WASHINGTON – Some prominent evangelical leaders said Wednesday that they are optimistic about working together with the Obama administration and even noted that relationships have already been built by the campaign’s faith outreach arm.
The leaders did acknowledge, however, that differences will continue to exist between the two groups, but pointed out that a growing number of evangelicals are looking to find common ground on culture war issues such as abortion and homosexuality.
“The strategy is very different from the past. The religious right practiced this zero sum game where somebody else has to lose for us to win,” commented the Rev. Richard Cizik, vice president of the National Association of Evangelicals, during an election analysis teleconference on Wednesday.
“And our [centrist evangelical] strategy is a common good that says we are all in this together,” he said. “That means we learned as evangelicals how to collaborate with whom we disagree.”
Dr. David Gushee, professor of Christian Ethics at Atlanta-based Mercer University, went as far as to maintain that the religious right was in decline and that it is up to the right to decide to change and adopt a broader agenda.
“I think that there is clearly a fracture between the evangelical right or Christian right and in many ways the rest of the country and the rest of the evangelical community,” Gushee contended.
He questioned if there will be a permanent fracture between the Christian right and the rest of the evangelical body, and contrasted the right with centrist and progressive evangelicals who are “well positioned” to work with the government and the new administration on issues as broad as torture, the environment, immigration and nuclear weapon production.
“A posture that says we don’t have to agree on everything but we can work on these things together is going to put us in a better position to be a constructive player in the next four years than the stance that the apocalypse is upon us because Barack Obama has won the election,” Gushee asserted.
Both Gushee and Cizik commented on the change in evangelical perspective on social justice issues, which evangelicals increasingly see as values issues caused by a moral problem.
“I am optimistic, as David expressed he is, that this president understands problems in terms of not just of technical revolution but in terms of the moral complexity,” Cizik said. “And that’s a good sign.”
National exit polls show that Obama made significant inroads among religious voters.
While Obama widely lost to Republican candidate Sen. John McCain among evangelical voters (75 percent to 24 percent), it’s notable that his support among this group was five percentage points higher than Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry in 2004.
RSS
Whoops! I've just realised that the last two on my list move way from the solar nebula and into the geology of the Earth a long time ago, got a bit carried away with the things that get my juices going so to speak.
Well wr the reason "I" believe the world was not created in 6 days is because the evidence is overwhelming for the the Sun and the solar system (planets etc..)to have formed from a collapsing interstellar dust cloud, the solar nebula theory. Some evidence for this is:
The solar system rotates in a prograde direction.
The angular momentum(or lack of it) of the Sun
The diffrent composition of the planets as one moves outwards into the solar system reflecting the condensation process.
What we see when we look at other stars with circumstellar discs/ planetary systems.
Differentiation of the terrestrial planets
Normalisation of chondritic meteorites revealing geological processes that have occured over time within the solar system
The existenece of the super continenet such as Rodinia about 1 billion years ago.
Evidence that there are other supercontinents that even pre date the one above (based on orogenic episodes)
So, thats some of the reasons why "I" think the world was not created in six days.
To be honest 6 days is quite boring I find millions of years more exciting but then I'm not easily impressed.
Kind regards
Steve
I don't think you looked at too many evangelicals for your story. Maybe a "few" who call themselves evangelicals are optimistic, but I and many I know are quite sad and concerned. We are not happy, will not be happy and definitely not optimistic. Except, I acknowledge that it is God who gives us our rulers. That doesn't mean we get a good ruler, but the one we deserve. And I know that God is preparing his true church for his return. The rest will sit around "looking for common ground" on issues that God calls sin.
blue1018
You have said....
"Get an education, get some social values, and get over it: the world was NOT created in 6 days,"
So provide us with an education. What is your support that says that the world was not created in 6 days?
And why do you believe this information?
Thanks.
It honestly and truly scares me how radical some Christians are. If not a secret race-based under tone that irks their viewpoints, then it is a sad nonacceptance of the reality of change. Get an education, get some social values, and get over it: the world was NOT created in 6 days, the bible is NOT to be followed literally, Obama is NOT the anti-christ, he will not purposely invade the homes of white women and slaughter the children in the womb, he will not make all things gay and fabulous, and he is not a muslim, nor an islamic supporter. He is a good man, and will be a good president; as would McCain if he was elected. Both hold values on key issues, only on opposite sides - but with the same passion. All these accusations that I have seen on CP comments represent an unfortunate epitome of the Christian intellect. I mean no harm, but most anti-Obama comments are so frivolous I can not help but shake my head.
To put all 'Christians' in one republican category and write as though they all believe Obama will end the world is absurd. No wonder the world continues its moral decay while people fight over such unnecessary things.
Jesus was incarnated to do His Father's will:
John 6:38-40
38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
Jesus came to be a sacrifice to redeem and justify those who believe and to show the righteousness and justice of God:
21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished - 26 he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
Christ came to die for the ungodly to demonstrate God's love for us and reconcile us to God:
Romans 5:6-11
6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! 10 For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11 Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
The life Jesus came to give us is eternal life, not life in this world:
John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 10:9-10
9I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
jaychr
You have said...
"That is simply not true. Why do you think God had to be incarnated? Why did he said he came so we could live life to the full? Living to the full, that is, as breathing, sexual beings with needs, desires, hopes, and fears?"
Christ was incarnated because we are humans. He taught us as a physical human because the Spiritual side needed to be healed.
His focus was on obediance to the Word of God, and following that Word as guided by the Holy Spirit.
The wisdom of this world, and all of its blessings, are granted to us as God wills.
But by no means are we to place these blessings over the desire to obey and serve God.
IT'S CALLED COMPROMISE.
"And I don't trust Our new President. I'm always on the side of life of Preborn babies and National sovereignity and strong defense."
Here's the one to be looking for...Obama is now in a position to find out EVERYTHING that's going on. He's going to be looking at the intel and all the reports that were President's eyes only and it will be a clear example of the Bible verse which says "a fool decides a matter without first hearing it". Now he get's to hear what most people aren't being told.
How do I know? It's amazing the intel you get when you have family and friends in the areas like Iraq and other Muslim countries. 2 + 2 = 4 still holds in my world view.
wrhalver wrote:
> Christ was not much concerned about the worldly
> environment. His focus was on lost souls.
That is simply not true. Why do you think God had to be incarnated? Why did he said he came so we could live life to the full? Living to the full, that is, as breathing, sexual beings with needs, desires, hopes, and fears?
prayingforournation: Bush cannot appoint a Supreme Court Justice unless one retires or dies.
bellez, are you referring to those "christians and catholics" who are out protesting the passing of Prop. #8?
It looks like they didn't check with any Evangelicals here in SC!
I am very ashamed of "christian and catholics" who could ever promote this evil. Why bother going to church. I have started e-mail blast to every catholic church and bishop and to the Pope he has not been very vocal about this. Only handful of regular ministers have spoken up. I intend to be involved from this day forward. We have the power of the internet. Get family friends to sign petition you don't need millions, just start with one at a time. Bombard there e-mails with complaints. No excuse to just sit here and read about it. Go post on every site you visit to blast churches with e-mails they should talk to their churches and then have loud voice when this fraud takes office..Always pray..pray..pray..
Sad...while I do believe that we should work to preserve our world and fight injustice, it is also important to realize that compromise on truth should not be an acceptable practice. Seems that these evangelicals would trade anything in order to see "progress" on their new pet issues. Sad.
Well Christian Post why don't you quote Dr Dobson or his group. Whoever heard of "the Rev. Richard Cizik" he is more know for his environmentalist views than for the Gospel.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/marchweb-only/109-53.0.html
This site seems to quote people who favor Obama. They remove my post but leave the comments made about my post. They take quotes about abortion from Alan Guttmacher http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/oct/07101109.html
and put them in a story as if the "pollster"r for Planned Parenthood should be our measure of truth. My mother used to say "consider the source." I say the same thing about this site, "consider the source" see what groups or reporters they are quoting and check out the ministers they mention. Don't trust what you read do your own research on these Christian stories, Go to Dobson's site and other ministers you trust plus the regular media, Do your own homework. Ministers that do not agree with Obama will probably be afraid to speak out but those like Rev Wright can say what they want..Read about the election on http://www.frc.org/ for more incite. This organization is connected with Focus on the Family. Do not take Christian website stories or whatever as gospel .
... human weeds,' 'reckless breeders,' 'spawning ... human beings who never should have been born.'
-- Margaret Sanger, Planned Parenthood founder, referring to immigrants and poor people
Sanger believed that, for the purpose of racial "purification," couples should be rewarded who chose sterilization. (Birth Control in America, The Career of Margaret Sanger, by David Kennedy, p. 117, quoting a 1923 Sanger speech). "We do not want word to go out that we want to exterminate the Negro population," she said, "if it ever occurs to any of their more rebellious members." (Woman's Body, Woman's Right: A Social History of Birth Control in America, by Linda Gordon)
really funny the "first afr-amn president" wants to pass this act..hahaha now this should tell you his stance. We need to pray folks seriously and MAKE SURE the Justice HOUSE of Prayer stays open. Bush has almost two months left to appoint supreme court justices. Let us pray he makes that a priority. The only innocent blood Obama should be covered in is the saving blood of JESUS not the unborn.
"He questioned if there will be a permanent fracture between the Christian right and the rest of the evangelical body, and contrasted the right with centrist and progressive evangelicals who are â
And I don't trust Our new President. I'm always on the side of life of Preborn babies and National sovereignity and strong defense.
Oh well!
God Bless
Danny