuts in federal social programs. "Religion has never been as politicized in recent times as it is right now,"
The call of the gospel is to help the poor. The strong ought to help the weak, instead of the strong helping the strong get stronger, which being Conservative seems to be all about but sadly is not. Conservatives mainly help themselves.
The problem I still rightfully have with most TV evangelists, they are mostly still hirelings, prostitutes, falsely begging falsely for money.. for I have rightfully expected the just to live by faith in God and it is God that supplies their needs, by his means Ever hear of the humble good fearing man George Mueller the preacher who also actually lived by faith in God to supply all of his needs and never shared his needs with anyone?
http://www.whatsaiththescripture.com/Voice/George.Mueller.of.Bristol/George.Mueller.of.Bristol.html
Too many preachers too are (1 Tim 4:2 KJV) Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
(Rev 3:15 KJV) I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
(Rev 3:19 KJV) As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
(1 Tim 5:20 KJV) Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
(1 Tim 5:21 KJV) I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.
(John 2:14 KJV) And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.
Now do you really read and practice all of the New Testament or just the portions you want too?
For did you study all the verses on how to judge others properly in the Bible or you just quote the one you like? I have read them all many times and yes do note this honest new testament expostion that we are always to judge ungodly behavior of our professing christian brethren while we are not to judge all the the actions of all unbelievers.
(Eph 5:11 KJV) And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
(2 Tim 4:2 KJV) Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
and what does reprove mean? Ignore their sins? certainly not
(Luke 12:57 KJV) Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?
(John 7:24 KJV) Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
(1 Cor 5:12 KJV) For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
(1 Cor 6:2 KJV) Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
(Mat 18:15 KJV) Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
(1 Cor 6:3 KJV) Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
(1 Cor 6:4 KJV) If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.
(1 Cor 6:5 KJV) I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?
(1 Cor 10:15 KJV) I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.
(1 Cor 11:13 KJV) Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?
(1 Cor 11:31 KJV) For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
(1 Cor 14:29 KJV) Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
These ample verses are clear about appropriate judgments of other belivers that we should make.
(Mat 5:25 KJV) Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
(Luke 19:22 KJV) And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:
(John 5:30 KJV) I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
(John 8:15 KJV) Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.16 And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.
(John 8:26 KJV) I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.
(John 12:48 KJV) He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
it is sad to me that some really seem to take an ostrich approach and twist the Bible verses too..
(Mat 18:15 KJV) Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican. 18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
How can I ask my brother to repent of I do not judge him? and do note the above verse about two or there that is so often used out of context.. the context is judging the immoral actions of a brother and sister and it starts with one person asking the other one to repent.. notice as well no proof is required to present, rather proof that you have asked then to repent is what is needed.. is this not so as well?
http://groups.msn.com/HolySpiritCome/beggars.msnw
----- Original Message -----
To: Toews, Vic - M.P. Canada's Minister of Justice
Sent: Monday, July 31, 2006 11:45 AM
Subject: RE: The problem I still rightfully have with most TV evangelists, they are mostly still hirelings, prostitutes,
And how are you coming along with dealing with issues like lying lawyers, who next tend to also become bad Canadian judges.. yes the people like the bad divorce lawyers, even the Christian hating lawyers like Ghitter, and even the professing evangelical Christians who lie, perjure themselves, prostitute et themselves before the Queens s courts, slander innocent persons unprosecuted and unhindered wrongfully too, .. but also their useless regulating law societies too as I have even detailed to you and all of the federal cabinet many times too.
The call of the gospel is to help the poor. The strong ought to help the weak, instead of the strong helping the strong get stronger, which being Conservative seems to be all about but sadly is not. Conservatives mainly help themselves.
And what are you all really now doing about the Alberta rednecks who promote open hatred on the net against other Canadians who do not agree with them as I have detailed to you too.
Do tell us all..
----- Original Message -----
To: Canada's Minister of finiance
>Subject: Re: Spam/Pourriel: The problem I still rightfully have with most TV evangelists, they are mostly still hirelings, prostitutes,
> and how many crooked pastors did you actually prosecute so far this year
> alone.. don't tell me none.. my own personal experiences in the Evangelical
> Ministry the last 35 years was that over half of them are crooked, even
> falsely commit tax evasions, commit adultery, and counsel divorce. RSVP
----- Original Message -----
From:
Sent: Monday, July 31, 2006 7:47 AM
Subject: RE: Spam/Pourriel: "If somebody comes to you in the name of God asking for money, shun him. He's a false Apostle."
On behalf of the Honourable James M. Flaherty, we acknowledge receipt of your electronic correspondence. Please be assured that Minister Flaherty appreciates receiving your views.