White working-class evangelicals: Christian values are under attack

While black evangelicals [who make up about 6% of evangelicals] are solidly against the GOP nominee, among white working-class evangelicals, about three in four -- 76% -- say they'd consider voting for Trump....

The majority -- 6 in 10 -- of voters in this group believe the US' better days are in the past and most are concerned that the country is becoming less Christian. Nearly 90% of working class whites who are evangelical Christians believe Christian values are under attack in America today. While most Christian groups -- 73% of mainline Protestants and 61% of Catholics -- share this view, only 41% of those with no religious preference believe these values are under attack...

"I feel the country was founded on Christian principles. They came here to get away form being persecuted for their beliefs," she said. "And now, if our ministers don't marry a gay couple or refuse to marry a gay couple, they can be arrested and taken to jail."..

The majority -- 75% -- of white working-class evangelicals believe that recent immigrants from predominantly Muslim countries increase the risk of terrorist attacks in the US, a higher percentage than other working-class whites...

"I don't know where I am," said Long. "I'm so confused at this point and time. I don't believe either one of them should be in office. I don't believe either one should be running."

For these voters, the lack of confidence in government is exemplified in the candidacy of Clinton, who has been in government for more than 20 years.

"If you or I would have done what she did with those emails, we'd be in jail," Mitchell said. "But because she's the Democratic nominee, they don't hold politicians to the same standards that they hold the people."

The fact that 21 percent of evangelicals voted for Obama makes me question either the statistic, the level of knowledge of the evangelical, or whether the person even understands “evangelism”.

Good point. However, clearly, from visiting other sites which label themselves "Christian" I run into some very liberal posters. I do think it has to do with a matter of maturity in the faith, knowledge of the faith or a childlike love which looks only at the good things liberals say and do to look good to get votes. Basically uninformed voters who believe campaign ads.

This is what I encounter:

"Candidate X says he is for free healthcare, employing everyone, and providing for the needs of the poor. Candidate X therefore adheres to the principles of the Gospels of love thy neighbor. Therefore, I must vote for candidate X."

Even though candidate X stands for abortion on demand, government endorsement of sin, silencing any mention of Jesus or the Bible in the public square and constraining our liberties. To such a Christian, they ignore the above or consider it 'too political' to get involved; or write it off as "well Jesus ate and hung out with sinners, who am I go judge."

That is the basic construct I come into contact with at some prominent and popular Christian sites. So the ones we see in the 21% for Obama and historically for Democrats truly believe these candidates are promoting and bringing the Sermon on the Mount to government policy or at least supporting the church's efforts to bring about the Kingdom of God.

When I point out the early church and Apostles did not collect donations and then give them to Rome to do the work of the church, I get silence. My other point to this group is that the more government provides for our individual and collective needs, we then turn to government as our god and provider----We are basically worshipping Baal and not YHWH. Needless to say, this explanation is unwelcome.

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