Posted on 10/21/2004 7:57:32 AM PDT by truthandlife
IF JESUS were voting in next month’s presidential election, Pastor Jim Henry frequently tells his congregation of 11,000 evangelicals, the Son of God would back the candidate most supportive of family values and the Bible. “And George Bush cares about those issues and that’s why he’s energised the evangelical base,” Pastor Henry told The Times yesterday inside his sleek, modern office at Orlando’s vast First Baptist Church. “And I’ve preached from the pulpit. I’ve told them that if they don’t go out and vote, they should be ashamed.”
For Karl Rove, Mr Bush’s chief political adviser, those words will be electoral manna. Mr Rove is a fervent believer in the power of America’s Religious Right to decide the election. It is now an article of faith inside the White House that if white born-again and evangelical Christians turn out in big numbers, Mr Bush cannot lose.
In the four years since the disputed 2000 election, Mr Rove has been obsessed by his conviction that up to four million evangelical Christians who should have voted for Mr Bush stayed at home, partly because of last-minute revelations about Mr Bush’s 1976 arrest for drink-driving.
Since then, Mr Bush has done everything possible to boost turnout among all religious voters, but has been particularly assiduous in his efforts to energise the predominately white, evangelical Christian Right.
Born a high-church Episcopalian, before turning to evangelical Methodism when he gave up drinking in 1986, Mr Bush laces all his speeches with religious rhetoric, has outlawed partial birth abortion, called for a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, opposed stem-cell research and talks often about the power of Jesus Christ in his life — the essence of evangelical faith.
It is easy to see why. The Religious Right in America is a massive, largely Republican, “army of God”, with huge numbers in critical swing states such as Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Iowa. If it marches to the polling stations on November 2, Mr Bush’s faith is likely to be handsomely rewarded.
White Protestants in America who describe themselves as either born-again or evangelical account for a quarter of the electorate, a bigger voting bloc than blacks and Hispanics combined.
A recent poll by the National Annenberg Election Survey estimated that born-agains and evangelicals account for 36 per cent of registered voters in Missouri, 27 per cent in Ohio, 30 per cent in Iowa and 22 per cent in Pennsylvania. Recent polls show that up to 80 per cent of those voters prefer Mr Bush. Another survey found that 54 per cent of born-agains plan to vote for Mr Bush, while a massive 90 per cent of evangelicals plan to do so.
Calling for a constitutional ban on gay marriage, for example, was Machiavellian in its political calculation. Almost certain to die in Congress, the move forced Mr Kerry to oppose it. James Dobson, of the group Focus on the Family, now calls the fight against gay marriage “our D-Day or Gettysburg or Stalingrad.”
In Florida, the biggest prize among the battleground states, a third of voters describe themselves as evangelical. The state has more than 2,000 Baptist churches and a Baptist membership of nearly 1.1 million. Pastor Henry has been registering voters at his services since June. He does not tell them who to vote for, but it is clear that Mr Kerry, a practising Roman Catholic who backs abortion rights, is not the evangelicals’ favourite.
Another poll by the Barna Group found that Mr Bush also has a 63 per cent to 36 per cent lead among Catholic voters. If these voters need any more encouragement not to vote for Mr Kerry, the Republican National Committee directs them to a website: www.kerrywrongforevangelicals.com.
The party also sent a mass mailing to voters in West Virginia and Arkansas last month telling them that if Mr Kerry won, Bible-reading might be banned.
“George Bush is a man of principle,” Pastor Henry said. “Senator Kerry has taken the opposite stance on the values issues, right down the line. His wife says that she wants to push the gay rights agenda. To push a wrong lifestyle contradicts the Bible’s standards. I’ll think you’ll find that after this election, the evangelical vote has picked up a lot.”
In the last of the presidential debates, Mr Kerry tried to blunt Republican appeal among evangelicals by reminding them that Dick Cheney, the Vice-President, has a lesbian daughter. Nearly 70 per cent of voters, secular and religious, believed he was wrong to do it.
"IF JESUS were voting in next month’s presidential election, Pastor Jim Henry frequently tells his congregation"
What is with these ministers who claim Jesus would drive this car or would not buy this ect ect?? They should stick to preaching His word. Period.
We won't be able to preach his word if the liberals get their way. Vote for the candidates who don't promote ungodly principles. That's all they're saying.
Honestly, if Jesus were to vote in this Presidential election, who do you believe he would vote for ?
That's because they're fundamentalist liberals.
I've been hearing a lot in the press lately about evangelicals supporting Bush. Since when does the press pay attention to evangelicals? I think the MSM is playing this up to try to marginalize Bush and his supporters the way Clinton did in 92. I'm not encouraged by articles proclaiming Jesus would support Bush. Personally, I don't believe Jesus would have registered to vote.
Question about polling samples. How would the stay at home 4 years ago folks be treated by telephone bank callers trying to identify registered/likely voters?
I fail to see the problem with relating His Word to real-life situations. Do you doubt the insinuation that Jesus might lean more toward a man of faith vs. a man of sham-faith? As a Christian, I am made to understand that it is my DUTY to fight evil on every front. I happen to believ that Kerry is more closely aligned with evil than with God; if a minister doesn';t feel this way, he shouldn't be a minister.
What? Please cite some evidence of this. I despise liberals, but this sounds absurd to me.
I'm not going to make the same mistake these ministers make - namely claiming to KNOW what Jesus would do. I'll simply repeat an applicable line from the NT - Render unto Cesar what is Cesar and render unto God, what is God's.
If Jesus was an American in our day and age, yes I believe he'd vote for the candidate who holds Godly principles.
My wife and I were discussing this last night, and I'd be interested to hear your thoughts. My position is that Jesus wouldn't be too concerned with politics, that saving souls is more important to him than lowering taxes. Nonetheless, I believe that the War on Terror and Bush's role in it is God's will. I believe for the Islamofascists this is clearly a religious war. Do you think Bush is "an agent of God" or is he merely a man trying to do God's will? Any thoughts?
Actually, I heard Jesus IS registered to vote in an Ohio County.
Three times.
Can you think of portions of the New Testament that liberals might want to censor?
Applying hate speech codes to religious speech is a common goal of many people.
I think he'd vote for the candidate who would not be for legalizing the murder of unborn children...I truly do. I know Jesus' concern was not political...but Paul said that we were to honor our leaders and our governments in order to live peaceable lives. In our country, WE are the government. I believe Jesus would vote.
They are. It is a Christian's responsibility to be informed on what the Word has to say about all issues and then vote that way. Waving Kerry/Edwards fans and banners, and calling Kerry President is a different matter. In fact God is not in a million miles of those churches.
I don't think Jesus would give a hoot about the taxes, but I'm pretty sure He would find a lot of fault with pro-abortion and pro-gay marriage folks as leaders. I also believe that Bush is trying to be within God's Will as much as he can and that anyone who does this is an agent of God by that very virtue. I prefer lower taxes and a lot of other Bush policies, but those are not the sum of my reasons for backing Bush; as a Christian, I cannot contemplate backing someone like Kerry.
Exactly.
BTW... I, for one, am proud to be part of the army of God!
If Kerry wins, even charismatic Christianity in all of its mysticism and spiritualism will eventually be banned along with scriptural faiths, because parts of it do continue to resemble abstract vestiges of the Reformation, pre-Modernism and so forth.
The FR board is full of threads concerning the liberals efforts to marginalize religion. Open up those threads and ask to be placed on their ping list.
The latest horror is the recent arrest of a small group of Christians who were witnessing during a Philadelphia Gay Pride event. The group was following all applicable laws, but when the parade participants converged on them and began screaming at them, the police arrested the Christians for hate speech.
Coming soon to a town near YOU.
I think Bush is a man of God trying to do Gods will. I have 2 friends, a married couple, that are both Pastors. Months ago (April during Easter) they told me that they believed this election was a spiritual battle. Kerry has no moral code and Bush is trying to be Gods man in a very secular and socialistic political climate.
I agree...the words that made THE difference in my life
were " Choose Life". To me, that's all the choices that
allow for life to be saved. There's no hope for the
dead.
If anyone has abused the use of religion as a tool
in this election it's the poodle. He has shamelessly
prostated himself with promises in Black churches, putting
those churches in danger of losing their tax exempt status because his actions violate IRS rules.
When is the last time you've seen President Bush preaching from the pulpit, calling KErry names and asking for the vote?
God Bless the preacher for speaking up. What's fair is fair.
Why not? Are you suggesting that all his brothers and sisters should not register to vote either?
President Bush and John Kerry: On the Issues Important to Catholics
"Seismic" Catholic Shift to Bush [Insight ]
Analyst cites abortion stance as some Catholic voters shift to Bush
Poll: Catholics Trending Towards Bush
Kerry Losing Ground Among White Catholics
Voting Our Conscience, Not Our Religion [Catholic Prof Says "Vote Kerry"]
Vatican: Kerry guilty of heresy; incurrs automatic excommunication
Should a Catholic Vote for Bush or Kerry?
Why is Bush getting the bishop's blessing?
Ambassador Ray Flynn in Cleveland 10/16/2004- "Vote 2004: The Catholic Factor"
John Kerry Flip-Flops on When to Use His Catholic Belief on Politics
Abortion is Turning Democrats Off to Kerry
Planned Parenthood Unveils TV Ads Backing John Kerry on Abortion
Anyone who didn't know that is a dunce.
I have been stating here for some time that the November surprise will be the huge turnout of the Christian voters.
Active Christians really don't like the idea of some Mullah running our "election" boards.
I am voting, and convinced my mom and brother to do the same (for Bush). This is their first time ever.
The media is ignoring the fact that the Christian army is on the move this time.
I wonder. Jesus WAS, literally, an heir to the throne of King Of Jews, by his bloodline. But Jerusalem had been taken over by Rome - and no King reigned at that time. I wonder if Jesus would not - is not - concerned about the struggle today between the prince of Darkness and the Prince of Peace. I wonder why we talk of "what would Jesus do if he were here today?" HE IS here today - "Lo, I am with you alway." He gave us counsel and instruction and said "Do as ye have seen me do..." He expects us to uphold the right! I doubt he wants us to ignore the fight and just lay back and say, "Oh, well, it doesn't matter what happens, I'll get to heaven anyway." He also said "As ye have done to these...my children, ye have done unto me." If we do not stand up and roar - and fight - and vote...we will have condemned ourselves, our children to a life under anarchy:
anarchy Function: noun Text: 1 absence of effective government or the resulting social disorder Synonyms chaos, lawlessness, mobocracy, ochlocracy Related Word confusion, disorder, disorganization Idioms mob rule (or law), reign of terror
If you aren't experiencing a chill up your spine with what's happening out there right now - you have your in the sand. You may think, because we have an unprecedented 200 years of true freedom that it can't just disappear.
It can. It is. Right now. "confusion, disorder, disorganization Idioms mob rule" - Don't shrug off the danger - "ye do it unto" Him.
Yes. A battle that has now become visible and all the warriors on both sides are revealing themselves for the world to see. There are some strange alliances one would not have foreseen.
The bible and creationism was outlawed in our public schools. Need any more evidence?
Click on my screen name.
And then there are others like me who can't stand the smell in the voting booth and won't be voting for anybody this time.
You may find this letter I wrote to Sandon in response to an article he wrote the other day to be of interest.
The Tallahassee Democrat Sat, Oct. 02, 2004
"God is not a Republican or a Democrat" By Leo Sandon
http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/tallahassee/living/columnists/leo_sandon/9813044.htm
Observation #1:
There is "God" and then there are the various figments of some men's imagination that each relates to and communicates with as his/her "god".
In other words, there is reality, and then there is the fake, but personally comfortable reality that the emotionally immature concoct in their heads in order not to feel guilty about anything. The more emotionally mature one is, they more able they will be to have the courage to face absolute moral truths.
Whether one is able to face it or not, the Constitution of the United States was put into place to guard absolute (self-evident) moral truths. It is a meaningless document otherwise.
But relativists don't believe in objective, absolute / self-evident / unchangeable moral truths that are true for all people at all times, in all places. Their *truths* are subjective and can be ADAPTED to fit situations.
To a relativist, the Constitution is a "living document", subject to being able to be adapted to changing moral ideas/situations in a society.
The Religious Left is fond of asking the trick question, "Is God/Jesus a Democrat or a Republican?"
But moral relativists can be found in both parties, so the only legitimate question to ask is, "Is God/Jesus a moral relativist?"
The god of moral relativists IS a moral relativist.
The flagship magazine of The Religious Left is called: Sojourners. (Find it on Google)
*
Observation #2:
Saul Alinsky. Hillary Clinton and The Religious Left follow his "be adaptive" instructions "religiously". Sojourners:
http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=magazine.article&issue=Soj0003&article=000311
See: Rules for Radicals - Reveille for Radicals - By Saul Alinsky
In the 60's, as a radical mentality herself at Wellesley, Hillary Clinton was so enamored of Saul Alinsky and his *methods* she wrote her senior thesis under his mentoring.
She uses his "how to fool the useful idiots by ADAPTING to whatever is necessary for the moment" tactics to this very day. In her quest for the presidency, she is already laying that groundwork by pretending to be "for the war".
As you know, in 1992, she and her "adaptive" husband ALSO pretended that they really aren't Liberals but instead, professed to be "New Democrats" in order to get elected.
Today, the left-wing "old media" that they rely on so heavily to cover for them, is on the ropes thanks to the pioneering efforts of Rush Limbaugh, Matt Drudge, the Web Logers (Bloggers), Free Republic.com, et.al.
The genie is out of the bottle. And because of that fact, WE impeached Clinton and his "wife" will never be president.
Warm regards,
Name and town
Good for this pastor. I am glad to see a true Christian strong enough to do what only the charlatan black "churches" have dared try thus far.
"Bible-believing Christians affiliate themselves with the political party that has as their supreme sacrament and litmus test for public office, the murder of the unborn (abortion)???
Now that is hilarious!!!
And it will require a gentle but steady wind.
I've been reading over at the, um, Liberal Cave and they truly hate Christians. Bible believeing Christians. I was shocked at the pure hatred and anger. And disrespect for others beliefs. You can believe ANYTHING and be accepted as long as it's not the Bible in it's entirety as written. Maybe I'm naive but the level of hate was stunning.
Great letter!
Hate is an energy that will destroy you or propel you towards righteousness. To hate people is judgemental and self-destructive. To hate some particular things that people do or believe is to judge those things that you wouldn't do or believe, and that is righteous judgement -- and a thrustblock toward higher ground.
Don't mean to 'wax' on ya, but I feel a little 'waxy' today. heh. :>
From: WHERE IS THE LOVE by Black-Eyed Peas
And to discriminate only generates hate
And when you hate then you're bound to get irate, yeah
Badness is what you demonstrate
And that's exactly how anger works and operates
I thought maybe you'd have some interest in reading some of the posts here. Because I don't believe Jesus would have voted someone has accused me of suggesting that Christians shouldn't vote. Read the story and then look at my post #6, I'm curious what you think about that. But more than anything, I want to know of you whether or not Jesus is a Republican?
That's good! Thanks. Got any more?
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