Just Who Are 'Trump's Evangelicals'?

Christian Science Monitor ^ | MARCH 6, 2016 | Molly Jackson

[Steelfish]

Just Who Are 'Trump's Evangelicals'? Debates whether conservative Christians should support Donald Trump's presidential bid have revived a more long-term question: Who 'counts' as an evangelical, anyway?' By Molly Jackson, Staff MARCH 6, 2016

Donald Trump has not yet given voters a nuanced view of his understanding of Christian communion: The professed Presbyterian referred to the sacramental bread as "my little cracker" during a meeting with conservative Christian leaders last year; more recently, he tried to put money in an Iowa church's communion plate ahead of the state caucus.

But if the unconventional GOP candidate has a tendency to overlook religious subtleties, he's in good company.

As Mr. Trump has solidified his lead in the GOP, some of the most appalled people left in his wake are evangelical Christian leaders perplexed at how a man like Trump is drawing support from their flocks.

Recommended: What do you know about Donald Trump? An equally confused army of secular pundits has attempted to answer that question, now one of the campaign's most defining conundrums, with a range of possible answers: He's got messianic appeal. The rank-and-file is fed up with the GOP. They feel besieged. He's running a country, not a church. They're "getting too worldly, letting anger and frustration control them," as the head of a Focus on the Family affiliate told the Associated Press.

But as evangelical leaders continue their soul-searching – or endorse Trump outright, as Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr. did in January – religion scholars on all sides of the faith spectrum are criticizing the media's use of the word "evangelical" itself, a deceptively simple label that obscures the complexity of American Christianity.

[bluecollarman]

I support Trump and I am an real evangelical. Your statement is offensive, but I forgive you :)

[XEHRpa]

I don’t think most evangelicals care if Trump is one himself or not. What they care about is that he respects an originalist reading of the 1st amendment.

Compared to any Democrat I can think of, there is no doubt that he is preferable.

[DavidLSpud]

/Stop this “evangelical” crap! NOW!!/

...just a descriptive term..but as the article points out...

not a very good one ( ; )

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evangelicalism

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Great_Awakening

The Revival of 1800 in Logan County, Kentucky, began as a traditional Presbyterian sacramental occasion. The first informal camp meeting began

there in June, when people began camping on the grounds of the Red River Meeting House. Subsequent meetings followed at the

nearby Gasper River and Muddy River congregations, all three under the ministry of James McGready. One year later, an even larger sacrament

occasion was held atCane Ridge, Kentucky under Barton Stone, attracting perhaps as many as 20,000 people. NumerousPresbyterian, Baptist and

Methodist ministers participated in the services. Thanks to such leaders as Barton W. Stone (1772–1844) and Alexander Campbell (1788–1866), the

camp meeting revival became a major mode of church expansion for the Methodists and Baptists.[16]

The Cumberland Presbyterian Church emerged in Kentucky. Cane Ridge was also instrumental in fostering what became known as the Restoration

Movement. This was made up of non-denominational churches committed to what they saw as the original, fundamental Christianity of the New

Testament. They were committed to individuals’ achieving a personal relationship with Christ. Churches with roots in this movement include

the Churches of Christ, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and the Evangelical Christian Church in Canada[17]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Great_Awakening

[ScubieNuc]

I don’t support Trump, I do support Cruz. I am a Christian and also accept the title of an evangelical.

The bottom line is that Trump lies......all the time. He has no qualms about supporting strip clubs or Democrats for president. He’s vulgar and rude. So my question to other Christians or evangelicals that support him is Why? I truly do not get it.

[erkelly]

I was appalled when all of the “evangelicals” supported Romney. There is a difference between a heretic and a blasphemer, and plain old simple sinner.

[WENDLE]

Stop!! He said “forgiveness!! Because he was forgiven on the CROSS and believes in Jesus . Read John 3:16 and stop this bearing false witness!!

[mabelkitty]

I am.
The Lord doesn’t call the perfect. He calls one and then makes them the perfect messenger for the times.
He also warned about false prophets.

[JediJones]

Do you not understand the basic difference between the atheist left and the religious right? If you elect someone who doesn’t have Judeo-Christian values, you get a poor moral example for the nation, someone who will expand government power, someone who will help legalize drugs, abortion, same-sex marriage and who knows what else as our laws become more and more permissive. A society needs morality to survive and function. Religion is one of the few institutions that preserves morality.

[Just mythoughts]

I am a Christian. I support Trump. I can discern wolves in sheep’s clothing. Ah, that would be fake lying people playing like they are Jesus...Furthermore, I suspect these preachers for dollars, might be a bit surprised as to who is actually spending their time in houses of gambling and stripping.

[Swirl]

so you think Billy Graham’s son is a fake?

[D-fendr]

Surely there's plenty of evangelical voters who have seen their jobs evaporate.

If you want to see jobs evaporate, elect Trump. Increased cost of goods and services, increase cost of business, less competitiveness, lower standard of living...

Unless you happen to be in a government protected job.

[D-fendr]

Thank you for your post. A breath of sanity.

[Bodleian_Girl]

I’m sort of starting to think he might be more electable than Cruz.

[fireman15]

I was trying to poke fun at the only True Conservatives around here. Sorry that I forgot the sarcasm tag.

[VerySadAmerican]

I’ve read he is a member of 2nd Baptist Church in Houston. It’s a mega church. I remember one Easter there were billboards all over town with the pastor dressed up in a bunny suit and the quote “Every bunny’s welcome.” That simply does not cut it for me.

One time on Father’s Day my wife and I went to one of the off campus “churches”. The pastor had taped interviews with the owners of the Texans and the Astros with them telling how they became successful because of their fathers. I wrote them an email and asked “What about all those in church that day who’s fathers were drunks and abusive or weren’t there at all?” Never got a response.

That’s just my experience.

[trebb]

I'm evangelical and support him - the so-called evangelicals that work so hard to unseat him are what I refer to as the "holier than thou evangelicals" who actually believe they aren't sinful in nature despite the lessons of the Bible and the reason for Christ's death and Resurrection - they think He died to give them some sort of special Pharisee-like authority as they parade out their holiness and proclaim it to be above that of all the others.

Where do you fall in the scheme of things????

[UMCRevMom@aol.com]

Although some sources state that Cruz’s father is a pastor of a church in Dallas, other sources say that he is not the pastor of any church. However, his father is associated with Larry hutch pastor of New Beginnings Church that has an odd belief in celebrating Shabbat, Biblical Holidays and the importance of restoring the biblical symbols of faith including the Tallit and the mezuzah.
Also, this pastor has dubious theology http://www.patheos.com/blogs/mercynotsacrifice/2013/10/02/rick-joyner-larry-huch-and-false-prophecy/

Cruz is NOT a true evangelical he is a “prosperity gospel believer! Most evangelicals recognize his false beliefs!

http://www.nowtheendbegins.com/ted-cruz-believes-he-is-an-anointed-king-for-end-times-transfer-of-wealth/

https://jonathanturley.org/2013/10/12/ted-cruz-dominionism-and-jesus/

NOW YOU CAN GET IT !

[napscoordinator]

We definitely don’t need Cruz’s deals giving Iran nice and giving away four country through trade. Lord Cruz is dangerous.

[GailA]

” Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.” - John Quincy Adams

Franklin Graham turns against Trump
http://thepulse2016.com/thomas-valentine/2015/09/09/billy-grahams-son-turns-against-trump/

Donald Trump Praises Planned Parenthood Again, Attacks “So-Called Conservatives” Who Disagree
http://www.lifenews.com/2016/03/01/donald-trump-praises-planned-parenthood-again-attacks-so-called-conservatives-who-disagree/

In Scathing Open Letter, Pro-Life Leaders Urge Iowa: Support Anyone But “Unacceptable” Donald Trump
http://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2016/01/26/major-prolife-leaders-send-message-to-iowa-donald-trump-is-unacceptable-n2110342?utm_source=thdailypm&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nl_pm&newsletterad=

Christian leaders balk at Falwell’s Trump endorsement
http://www.politico.com/story/2016/01/jerry-falwell-jr-endorses-trump-218238

Pro-life women to Iowans: Reject Trump
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/pro-life-women-to-iowans-reject-trump/article/2581484

Ted Cruz Releases Powerful Pro-Life Statement
https://www.conservativereview.com/commentary/2016/02/ted-cruz-releases-powerful-pro-life-video

Gary Bauer Endorses Sen. Ted Cruz For 2016
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/01/22/gary-bauer-endorses-sen-ted-cruz-2016/

[GailA]

Then I take it you support abortion? Trump loves PP. google it.

Donald Trump Praises Planned Parenthood Again, Attacks “So-Called Conservatives” Who Disagree
http://www.lifenews.com/2016/03/01/donald-trump-praises-planned-parenthood-again-attacks-so-called-conservatives-who-disagree/