by Sandy » Sat Aug 13, 2016 4:18 pm
I wouldn't say it's over the top. I don't think a lot of evangelicals see the correlation between declining attendance in their churches and denominations, and the continued involvement and push into right wing politics. But they're going to. The hypocrisy is pretty visible, and articles like this one are pointing it out. The fact that Al Mohler and Russ Moore are sticking with the character issue and being consistent in their position is not only a good thing, but I think it is also an indication that evangelical support for Trump is probably not anywhere near what it was for Romney. They don't have as much to lose as those whose ministries depend on contributors, like Franklin Graham and Falwell Jr., who have to grub after money, and have ministries that are expensive to operate. They have to avoid offending contributors. The religious right lost a lot of respect and support last time around when they pushed Romney, and a lot of people saw that Christian faith, as it was defined by evangelical leaders, didn't make a difference in the candidate they chose, and the hypocrisy of statements like "we're not electing a pastor in chief, we're electing a commander in chief" became the mantra. I know a lot of people were turned off by that. Now Trump comes along, and he's a sleazebag owner of an assortment of casinos and strip joints, openly admitted to adultery and doesn't see it as a problem, and about the only issues that he's articulated clearly relate to the social side of politics that right wingers have opposed.
I think it's going to change, though. The younger generation, and I mean those under 30, are much more aware of the fact that evangelism has a much deeper connection and relationship to social justice, and ministry than it does to right wing political issues. I've been involved in Christian school education for about 30 years, now, and I don't see much support for Trump among former students in the millennial age group. The spiritual life of the school I currently serve revolves around social justice and ministry, and the way we involve our students in that kind of ministry generates a lot of interest and participation. Right wing politics, not so much.
Last edited by Sandy on Sat Aug 13, 2016 4:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.