Posted on 10/27/2008 8:59:33 PM PDT by Red Steel
The evangelical movement is fearful on many fronts, Mark Hennessy discovers in Colorado Springs
QUIETLY SPOKEN, religiously and politically conservative, and living in the heartland of evangelical Christianity in the US, Daniel Lopez pondered the end of time that could come if Barack Obama becomes president.
"When I think of it, it brings to mind the prophecies that the Bible tells us about," said Lopez, sitting in the shade outside Focus on the Family's headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
"On the one hand, it is exciting for us as conservatives because we can actually see what God prophesied coming about; but on the other hand, it is frustrating to see somebody become president who is a blatant liar."
Lopez and his family moved three years ago from California to Colorado Springs, which has over the past couple of decades become home to thousands of evangelical Christians, and more than 100 of their churches.
The most influential religious operation in the city is not, however, a church as such, but the sprawling Focus on the Family complex established by James Dobson, one of the US's most influential figures.
Each year, he broadcasts to 200 million religious conservatives at home and abroad, and he reigns supreme in Colorado Springs since pastor Ted Haggard fell from grace after he was found to have solicited a male prostitute for sex and drugs.
The Haggard experience, and general suspicions that the press is everlastingly liberal, mean the evangelicals are not keen on journalists, even if they are polite about it. "No sir, I'm afraid there is no one you can talk to. They are attending a meeting on homosexuality and I cannot disturb them. It's quite a sensitive subject, you know," a Focus on the Family staffer gently, but firmly, told The Irish Times .
The evangelicals believe the world is swimming against a tide of filth: promiscuity; homosexuality; and the curse of relativism.
Eight years ago, and again in 2004, the evangelicals, who number up to one-quarter of the US population, were on a political roll, and were crucial to the election of George W Bush.
Today, they are still influential, as can be judged by Republican presidential candidate John McCain's selection of Alaska governor Sarah Palin as running mate.
During the battle for the Republican nomination, the evangelicals' dislike of McCain was evident, with Dobson saying he was convinced the Arizona senator was not a conservative.
"In fact, he has gone out of his way to stick his thumb in the eyes of those who are. I cannot and will not vote for senator John McCain, as a matter of conscience," he declared.
Times have changed since then, and Dobson, faced with the unacceptable prospect of a liberal in the White House, now says he is "supportive" of McCain's campaign, even though he cannot bring himself to endorse it. "It's probably obvious which of the two major party candidates' views are most palatable to those of us who embrace a pro-life, pro-family world view," Dobson wrote in a weekly e-mail to supporters.
Palin, on the other hand, the evangelicals like. Last week, the vice-presidential candidate, herself an evangelical, was interviewed by Dobson for 20 minutes on his syndicated radio show, which has 1.5 million daily listeners. Describing herself as a "hardcore pro-lifer", Palin voiced confidence that, by "putting this in God's hands, that the right thing for America will be done at the end of the day on November 4th".
The evangelicals' main complaints about McCain are that he does not support federal constitutional bans on gay marriage and abortion, and he favours embryonic stem-cell research. A ban on all three is Republican Party official policy, and Palin assured Dobson that McCain would follow it if the duo wins: "I do believe that, from the bottom of my heart."
With time slipping away, evangelicals still hope McCain can win in Colorado, particularly because a state referendum that would grant "personhood" to a fertilised egg should rally the local conservative vote. But Obama's eloquence and campaigning skills, and a sense that the political winds in the US are running against them, have disconcerted the evangelical movement.
Fearful on many fronts, they particularly fear for Israel if Obama wins. James Borja, a youth pastor, said: "Right now, we are one of the few nations giving them support. They have the rightful ownership of that land, rather than the Arabs who covet it. Once our support ends, you will see the end of Israel and the beginning of the end for America.
"Truly, the Bible says of Israel, 'I will bless those who bless you, and curse those who curse you'."
But Borja holds out hope that many Americans will act like his father-in-law in the campaign's final days.
"He has always voted Democrat, a lifelong trade unionist. But he says now that he is voting Republican. He says, 'I can't vote for my pocket. I've got to vote with my conscience'."
However, the future is already written, said James Krause, who disagrees that evangelicals have reasons to be afraid if a Democrat takes the White House. "God holds everything in his hand. There is no doubt in my mind that what happens on November 4th has been pre-ordained," he said.
End of the World?
It’s the end of the world as we know it........
A good portion of Obama’s story matches that of the antichrist. While I personally don’t believe he’s “the one”, a fair number do.
No. Not the end, but perhaps the prelude to the end.
The Lord did not give us a spirit to fear. Now more than ever PRAY and DO!
The Word says that prayer changes things. Many times God’s judgement has been stayed through prayer.
The fervent prayers of a righteous man avails much.
More like 40 years wandering in the desert!
......and I feel fine......
I've run into this problem myself. The easiest thing to do is gently 'remind' people that the AntiChrist will not be born of woman as it is written in the Bible. Be prepared for an argument tho, right up till the time they read it for themselves.
“No sir, I’m afraid there is no one you can talk to. They are attending a meeting on homosexuality and I cannot disturb them. It’s quite a sensitive subject, you know,” a Focus on the Family staffer gently, but firmly, told The Irish Times.”
******
Yeah, and I just fell of the turnip truck.
The Irish Times put words in the mouth of the man who said he was a lifelong trade unionist. Americans do not speak that way, they would say, lifelong union member, or, I vote with my union.
Christians are prepared for the end of the world.
End of what world?
A) He’s not going to win
B) Even IF the election DOES GET STOLEN for him, what is that to God, in whom we “Evangelicals” put our trust.
C) The MSM as a check-and-balance protecting society by their hearty “investigations into truth” has been TOTALLY discredited and will have lost any relevance whatever.
Perhaps it seems like a rough time for the world, but before we start pronouncing the apocalypse, let’s remember the Roman Empire, with its rampant immorality and violence, and the utter tyranny of some of its rulers. Or any other of the wicked regimes of the last couple thousand years. Theologians have preached that the eschaton would come during the Napoleonic Wars, WWI, WWII...so that ought to give us pause.
This is El Paso County, CO. one of the reddest counties in the country.
The antiChrist is said to arise from a power base of 10 kings...while Obama might not be the AC, he could be one of his minions. The 10 kings I think will be a 10 region economic zone that the world is divided into.
I read the back of the Book. We win.
I believe that the ten horns of Daniel in question are best interpreted as a line Roman Emperors leading up to Nero or Vespasian, rather than economic zones in the future.
Not to say that Obama doesn’t have a Messiah complex rivaling that of a Roman Emperor...
I know what they mean. It would be devastating to see Obama win.
I just got an email with an invitation to attend a prayer meeting on Sunday afternoon at the local Republican HQ.
Then I got another email announcing that the catholic church is praying everyday, starting now, for this country and upcoming elections.
I truly believe that the thought of having Obama as our President has woken up a lot of apathetic Christians.
Regardless of his money and his many ads and his 30 minute Infomercial, he has not only voted for abortion but even for infanticide.
I just CANNOT believe that God will let him become President. I hope I’m not wrong on this.
Also, he has mocked the bible and Christians in his arrogance.
Pride comes before a fall, my bible says.
And last, there are kids worshipping him out there, as evidenced in several videos.
God is a jealous God.
Let’s see how this turns out.
I feel like this is a david and GOLIATH scenario, with us Christians being little david and the Liberal Establishment like Goliath.
If I had more faith I’d sit back and smile and watch God work, but I’m in fear. I have spent time praying for this country and will continue every day until (and after) elections.
yes!
i even drove up the ronald reagan freeway.
now, how many counties have that?
just look at the springs and its money,
and in contrast, poo-A-blow with its lack of money,
and it’s obvious.
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