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How can Trump win the many undecided evangelicals? We asked them.
The Washington Post ^

Posted on 06/21/2016 5:33:20 AM PDT by nikos1121

Donald Trump will meet behind closed doors on Tuesday with hundreds of the nation’s most prominent Christian conservatives — megachurch pastors, religious media personalities, theological writers, heads of social conservative organizations and more.

Many of these Christian leaders supported other candidates, including Ted Cruz, Ben Carson and Carly Fiorina in the primary season. Some have criticized the presumptive Republican nominee for his rhetoric about race and about women, his lack of an anti-abortion history and even his ownership of casinos.

What would Trump have to say to earn their support on Tuesday? Several people who will be attending the meeting weighed in.

“He would have to win my vote. He would have to earn my vote. There’s not one thing. It’s a full spectrum,” said Jerry Johnson, the president of National Religious Broadcasters. “The sanctity of human life is important. Religious liberty is important. The marriage issue is important. The terrorism issue is important. And understanding the separation of powers in the Constitution is important.”

Bishop Harry Jackson, pastor at Maryland’s Hope Christian Church, said he wants to ask Trump at Tuesday’s meeting about three topics he believes are important to his fellow black Christians: economic development plans for inner cities, criminal justice reform and education. “I don’t think that he has burned too many bridges” to earn black Christians’ votes, Jackson said. “I don’t think it’s too late at all, but we know there are going to need to be some specifics put on the table.”

“To be fair, Trump is a New Yorker,” said Eric Metaxas, an author and radio host. “He is not exactly in touch with Bible Belt values and shibboleths. I think it’s important for him to know, if he wants to be elected, he has to take seriously that constituency, people who are social conservatives. … My guess is most people in the room [at the meeting with evangelical leaders] are open to supporting him, even if they have huge issues with him.”

Metaxas, who said at this point he plans to vote for Trump, said he wants to hear Trump defend religious liberty, including the right to oppose same-sex marriage. But more than policy positions, he wants to get a glimpse of Trump’s soul.

“I would say that what most people in America are looking for from Trump, and certainly what most Christians are looking for, is something that he may be incapable of — but it’s some level of introspection and self knowledge; that he would be aware of how he comes across,” Metaxas said. “That would put a lot of people at ease, if he would be capable of a few sentences of introspection. That would go a long way. Speaking as a Christian, I know that I’m a broken sinner who makes mistakes, who hurts people’s feelings and needs to apologize. When he famously said that he doesn’t have much to be forgiven for, something like that just revealed that he doesn’t think about himself the way a lot of people think about themselves. Especially Christians, who try actively to examine their souls.”

Penny Nance, the president of Concerned Women for America, said that Trump has her vote, as an individual. But her organization hasn’t decided whether to relaunch the massive effort to get conservative voters to the polls that it ran on Mitt Romney’s behalf in 2012. And she thinks many at Tuesday’s meeting are in the same boat, wondering how hard their organizations should work to bolster Trump.

Trump’s job on Tuesday, she said, will be to reassure them “if they put all this effort and time and money and blood, sweat and tears and credibility on the line, that they’re not embarrassed.”

She has a lot of questions for Trump. One issue she wants to hear more about: Israel. “Evangelicals are very supportive of the nation of Israel. We believe there’s Biblical emphasis on that, but we also believe that it’s important geopolitically. Some of what he said needs to be clarified a bit. … I won’t take a position? I’ll stay neutral? … There’s no moral equivalency between the nation of Israel and its need to survive, and many other Arab nations who want to destroy her.”

Another big topic: “Who the vice presidential pick is, I think that’s going to be important to us. If it’s someone who’s not a social conservative, I think that’s a brush-off.”

And then there are those who won’t support Trump no matter what he says. Princeton professor Robert P. George, who formerly chaired the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, said he received an invitation to the meeting, and sent this note in response:

I respectfully decline. I have been a severe critic of Mr. Trump and there is nothing he could say at a meeting in which he is courting conservatives that would alter my low opinion of him. I trust that I do not need to go into detail about the words and actions that have caused me to form that opinion. Perhaps the only politician in America of whom I have an even lower opinion is Hillary Clinton, so I certainly understand why some are urging us to hold our noses and support for Mr. Trump. But I fear that he will, in the end, bring disgrace upon those individuals and organizations who publicly embrace him. For those of us who believe in limited government, the Rule of Law, flourishing institutions of civil society, and traditional Judeo-Christian moral principles, and who believe that our leaders must be persons of integrity and good character, this election is presenting a horrible choice. May God help us.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: christians; evangelicals; religion; trump; trumpeventtoday
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To: Enchante

For decade democrats have been given access to the black church pulpits. Trump is reaching out by bringing the leaders of the flocks to him. Big names like Franklin Graham (who Trump has worked with for decades through Samaitans Purse ). Jeffers from Texas (who helped organize the first prayer meeting) , Jerry Fallwell Jr from Liberty University and many many of the Southern Baptist AA pastors who have been praying and speaking before his Rallies.
It is actually more of a confirmation of their support before the convention than the inquisition the media wants to portray.
It is giving them material to take back to their congregations —his stand on the issues that have been erroneously portrayed by the media with a witness they have heard live.


21 posted on 06/21/2016 6:50:56 AM PDT by hoosiermama (Trump is exposing the Fifth Column in the US)
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To: nikos1121; Sidebar Moderator; onyx

We are trying to post a thread to be used as a prayer support and or discussion thread of the meeting Trump is having with 900 evangelical preachers this morning. There is NO live stream and this is the only article Nikos could find to post that had links.
Please alter the headline as needed and return to the sidebar where it is appropriate We would like others to join in prayer, meditation and discussion.


22 posted on 06/21/2016 6:59:21 AM PDT by hoosiermama (Trump is exposing the Fifth Column in the US)
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To: hoosiermama

Amen!

May the Lord keep and bless Trump, his family and his campaign.


23 posted on 06/21/2016 7:12:01 AM PDT by Jane Long (Go Trump, go! Make America Safe Again :)
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To: hoosiermama

Amen.


24 posted on 06/21/2016 7:13:28 AM PDT by STARLIT (DONALD J TRUMP'S Oracle NICKNAME Provider...)
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To: nikos1121

Yes, I finally went back to former postings and saw your red indicator thanks to Mr. Peabody.


25 posted on 06/21/2016 7:15:53 AM PDT by STARLIT (DONALD J TRUMP'S Oracle NICKNAME Provider...)
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To: alternatives?
Don't get too close to Hillary. She's one of those bad things like in Supernatural.
26 posted on 06/21/2016 7:39:34 AM PDT by Tax-chick ("Estos sufrimientos pasaran, y la esperanza una salida marcara." ~ Abp. Romero)
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To: Jane Long; nikos1121; hoosiermama; lysie; beethoven; freepersup; exit82

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQHkGPXMCU8

Perhaps Donald is our John Adams?


27 posted on 06/21/2016 7:45:36 AM PDT by STARLIT (DONALD J TRUMP'S Oracle NICKNAME Provider...)
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To: NIKK

Good post Perhaps!


28 posted on 06/21/2016 7:46:34 AM PDT by hoosiermama (Trump is exposing the Fifth Column in the US)
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To: nikos1121

I do not need my president to be Evangelical, nor would I mind if he was. Or Catholic, or Methodist, or even Jewish. In fact, the president can be an Atheist for all I care, as long as he is not an Antichristian. I will not accept a Muslim president, only because I believe Islam is POLITICALLY opposed to American ideals and justice.

I do not want my president to promote evangelism, nor be against it.

I hope the Evangelical community can see this as well. No one truly knows a man’s soul but He above. To try to discern this ourselves is fraught with folly.


29 posted on 06/21/2016 7:47:36 AM PDT by Alas Babylon! (Fully accept and CELEBRATE gayness, or you are a homosexual mass murderer supporter.)
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To: NIKK

That, or our Gen Geo Washington?


30 posted on 06/21/2016 7:52:35 AM PDT by Jane Long (Go Trump, go! Make America Safe Again :)
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To: Alas Babylon!

Amen. Well said !


31 posted on 06/21/2016 7:56:45 AM PDT by hoosiermama (Trump is exposing the Fifth Column in the US)
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To: NIKK; hoosiermama
FYI.....

TUNE IN: @realDonaldTrump joins @loudobbs tonight starting at 7pm ET.https://t.co/gtZQjQ8Of3— FOX Business (@FoxBusiness) June 21, 2016


32 posted on 06/21/2016 7:59:05 AM PDT by Jane Long (Go Trump, go! Make America Safe Again :)
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To: Alas Babylon!
No one truly knows a man’s soul but He above. To try to discern this ourselves is fraught with folly.

I agree.

33 posted on 06/21/2016 7:59:12 AM PDT by Tax-chick ("Estos sufrimientos pasaran, y la esperanza una salida marcara." ~ Abp. Romero)
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To: Jane Long; hoosiermama; nikos1121

I wonder how many people wondered if Reagan was their Adam’s or George Washington and we look back and I have to say, thankfully he was our Ronald Reagan!


34 posted on 06/21/2016 8:00:43 AM PDT by STARLIT (DONALD J TRUMP'S Oracle NICKNAME Provider...)
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To: nikos1121

These people can support him, even if he’s not with them on every issue, or they can deal with Hillary - who is 100% AGAINST them on EVERY issue. To me, that’s an easy choice. Further, if they support him and he wins, they have an open door to try to influence policy. They have a closed door, no matter what, with the Beast as POTUS.

I hope that very few of them go purist on us. I’m a reasonably religious person, but I understand that we are not electing the best candidate for sainthood, we’re electing a political leader. NO ONE every nominated - not even Washington - was a perfect person. People who look for that and, when they find that it doesn’t exist decide to stay home, a absolute morons.

What this election is about is whether this country survives. We’re not going to get an absolute paradise here in 4 or 8 years, no matter who is elected - but there is a very big difference in what will be at the end of that time, based on who is elected. Hillary GUARANTEES that abortion will NEVER be overturned for at least 30 years - based solely upon who she will nominate for the Supreme Court. Ditto on marriage, prayer in schools, etc., etc. Not to mention more secular issues that have a moral dimension like gun control, a balanced budget, our foreign policy, etc., etc.

Evangelicals: do you want to have a guaranteed loss on EVERY single issue that you care about? If so, then stay home and ensure a Hillary victory. If not, then vote for Trump and other federal-level Republicans, so that we can at least stop Hillary and the godless Dems.


35 posted on 06/21/2016 8:01:41 AM PDT by Ancesthntr ("The right to buy weapons the right to be free." A. E. van Vogt)
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To: hoosiermama

“When he opened MarLargo in Florida it was the first club that allowed both Jewish and people of color to join— “it was the right thing to do!” Explains a lot about his heart!”


That’s because Trump looks at every person’s value as an individual, not as a function of what DNA they have. He truly embodies MLK’s plea to judge people by the content of their character and not the color of their skin. Any thinking person, any moral person, must pick Trump if only for that reason.


36 posted on 06/21/2016 8:04:40 AM PDT by Ancesthntr ("The right to buy weapons the right to be free." A. E. van Vogt)
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To: Jane Long

Three: REED, Graham and ??? Falwell will be on Greta reporting on today’s meeting tonight


37 posted on 06/21/2016 8:10:59 AM PDT by hoosiermama (Trump is exposing the Fifth Column in the US)
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To: hoosiermama
Amen...💕
38 posted on 06/21/2016 8:12:35 AM PDT by beethoven (Texans for Trump! Schroeder plays for Trump!)
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To: Spirit of Liberty

“They’re ticked off because Trump’s not sucking up to them.”

Did these people jump over themselves to vote for Romney or McCain? If so, they aren’t interested in fixing the country. It’s all about their own ego.

Are they really going to vote for Hillary?


39 posted on 06/21/2016 8:14:41 AM PDT by CottonBall
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To: Ancesthntr

Absolutely. He is anything but a bigot. And still they Alinsky him. More people need to speak up.


40 posted on 06/21/2016 8:15:00 AM PDT by hoosiermama (Trump is exposing the Fifth Column in the US)
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