Posted on 10/30/2008 7:20:52 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Despite Barack Obama's approval of abortion and homosexual activism, new polling by a prestigious Christian research group indicates that the Democratic presidential nominee is making significant inroads among voters who are classified as "born-again" Christians.
The Barna Group for research says Obama is statistically tied (43 percent to 45 percent) with Republican John McCain among born-again Christian voters. "Born-again Christians" are defined by Barna as people who say they have made a personal commitment to Jesus and believe they will go to heaven because they have confessed their sins and accepted Jesus Christ as their savior. Based on that definition, 48 percent of all voters in this election will be "born-again" Christians.
Meantime, Barna says 63 percent of "evangelicals" are supporting McCain, while 23 percent are supporting Obama. "Evangelicals" meet the "born-again" criteria, plus seven other conditions, including the belief that salvation is only possible through grace, not works.
According to Dave Kinnaman, president of The Barna Group, born-again Christians voting for Obama say they are backing the Illinois senator because they believe he will do a better job restoring America's reputation and handling the economy and agree with his stance on the Iraq War.
"People in their 20s or 30s who are born-again Christian are more likely to support Senator Obama than Senator McCain, compared to people who are older born-again Christians, who are more likely to support the Arizona senator," he explains. "So, when you look at it, it's a pretty complex set of reasons, and each person comes to this voting decision with their own unique sensibility, but what's interesting is the Christian community, compared to previous elections, is more open to this Democratic candidate than we've seen in at least the last couple national elections."
Kinnaman says it is important to keep in mind that only one in every ten voters is an evangelical Christian with a biblical worldview and understanding of what it means to be a follower of Christ.
The Barna Group for research says Obama is statistically tied (43 percent to 45 percent) with Republican John McCain among born-again Christian voters. “Born-again Christians” are defined by Barna as people who say they have made a personal commitment to Jesus and believe they will go to heaven because they have confessed their sins and accepted Jesus Christ as their savior. Based on that definition, 48 percent of all voters in this election will be “born-again” Christians.
Meantime, Barna says 63 percent of “evangelicals” are supporting McCain, while 23 percent are supporting Obama. “Evangelicals” meet the “born-again” criteria, plus seven other conditions, including the belief that salvation is only possible through grace, not works.
I've been thinking about this a lot and personally, I feel this is a bi-product of not "truth seeking", as so often I see in Christian lives. They want their ears tickled. We must study our Bibles and we must study the issues. It's laziness or pride, I guess. I don't know.
Thoughts?
RE: “I’ll believe it when I see it. I saw this story before but I don’t know any Baptists who aren’t black who are supporting Obama.”
****************
I don’t know much about this either, but one 82 year old lifelong Democrat acquaintance confided she just cannot vote for Obama. She did not give details.............
That's it. Plain and simple.
UNLESS: your're talking about black ("born-again" - there's no other flavor of Christian) Christians.
Then "significant" is the right word.
Because I work for what most would categorize as a conservative Christian company. I am sure Barna takes into account Evangelicals who are more liberal than my workplace. I think this is actually one of McCain’s greatest shortcomings and could be his downfall this election. There are many Christians who buy into Obama being a Christian. Governor Palin has helped.
The emergent movement has moved many Christians to the left. To many things like war, green issues, and the like trump homosexuality and abortion.
It drives me crazy but I really don’t think Barna is far off.
This scripture is for Christians who vote for Obama. I would not want to be in their shoes:
Psalm 50
The Acceptable SacrificeA Psalm of Asaph.
1The mighty one, God the Lord,
speaks and summons the earth
from the rising of the sun to its setting.
2Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty,
God shines forth.
3Our God comes and does not keep silence,
before him is a devouring fire,
and a mighty tempest all around him.
4He calls to the heavens above
and to the earth, that he may judge his people:
5‘Gather to me my faithful ones,
who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!’
6The heavens declare his righteousness,
for God himself is judge.
Selah
7‘Hear, O my people, and I will speak,
O Israel, I will testify against you.
I am God, your God.
8Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you;
your burnt-offerings are continually before me.
9I will not accept a bull from your house,
or goats from your folds.
10For every wild animal of the forest is mine,
the cattle on a thousand hills.
11I know all the birds of the air,*
and all that moves in the field is mine.
12‘If I were hungry, I would not tell you,
for the world and all that is in it is mine.
13Do I eat the flesh of bulls,
or drink the blood of goats?
14Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving,*
and pay your vows to the Most High.
15Call on me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.’
16But to the wicked God says:
‘What right have you to recite my statutes,
or take my covenant on your lips?
17For you hate discipline,
and you cast my words behind you.
18You make friends with a thief when you see one,
and you keep company with adulterers.
19‘You give your mouth free rein for evil,
and your tongue frames deceit.
20You sit and speak against your kin;
you slander your own mother’s child.
21These things you have done and I have been silent;
you thought that I was one just like yourself.
But now I rebuke you, and lay the charge before you.
22‘Mark this, then, you who forget God,
or I will tear you apart, and there will be no one to deliver.
23Those who bring thanksgiving as their sacrifice honour me;
to those who go the right way*
I will show the salvation of God.’
Go read up about this Lefty Group in Ventura Calif.
This is one of those holisitic Left wing far left groups !
Thanks for pointing this out. The definition of a “born-again” is to broad. Anyone can say this and then be included as a “born-again”.
This feels like a “custom-made” survey for 0bama, and since this group conducts surveys to order (as per the website), then it becomes very suspect. Also, the timing of the survey is interesting.
And I think you would be surprised by the actual numbers... Remember Clintons, and how his popular poll numbers always stayed near 66%? I was stunned to discover the most 'popular' church in surrounding area, Baptist, Billy Graham followers were in fact Clintons supporters.
I have extended Baptist relatives in rural areas that are born and bred democrats.
As I said before the majority of Catholics I know support any and all liberal democrat candidates including Bama.
It is the young EVs, they are very much into the green movement, anti-war and social justice issues. The Left has done a great job of infiltrating the EV movement and setting up alternative churches for young people, convincing them that it is more important to be involved in the earthly issues.
___________________________________________________________
What you described is a very good example of the apostasy or great falling away of Christianity. People can profess Christianity yet not bear the fruits of Christianity (ie. Rev. Wright). I found it both humous and sad what this “Barna Group” was so concerned about: America’s reputation, the environment, and war. If these “christians” would read the bible they will realize that those things are irrelevant to God. Notice how life (abortion), Christianity freedom, and Isreal are not a concern to them. Hussein is an abortion on demand politian and associates with individuals / groups that not only are opponents to Christianty but Isreal’s existance itself.
The group is early made up or a very tragic example of spiritually dead people proclaiming to be followers of Christ.
This is a steaming load of propaganda just like the NASCAR Fan poll that supported Obama. Another poll, another waste of time.....
Well, I don’t buy it.
Obama is so far to the left on all cultural issues. He’s not just “pro-choice”, he’s radically pro-abortion, even after birth.
Green issues have faded, and the whole environmentalist movement has kinda petered out in the wake of high energy prices. Likewise with the war.
The Catholic church has made as big a push as I have ever seen against pro-abortion Democrats like Obama.
“The emergent movement has moved many Christians to the left. To many things like war, green issues, and the like trump homosexuality and abortion.”
Very true. But God’s coming discipline will make them move to the right again. A good kick in the rear end does wonders.
“48% of the voters in this election will be born-again Christians.”
Umm...nope.
It is hard to believe a person is a Christian and voting for Obama. Think of it.
Gay Marriage
Abortion
and One size fits all Religion!!!
NO THANKS!
People is stupid.
Wheaton College, a school that I think many evangelicals would still consider a conservative Christian school did its election poll last week and published it in the student paper. McCain Palin won about 70-30. It was not 80-20 or 90-10 like many might expect.
Those
“Christians”
obviously have little to no clue about God’s heart and priorities.
If anyone claims to be “born again” and with eyes open votes for Obama, I can say with assurance that they have been “born again” as a spawn of Satan.
Two well known names—Jim Wallis, Tony Campolo—have given some evangelicals a pretext to buy Obama.
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