Evangelicals optimistic about Obama presidency
by Michelle A Vu, Christian Post
Posted: Thursday, November 6, 2008, 8:19 (GMT)
WASHINGTON - 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 practised 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 value issues rooted in moral problems.
"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 Senator John McCain among evangelical voters (75 per cent to 24 per cent), his support among this group was five percentage points higher than Democratic presidential candidate Senator John Kerry in 2004.
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Added: Monday, November 10, 2008, 14:41 (GMT)
Does Mr Cizik really understand what the Scriptures teach? I do not wish to sound rude here, but merely point out the plain facts that the Holy Bible, which is our final authority on all matters, says. Mr Obama is without any doubt the most anti Christian leader that the USA has ever had. He very clearly supports and encourages homosexuality, and even has the first homosexual, lesbian, transsexual and transgender school opening with his blessing in his home state! He is a open supporter of their debased lifestyles, and also is a strong advocate on abortion.Can Mr Cizik please take the time to show me from the Bible, where it is ok for these practices? In fact, I read in Romans chapter one, at t! he end, that the Lord will judge not only those who practice these demonic things, but also those who support and turn a blind eye to them. It is also very clear that Mr Obama sees no problem with the anti Christian movement called Islam, which is hell bent on destroying anything Christian, where they openly murder those who reject their demonic faith, and embrace Jesus Christ as their Saviour.
I cannot for a moment see how anyone who calls themselves a born-again believer (forget being an Evangelical, as this no longer means what it should), ever cast a vote for someone like Mr Obama. Can you? In the name of "unity", Christians are clearly compromising the very basis of our faith, and allowing for things that are clearly condemend, to be allowed. Let it be known, that regardless what leaders like Mr Cizik,or organizations like yours say, the eternal Word of God still stands true in ALL that it cearly teaches. I suggest that you remove the name Evangelical from your orginization, and replace it with either, Compromise-Christians, or, Liberal-Christians.
May the Lord, the Righteous Judge, do what is right here
In Jesus, our ONLY Hope
andrew ansell, London, England
Added: Thursday, November 6, 2008, 11:45 (GMT)
No, Christians are not optimistic about Obama's win. I do not know what religon he is but he is not a Christian. His stance on abortion alone should call him out as false. We can tell by his fruits that he is not a Christian and his abortion and gay rights agenda make me fear for the future of our country.
Jayson, Ada, United States
