WASHINGTON – Nearly all Americans would agree that faith is playing a prominent role in the current presidential race. Yet an evangelical leader contends that Christians should be more concerned about where the candidates stand on issues, than the amount of “God Talk” from each presidential hopeful.
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(Photo: AP Images / Douglas C. Pizac)Democrat presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill, speaks to supporters during a rally prior to a private fund raising event Sunday, Aug. 5, 2007, in Park City, Utah.
“I appreciate that the candidates are taking a risk when they talk about their faith,” said Prison Fellowship Ministries President Mark Earley in a commentary last week.
“The problem is that all of this ‘God Talk’ misses the point: what Christians want – or should want – is a candidate who shares their moral and culture concerns, not just their religious vocabulary.”
Talks about God and personal testimonies of faith have been a bipartisan affair at a number of debates and forums so far this year.
"All the Democratic and Republican presidential hopefuls have been grilled on their religious beliefs," The Associated Press recently pointed out. "Most seem eager to talk publicly about their faith as they actively court religious voters."
Democratic candidates, who previously shied away from religious talk, have been sharing openly about the importance of their Christian faith to woo evangelicals – voters who have been more often associated with the GOP not because of political allegiance but because of shared values.
Individuals such as former presidential candidate and current Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean has especially urged his party’s contenders to pay particular attention to a new generation of evangelical voters who care about faith but are also concerned about social issues such as poverty, global warming and immigration reform.
Sens. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Barack Obama (D-Ill.) have both reportedly hired strategists to reach religious voters, according to AP.
But PFM’s Earley argues that “God Talk” is not enough.
He pointed out that while the candidates increasingly talk about God to court Christian voters, they are also appealing to pro-abortion groups such as Planned Parenthood.
Top tier candidates such as Clinton, Obama and current Republican frontrunner former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani are all pro-abortion and support gay rights.
“It’s difficult to imagine positions more at odds with the motivations of the very evangelical voters they’re trying to court,” commented Earley. “Protecting the lives of unborn children has been the cornerstone of politically active Christians for the past thirty years.”
Moreover, the abortion issue is important to the general American public. Overall about 40 percent of all registered voters said abortion is very important in their vote for president, according to a recent poll by Pew Research Center.
Earley concluded: “It’s hard to know which is worse: that candidates think that talking about religion will make evangelical Christians forget why they care about politics – or that they might be right,”
Comments
Not enough "God talk"??? Criminy - America has had so much of it in the last 7 years and look where it's gotten you.
Seems you've forgotten the "there shall be no religious test" to hold public office 'promise'.
I don't believe these are the last days. But in the last days, the Supreme Being will toss the Saklas worshipped by Christians into the Lake of Fire.
This is absolutely correct! Essentially Clinton and Obama are trying to deceive Christians. For more on pro-life issues, visit www.LifeNews.com.
The only legacy of any lasting value is JESUS CHRIST's. We, as Christians, are to be led by God in all we do and say (and that includes voting) How about praying before we vote and ask God to show us whom it is HE would like to put in this position! When we ask God to reveal the fruit, HE surely will! Father, we pray and ask you to show us the Candidate that you are moving into this position! In Jesus Name Amen! God is the one who allows any of us to hold our positions! I don't care how much "God" talk they do, God is back in the PUBLIC SQUARE!! Hallelu YAH! Glory to our Great God!
dgnymn, as a Catholic the more I read about Ron Paul the more I Iike him too. As I said in another posting as long as the person is a Reagan republican type the more I'll like the person. I think there are a few candidates who fit this profile.
"no politician will ever produce even a tiny fraction of the legacy left by Pope John Paul II"
- Ron PaulI
I think I will make some popcorn, sit back, and enjoy the show.
Just think how boring this election season would be if it weren't for the extra "God Talk".
Wow! Christians could actually be a force in these elections like we were with American Idol.
Jesus said "You shall know they by their fruits!!" Nothing more and nothing less. Brothers and Sisters in Christ - you need to be vigilant and be wary of the "God talk." What have the candidates done, not said. It's been said that talk is cheap, and there's a cheapening going on in politics, due to the candidates wanting to market and manipulate the evanglical vote. DO NOT LET THEM DO IT!!!
Not one of the front runners in either party is worthy of the evangelical vote. If you are for abortion rights and homosexual rights, then you can vote for the front runners in either party, but don't identify yourself as an evangelical, because the front runners are out of touch with mainstream America. This includes Obama, Clinton, Guiliani, Romney, and the rest of the pack...except Ron Paul. So far, he has measured up, and he continues to stand alone against the pack.
Think, Christians. Don't check your brain at the door every time you listen to the radio, talking heads, or anyone else in the media. O'Reilly, Hannity, Severin, Limbaugh and others don't have a clue and they're not listening to real people of faith, or should we say the folks who make up the nitty gritty of life in this country. Politicans have typically demonized people of faith until George W. Bush got their vote. Now every political candidate is a "God talk" wannabe.
Be vigilant, people!!! Most of them are out just for your vote. Their agenda is not yours and never will be. "You will know them by their fruits." Remember. Do your homework. Pay attention to what they've done and what they're doing now!!!
I could warm-up to some democratic social ideas but they will never get my vote because of their position on Abortion. God talk by politicians is just so much chat. I would like to see a democratic candidate come out with a prolife position, that person might actually win the election if they could get past the primary. I would like to see a pro-life party positioned between the donkeys and elephants.
I am voting for the Candidate that has a clear, and visible record on Anti-Abortion. Only God has the Soverignty to take a life! He is the Author and Creator of Life. Just because someone says they believe in God is no reason to vote for them; God tells us to look at the fruit! So, that is what I am doing, researching candidates and their voting records and from there I will make my final decision. God also tells us to pray for our leaders! (ALL our leaders) not just the ones we might like or prefer. Maybe if we all pray and seek God for our next leader, He will bless us with a person of true integrity and moral leadership and help turn our nation back to God!
Just food for thought
God has never gone political. Political is compromise. ALWAYS. Abortion issues are of
utmost importance in the election. This is murder. Murdering those who have NO say about
the issue.
Gay rights come under another heading in dealing with the Lord. Lets all be watchful.
if one beleves these are the last days,then one also should know the anti christ system is in place and active,there for it stands to reason that the players are lined up as well,has anyone noticed the morral climate hasnt improved,it is however headed in the other direction in spite the promises made,are the people running truely Godly individuals,for even the applyed atthority of the bible has been corupted,often replaced with a social program of rellieivism.
Evangelicalism is about proclaiming Jesus Christ as the Savior and solution to people's biggest problem. It should not be hijacked by the left or the right. God is not a Republican or a Democrat. I do think Christians should be politically active and hold their nose and be either Republican or Democrat regardless of how ungodly some of the positions of those political party take are. This man who claims to be an "evangelical" leader, looks more like a "conservative" leader to me.
The words "God Talk" used in a partison way kind of presses my buttons. For two years (2005-2006) both houses had a pro-life majority, the supreme court looked like it might be willing to reverse Roe. V. Wade, and the president was pro-life. What happened? Nothing. It was all God talk.