Stereotyped Christian Voters

I recently heard Gabe Lyons, co-author of unChristian, speak at the Internet Ministry Conference.  He presented stats on how Americans view Christians including the fact that we're perceived as being anti-homosexual, old fashion, hypocritical and too political.  (The political chapter of the book is now online for free if you're interested).

When he was talking about politics, Gabe said something that intrigued me.  He was saying Christians get lumped together as right wing, value voters, who only care about a few select issues.  That's something we all know.  Then Gabe said he thought that perception changed this election.  I don't have the exact quote, but the point he was making is that no matter who wins, at least Christians won't be viewed as being boxed into a certain spot on the political spectrum.

Do you agree with this?  During this political season did you feel boxed in when Christian voters were talked about on TV, by your friends or by the candidates?

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Comments (9)

Depends on who people listen to. Barna says that their polling has evangelicals being almost exactly split. But another poll that I saw said evangelicals were breaking for McCain at 78%. So if it really is split then there might be a break in people's perspectives. But I doubt there will be a break. There is a group of people that honestly think that Obama is the anti-Christ. If that group is vocal enough then all Christians will be tarred with that perspective. You can be a supporter of McCain without believing that Obama is a Muslim (which it seems evangelicals are just over twice as likely to believe as the general population) or the Anti-Christ, but it seems that there aren't that many of them out there.
No matter who you are going to vote for, it appeared that if it were the opposite of the one you were talking to, they became defensive. I appeared that if they talked louder and faster than you, then what you said didn't count. I saw the left do that a lot and they always brought up something that the other person did, to try and off set what you were talking about in the first place. Nothing was accomplished by doing this, but making a lot of people mad at each other. I found that my heart was hurt in that children are being aborted like pieces of garbage. When you suck their brains out and crush their skulls, then pull them out feet first. It doesn't matter what the people say, it hurts the heart to hear or see this type of thing happen. If you want to put me in a box or a corner or where ever, go ahead, but just remember I'll be standing next to the angle who is standing next to the one who did die for me and you. In God's Grace John
I submit that, in the spirit of "Render unto Ceasar", one good method is to view secular society through the lens of the Bill of Rights, and the church through the Bible.
I live in a rather conservative small town where it is generally assumed that you will vote for the republican candidate. It is also generally assumed that the only issue that matters when it comes to voting for a candidate is abortion (that may be a generalization, but I am not the only one that holds that assumption). One of Lyons' arguments in "Unchristian" is that Christians are very uneducated especially when it comes to politics. We focus on abortion but seem to not care what happens to those who were living in the 10 houses on our block that are now forclosed on or to the countless people that cram homeless shelters every night. So to answer the question I do feel a bit boxed in. Hopefully the box gives us a place to start conversations and it does not smash conversations before they even begin.
Since when are we in a popularity contest with the world? The term Christian was flung at believers in Antioch to mock them. I'm more concerned what God thinks about me and being true to His Word.

I have been bombarded by videos, blogs, and email all laden with fear about the election and having Obama being elected. Many of the emails basically said "if you are a Christian you need to vote for McCain". I was pacing the house like a grumpy old man after reading a few of them and my wife was wondering what was bothering. In this election Christians blew it. Not because "their candidate" didn't win but because they have not conveyed a correct biblical perspective on the issue as my boy Nick does (http://nickandrosemary.blogspo....
I mostly feel boxed in by mainstream Christianity, but that doesn't really answer your question. Politically active Christians in general are undyingly loyal to the Republican party due to campaign tactics, for better or for worse. Even if this fact decreased for this election, I think everyone would agree with it.

I would like to give the public the benefit of the doubt however, and trust that many of them view Christians by the ones they know personally, rather than view them through the hype they see in the media.
I have felt boxed in. Especially at Church. People keep talking to me with this assumption that I'm a republican. Even Billy Graham is a registered Democrat. http://ap.google.com/article/A... So why do people assume I have any party affliction at all, much less democrat?
I voted for Sen. Obama but I consider myself an independent. I just try to vote for the best person regardless of their political party. However when you tell people you're Christian they often assume you have some kind of allegiance to the GOP and that's so not true, at least in my case.

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