Posted on 09/01/2015 7:06:41 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
New polling shows Donald Trump continuing to surge among the Republican field. His strong showing among Evangelicals is a surprise to some and annoyance to others. As a matter of fact, he currently leads among conservative Christians.
"I love the Evangelicals," said Trump, but there are doubters.
A scathing op-ed in The New York Times on Trump and his Christian support concluded with this assessment: "I don't see someone interested in serving God, I see someone interested in being God."
If the disconnect between Republican Party leaders and much of the base is evident, it may exist among Evangelical leaders and the average Evangelical voter too. Immediately following the televised Republican debate in Cleveland, Trump shot up among Evangelicals in Iowa, which is the first opportunity for candidates to get a head start in their delegate count.
World Magazine published a survey in what they called the favorite choice of "Evangelical insiders." Trump trails badly among these "insiders," with Marco Rubio as a favorite and Ted Cruz and Carly Fiorina said to be "surging." Perhaps a surprise to some, Trump is tied at 2.3 percent with Hillary Clinton as the top choice of those surveyed.
"Many of the candidates running for the Republican nomination are impressive, but Marco Rubio reminds me more of Jack Kennedy every day," said Richard Land, president of Southern Evangelical Seminary, CP's executive editor and a survey participant. "Whatever charisma is, he's got it."
While a "non-starter" for Evangelical insiders, just like many Washington insiders, Trump has legions outside the fold.
An op-ed published at the Christian Post explains some of the support. Larry Tomczak, undecided on whether to vote for Trump, attended an Ohio meeting with Trump and a groups of pastors. He offered ten reasons why he thinks the billionaire is out in front.
Franklin Graham offered what many believe is Trump's ultimate appeal — his outsider status, and ability to articulate general contempt for Washington.
"He's shaking up the Republican Party and the political process overall. And it needs shaking up," declared Graham.
The Daily Beast published a piece in August titled, "Why Evangelicals Worship Trump." The piece chronicles some of Trump's quieter support of Evangelical ministries, including Samaritan's Purse, and Billy Graham affiliated ministries. Trump spoke to raucous applause at Liberty University in 2012, and reportedly took time visiting campus leaders and students, instead of merely jetting in and out on his plane after his talk.
"I think long before anyone thought he would seriously run for president, he was making outreaches to Evangelicals and Catholics who are involved in the political process," exclaims Johnnie Moore, a former media relations manager and campus pastor at Liberty University and CP Senior Contributing Editor.
Jerry Falwell, Jr. went so far as to call Trump "one of the greatest visionaries of our time."
Trump has made similar outreach to Evangelical leaders such as Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council and Ralph Reed.
"Trump is the result of a Republican leadership here in Washington D.C. that is playing footsies with Barack Obama instead of fisticuffs," says Perkins. "People are tired of that."
The Christian Post reported on Trump's upcoming September meeting with Paula White, a well-known prosperity Gospel preacher, and other Christian leaders at the Trump Towers in New York City. Perhaps, then, Trump's Evangelical supporters are of the "health and wealth gospel" variety. They are, after all, the least likely to be turned off by brazen displays of wealth. In another CP op-ed, Carmen Fowler LaBerge, president of the Presbyterian Lay Committee, argued that Trump's Evangelical followers are likely the type who have embraced a bastardized version of the Gospel that has more to do with positive thinking and American capitalism than the teachings of Jesus.
"Trump's "Evangelical" supporters are the Christmas-church-going, Protestant work-ethic, Manifest Destiny believing, can-do capitalists. They are in every denomination and none. They think of themselves as Christians but they see no real need to have every aspect of their lives aligned with an arcane morality. Trump is tapping into the spirit and power of positive thinking that pervades the teachings of modern cultural evangelists like Oprah Winfrey and Joel Osteen," she wrote.
Jeremiah Johnson, an author who planted Heart of the Father Ministry in Florida, prophesied that Trump shall be God's "trumpet to the American people."
"Trump does not fear man nor will he allow deception and lies to go unnoticed," wrote Johnson of his prophetic claim. "I am going to use him to expose darkness and perversion in America like never before, but you must understand that he is like a bull in a china closet."
Still, many Evangelicals are mystified about the support for a man who seems to have attended church little in recent times and referred to communion as the "little wine" and the "little cracker." Trump has said he is Presbyterian and a member of Marble Collegiate Church. But Marble Collegiate Church is not Presbyterian and said Friday that Trump is not among its members. Trump even said he's not sure "if he's ever asked God for forgiveness."
But perhaps his missteps are overshadowed by his authenticity, the establishment backlash and what is perceived by many as failure in Washington. As Peggy Noonan argues in the Wall Street Journal, Trump's appeal extends far beyond the Republican Party base or politics.
"Now look: when Trump talks about how he doesn't really ask God for forgiveness except for when he partakes in communion," wrote David Brody of the Brody File, "that obviously is not the Evangelical textbook answer. But at least they appreciate his honesty and with politicians nowadays that is a valued commodity."
Regardless of Trump's intentions, it is clear, despite his awkward language and what some would see as off-putting language about faith, he sees Evangelicals as a natural constituency for his support and as part of a larger movement of the electorate away from what many say is the ultimate power broker — Washington D.C.
Where does Trump stand on the Kentucky clerk who refuses to marry gays?
Depends, what do you want to hear?
RE: Where does Trump stand on the Kentucky clerk who refuses to marry gays?
Somebody ought to ask him that. I am DEAD SURE that Ted Cruz defends the clerk’s decision.
Related to this, I am even more interested in the kind of Judge or Justice Trump would appoint to the Supreme Court.
Somebody ought to ask him that.
Which of the 9 justices currently on the Supreme Court bench most closely aligns with his views on the constitution?
Good question. Where does any of the wanna-be’s stand?
Rand Paul is the senator from Kentucky for crying out loud. You would think he would be right there at the side of truth and justice for that poor court clerk.
Because there is no one worth supporting among the GOP-E candidates like Kaisich, Christie, and Jeb?
Somebody ought to ask him that.
He has already been asked and answered it. He would appoint an Alito, not a Roberts.
RE: He has already been asked and answered it. He would appoint an Alito, not a Roberts.
Who asked him that question, and when was it? Could you kindly provide a source or a link?
He is soft on same-sex “marriage” and a latecomer on abortion. I want more detail about Israel and the Middle East too. The best stance about Trump for a conscientious Christian at this point is “wait and see.” No bandwagon for me.
>> the correct approach here is to read the headline only and then produce a violent outburst based on preconceived notions <<
His sister is a federal judge in New Jersey. I read somewhere the other day that she’s pro-life. Anybody around here up to speed on the question?
EXCERPT:
The latest example came after Trump’s interview with Mark Halperin, an interviewer with an uncanny ability to push into new territory. He asked Trump who he might support for the Supreme Court. Trump dodged.
“What about your sister?” asked Halperin.
“My sister’s great,” said Trump. “I have a sister who’s on the court of appeals.”
“She’d be a good Supreme Court justice?” asked Halperin.
“I think she’d be phenomenal,” said Trump. “I think she’d be one of the best. But frankly, we’d have to rule that out.”
I trust the recently converted more than the more established.
RE: He has already been asked and answered it. He would appoint an Alito, not a Roberts.
Actually, Trump said his SISTER, a pro-choice judge in the court of appeals would be a phenomenal (his words) justice of the Supreme Court.
See here:
Also, what day of the week is it? What time of day? How's the weather? Which way is the wind blowing? How'd the Yankees do last night? What did Trump eat for breakfast? What position would get Trump more attention?
Any of these things (and more) could change Trump's position on this (and any other) issue.
Yes I voted for Romney and yes I felt the pang of conscience. I’m not proud of what I did.
“Trump: Not As Bad As Romney”
Not exactly bumper sticker material there.
Not this one. I love that he’s poking a stick into the anthill, but somebody who says he’s never felt the need to ask God’s forgiveness is not somebody I could ever support. That’s just me.
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