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Posted on 03/27/2015 6:06:30 AM PDT by SoConPubbie
He might have been taken aback at the spectacle presented by fellow Republican Ted Cruz Monday in Lynchburg, Va. The Texas senator sounded less like he was running for president of the United States than for president of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Part of the message was the setting—a stage at Liberty University, founded by televangelist Jerry Falwell, which Cruz saluted as "the largest Christian university in the world."
He holds degrees from Princeton and Harvard, but he was right at home there. He noted that his wife's parents were missionaries in Africa. He said America's urgently needed reclamation would come from "people of faith."
He testified that when his father was contemplating divorce, "God transformed his heart." He informed his audience that "were it not for the transformative love of Jesus Christ," he "would have been raised by a single mom without my father in the household."
Invocations of the Almighty have long been a normal and harmless part of American political rhetoric. Even Barack Obama, whom many people continue to believe is a Muslim rather than a Christian, ends his speeches, "God bless you, and God bless the United States of America."
But Cruz takes this custom to a novel extreme. He was not paying the normal tribute to general and widely held Christian beliefs. He was informing a narrow slice of Protestants, "I'm one of you." Most religious expressions by politicians are inclusionary. His was the opposite.
Politically this sounds like a losing long-term strategy, since white evangelicals (the chief target of his appeal) make up a small, shrinking group. Today, they are only 18 percent of the population—just slightly more than the percentage with no religious affiliation. Cruz's message will alienate at least as many people as it will attract.
It puts him in a geographic box as well as a sectarian one, since white evangelicals disproportionately live in the South. It hinders him with younger voters, who are the least likely to be born-again Christians.
But in the short run, or the Republican primaries, his born-again appeals may help him compete against candidates like Mike Huckabee, an ordained Southern Baptist minister, Rick Santorum, a religious culture warrior, and Scott Walker, son of a Baptist minister. One of them is bound to use this campaign slogan: "Jesus loves you, but I'm his favorite."
It's hard to believe that white Southern evangelicals once took a very different view of politics. In 1960, when Democratic candidate John Kennedy needed to address concerns about his Catholic faith—something no president had shared—he spoke to Protestant pastors in Houston.
"I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute," he proclaimed. "I believe in a president whose religious views are his own private affair, neither imposed by him upon the nation, or imposed by the nation on him as a condition to holding that office."
When he was done, his audience applauded. If a politician were to say the same thing to modern evangelicals, they would be more likely to sit in stony silence.
Cruz is unabashed in implying that his religious views are an excellent reason to vote for him. He also thinks they are, and should be, inseparable from his views on policy. He won't get much argument in GOP debates.
But JFK was on to something that ostentatiously Christian politicians ignore. In a pluralist society that abstains from state aid to churches, candidates may be guided by their faith, but they have a duty to advocate their political views in terms that transcend religion.
"God wants it" is not a legitimate rationale for any government policy. Cruz, however, is the culmination of years of effort by Republicans to present themselves as the official sponsor of Christianity.
They have come a long way from Sen. Barry Goldwater, the famously conservative 1964 presidential nominee. When Ronald Reagan appointed Sandra Day O'Connor to the Supreme Court, an unhappy Jerry Falwell said that "every good Christian should be concerned." Goldwater had a different suggestion: "Every good Christian ought to kick Falwell right in the ass."
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CRUZ or LOSE!John 15:18
“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.”
Invocations of the Almighty have long been a normal and harmless part of American political rhetoric.
“It’s OK to refer to God, as long as you’re not serious about it.”
“Judge a man by the enemies he makes.”
Also, if you have no enemies, you aren’t doing anything.
[White evangelicals (the chief target of his appeal) make up a small, shrinking group. Today, they are only 18 percent of the population—just slightly more than the percentage with no religious affiliation.]
Apparently Steve Chapman has not read the story about Gideon.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges+7&version=NIV
The leftists are really foaming at the mouth aren’t they? I have a feeling Ted knows what he is up against and will stand against their nonsense, lies, and deception. People know what they are now. They know he has a real chance to beat them and (surprise) wondering why the new residents they let in (or should I say bused in) are liking Ted and not the spineless traitors who gave away other people’s money to invite them in. Might it be because they have eyes and ears and a brain and clearly see what scum they are? Why yes but the scum were too stupid to realize it with their Harvard and Princeton educations. All I have to say is bwahahahaha. You deserve it dummies..
“Cruz takes this to a novel extreme.”
Just like Jefferson did when he wrote,
“Endowed by their CREATOR...”
A novel concept indeed.
Unapologetic Christian Conservatism will win.
Those who would be “turned off” by that would never have voted Republican anyway.
Based on the results of her service, I'd say that it's turned out that Falwell was right, and Goldwater (on this issue) was an ass.
I’m a Cruz fan. I think in this election we’re going to find out if a true conservative can get elected in this crazy country again. It has to be someone smart enough to stay ahead of the dems and out think them, and someone tough enough and with thick enough skin to ignore the dems and the repubs attacks and power through them. I’m just saying, if this guy can’t do it.... no one can.
He’s not playing their game. He answers questions clearly and concisely. He’s “supposed to” give political non-answers. It drives them crazy that he unapologetically does not do that.
Politics transcends religion only for the irreligious.
"Principalities and Powers", my FRiend.
That's what he's up against.
So are we.
Our help is in The Lord, who made heaven and earth.
> He’s not playing their game. He answers questions clearly and concisely. He’s “supposed to” give political non-answers. It drives them crazy that he unapologetically does not do that.
Cruz - not your typical Amigo...: )
The man is sharp as a tack. Love the guy and have met his father who is a great man in his own right. God bless Rafael for raising him right!
It’s a Personal Thing by Steve Taylor
It’s a personal thing and I find it odd
You would question my believing in a personal God
I’m devout, I’m sincere, ask my mother if you doubt it
I’m religious but I’d rather not get radical about it
The old-time believers had timidity and grace
But this new generation doesn’t know its place
You’re entitled to believe but the latest Gallup Poll
Says you mustn’t interfere that’s the government’s role
‘Cause when you throw your hat in the bullring
Before you know, know, know it’s a personal thing
And when he comes to the day of reckoning
He’s gonna tell ‘em, “Uh, uh, uh, it’s a personal thing”
It’s a personal thing and I boldly state
That my views on morality will have to wait
‘Til my personal life’s out of the public eye
And the limitations statue can protect my alibi
I’m devout, I’m sincere and I’m proud to say
That it’s had exactly no effect on who I am today
I believe for the benefit for all mankind
In the total separation of church and mind
‘Cause when you throw your hat in the bullring
Before you know, know, know it’s a personal thing
And when he comes to the day of reckoning
He’s gonna tell ‘em, “Uh, uh, uh, it’s a personal thing”
It’s a personal thing and I plainly speak
From the same code of ethics that I learnt last week
As I promised if elected this election day
With the help of God almighty, I’ll do it my way
‘Cause when you throw your hat in the bullring
Before you know, know, know it’s a personal thing
And when he comes to the day of reckoning
He’s gonna say, “Back off buddy, it’s a personal thing”
I have to say Amen to that! And so right you are.
Hmmmmm? “Reason” - Isn’t that a Libertarian rag?
If so, then this is a direct attack from the Rand Paul group. Coulda seen that coming. Rand has been acting like a spoiled brat lately; all ticked off that Ted got out ahead of him.
Liberals have no concept of how a true Christian views his/her relationship to Jesus Christ.
For a narcissistic politician, they ought to look at our CoC, Barack Obama. hey are assigning characteristics of Obama to Ted Cruz.
True Christians recognize their faults and shortcomings in relation to their Deity. They are humble in all things before their God and their Savior, Jesus. I do wish liberals would try resisting this ridiculous tendency to assign their own fallibilities upon others.
Keep in mind this is so-called "Reason" Magazine. It is a Libertarian publication. The Libertarians are gawd awful with their attempt to make the U.S. a bunch of doped up zombies, their foam-at-the-mouth hatred for the Jews and Israel, and their support and justification for Muslim terrorists (out enemies since the dawn of the republic). Their only real purpose is to suck away Conservative votes for people foolish enough to vote for them.
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