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Christianity Today, March (Web-only), 2008 |

Do Evangelicals Really Prefer Hillary to Obama? No One Knows For Sure

Without exit-poll data for Democrats, reliable data is hard to come by.

Sarah Pulliam | posted 3/03/2008 09:44AM

The competition in the Democratic nomination is so close among evangelicals that some researchers and pundits are being driven to prayer.

Recent polls suggest more evangelicals are voting for Sen. Hillary ...

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John Neilson

Posted: March 13, 2008 2:13 PM

The religious people of this nation can fight over who to vote for, either hillary or barak, thats because their religious. Being religious has nothing to do with doing what God's Word tells us to do. There is no room in a Christians life to believe in abortion, same sex marriages per scripture, why would any christian vote for hillary or barak. If we compromise, why would the Lord bless our country.

Joseph

Posted: March 08, 2008 12:54 AM

(2-3) The principle of headship. Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you. But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. a. I praise you brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions: Paul is again speaking sarcastically to the Corinthian Christians. In fact, they did not remember Paul in all things; they disregarded him as they sought fit. Additionally, they did not keep the traditions as they should have. i. Keep the traditions is a scary phrase to many Christians. It brings forth the idea that Christians are to be bound by ancient, outdated traditions in their conduct and worship. But the traditions Paul delivered to the Corinthian Christians were simply the teachings and practices of the apostles, received from Jesus. Paul was not talking about ceremonies and rituals, but about basic teaching

EDWIN

Posted: March 06, 2008 2:03 AM

AS A BELIEVER IN CHRIST I HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS USING THE ENVANGELICAL VOTE TO GET THEM RE-ELECTED INTO OFFICE (AGAIN!) BY PORTRAYING THEMSELVES TO BE SOMETHING THAT THEY ARE NOT. DO NOT BE DECEIVED BY THESE PEOPLE.THE G.O.P.CANDIDATES ARE NOT ANY HOLIER THAN THE OTHER PARTY OR PARTIES.THE G.O.P. DOES NOT REPRESENT THE CHRISTIAN IN ANY WAY EXCEPT IN THEIR CAMPAIGN RHETORIC.SOME OF YOU OUT THERE WOULD HAVE US BELIVE THAT THE G.O.P. IS THE POLITICAL RIGHT ARM OF THE EVANGELICAL VOTING BLOCK. SINCE WE HAVE FREEDOM IN CHRIST I AM LOOKING AT THE POLITICAL LEFT ARM OF THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT .MAYBE IT WILL MAKE A DEFERENCE AND IN CASE IT DOES NOT I WOULD HAVE AT LEASE EXCERCISE MY FREEDOM OF CHOICE .MY FRIENDS THE LAST TIME I CHECKED THERE WAS MORE THAN ONE PARTY TO CHOOSE FROM. I DO NOT NEED ANY OF MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE FAITH TELLING ME OR BETTER YET ORDERING ME TO VOTE CONSERVATIVE OR REPUBLICAN.THEY SPEAK ON MORAL ISSUES BUT THEIR HEARTS ARE COLD.

nater_wyo

Posted: March 05, 2008 4:23 PM

As a student of ministry at an evangelical university and a democrat, I have been a supporter of Barack Obama since his first big appearance at the 2004 Democratic Convention. I am currently taking part with a fellow ministry student in founding a College Democrats at our school. We both are supporters of Obama and we've been campaigning for him in our community. I have talk with a majority of the students on my campus who consider themselves to be evangelical christians about political issues and the 2008 Election and I have felt a general consensus among them that they would much rather prefer to see Obama in the White house over Clinton. They also tend to be supporters of Huckabee and Paul, but they have told me that they would vote for Obama over McCain, but not Clinton. I'm suggesting that Obama is preferred at least among the younger evangelical voters than Clinton, at least that's what I've found to be true at my university.

Jeff	Posted: March 05, 2008 9:36 AM

A tree is known by its fruits. as a legislator Obama refused to pass a law recognizing that a baby who survived an abortion was human. He supports infanticide. Both Hillary and Obama are trained in marxist ideology. They understand this about the marxist view of religion: "Religion is the opiate of the masses".. thereby using religion to quiet the masses and duping them into thinking they are of the same fabric. Scripture says "beware of wolves in sheep clothing"... Rights are not conveyed based on behaviour.. so homosexuals do not inherit marital rights because they choose a behaviour lifestyle... Rights are conveyed by virtue of our citizenship. The Constitution of US guarantees rights and equality within the bounds of race, creed and color... these are born attributes ... the homosexual activists have spent 25 years getting themselves on a list they have no right belonging on.

Joe	Posted: March 04, 2008 4:29 PM

Well, I am not enthusiastic about any of the candidates, but I cannot see how an evangelical Christian could really consider voting for a candidate that has no experience but seems like a nice guy, goes to a church with an ethnocentric-white-hating pastor (who feels so justified), and supports abortion and gay rights and gay marriage. Those last two do not square with the Bible. Don't come back with, "Well, McCain isn't that righteous, either!!" and then proceed to continue to vote for Obama. I respect people who would rather vote for a 3rd party candidate. At least if the third party receives 5% of the vote, they'd be eligible for federal funds in the following election. I think both parties take unfair advantage on the electorate, because we have no other viable party as an alternative. Honestly, YOU'RE AN IDIOT (who couldn't possibly "have the mind of Christ") IF YOU VOTE FOR OBAMA. We must have nothing but little mindless spiritual babes in the church without discernment!

Devil

Posted: March 04, 2008 2:45 PM


Bill and Hillary Clinton are EVIL INCARNATE. The are the SPAWN OF HELL!!

Lee	Posted: March 04, 2008 11:15 AM

To Matt: First of all God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for sin ( Luke 17:29) 1 Peter 4:1-3 So then, Since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too, For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin. You won't spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God you have had enough in the past of evil things that godless people enjoy--their immorality (abortion) and lust (homosexuality) their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties and their terrible worship of idols. Your willing to over look all these that these two candadites stand for, because you think they will be good for our country, well I have got news for you my friend...wake up!

Gregory-Alan: Johnson

Posted: March 04, 2008 10:48 AM

Hillary is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) and Barak's foreign policy advisor not only is a member of the CFR but is one of the founding members of the Trilateral Commission with David Rockefeller. Neither is a Godly organization and both are aimed at the destruction of the USA as a nation and bringing the world together as one under Lucifer/Satan. My candidate is the ONLY man in this race that does NOT have any global agenda, knows Jesus is his Lord and Saviour, and is a strict Constitutionalist. Ron Paul IS ELECTABLE!!! He will win the GOP nomination at St. Paul in Sept and will win the Presidency. Your choices are very clear in this election: Constitutional republic or one world order. For the first choice, Ron Paul. For the second, Anyone else (including Mike Huckabee: foreign policy advisor, Richard N Haass, president of the CFR. Thanks for your time.

Matt W.

Posted: March 04, 2008 10:20 AM

Yes, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama both support civil unions for homosexuals and the right of a woman to choose abortion. At the same time, we as Christians are willing to gloss over other sins. It's not helpful for us to see any sin as "not as bad" or "worse" than others. Abortion and homosexuality did not make Satan fall from heaven. Neither abortion nor homosexuality caused the fall of humanity. Adam simply took a bite of a piece of fruit--look at the repercussions of what most would consider a "mild" sin. I'm not sure about Sen. Clinton, but Sen. Obama believes that he does not have the right to force his beliefs on non-believers. We have been given the right as Americans to vote our beliefs and essentially force those beliefs on others should enough people share them. However, I'm not convinced that the same right has been given to us by the Bible. In any case, giving others the "right" to choose whether to sin is not worse than ignoring the fact that our sins are just as evil.

Michael

Posted: March 04, 2008 9:03 AM

Vote with your conscience, Christians. And if your conscience says it's okay in God's eyes to vote for someone who consistently and passionately fights for the right to infanticide and other ungodly practices, then it's time to go back to the drawing board and examine yourself to be sure you are really in the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5). This isn't about being Republican or Democrat at all. I will vote for a write-in before I vote for someone who shakes their tiny fist in the face of the Lord. Don't think your vote is some unconsequential action. Also, please put all this in it's historical context. If we could go back just a couple of decades, evangelical Christians wouldn't even be entertaining the notion of voting for one of these characters. Go back another couple decades before that and the society in large wouldn't tolerate candidates like this. Don't buy into the lie that issues like the murder of children don't matter to our heavenly Father.

JohnH

Posted: March 04, 2008 7:40 AM

Intresting - Some time ago the creed was defined to include those who accepted orthdox belief. I wonder some times how the church fathers would consider some of the comments and ideas seen in these blogs which are so highly focused on a few local issues. It would seem that defacto creed has been shrunk to a couple of personal issues re reproduction and sexual orientation with perhaps some Flag waving. What about the rest of the issues? It does not travel too good across cultures at a time when our economists are stressing globalization. Chritianity is much bigger than just the US, the fellowship of belivers is world wide. Please try and look up and out and see and hear what is happening else where.

David A.

Posted: March 04, 2008 7:24 AM

This article highlights the confusion in the church & nation. Whomever we elect, they will raise their right hand, put their left on the Bible, & swear to obey the US Constutution - not only the Law of the land, but our national political creed. Yet, all of them, except one man, have already stated via their platforms, promises & debate comments, that they intend to repeatedly wipe their feet on it. Which American & which Christian actually KNOWS what the Constution says - that it severly limits government power (only giving 17 legitimate Federal functions, yet thousands are attempted today), and protecting our inalienable, God given rights. This is Covenant breaking, that is condoned by the candidates and allowed by our massive ignorance & apathy. By the way, this 'non-partisan' view condemns equally Obama, Clinton, McCain & Huckabee. Only Ron Paul has has the propehtic integrity to call America to obedience to our organic Law, which is based in large measure on God's Law.

Maik	Posted: March 04, 2008 3:12 AM


"CNN exit polls showed that Obama gained more votes from those who have highest church attendance. However, Obama has also led polls among African American voters, who tend to be highly religious, so Green believes the data does not show whether Obama is winning the religious vote." Interesting analysis, which only really makes sense if 'religious vote' = 'white religious vote'. I'm shocked.

Donald

Posted: March 03, 2008 8:14 PM

I know that God's people must be concerned about our government and who leads it. We must carefully scrutinize their qualifications and be certain we vote for the person who we think is the best person to lead this christian nation. However, I am a little bit concerned that christians, and evangelicals are beginning to loose focus of the Higher Power that we depend so much on. Sometimes the words we use to criticize each other sounds unchristian.

Chris

Posted: March 03, 2008 8:14 PM

Michael... how can you say to vote for either one of these two candidates is criminal? You say so because of their support for two issues - abortion and homosexuality. I agree with you that these are sins. But I'm certain that if you examine George W Bush's policy or John McCain's policy then you would find things that are contrary to God's word. Some might argue that sending someone to war and being responsible for the killing of many lives is also a sin. That position is openly supported by those on the political right. My point is there is no one candidate who perfectly 100% represents the Bible, just as there is no person on earth who perfectly 100% lives for Jesus every second of every day. I would say that the logical extension of your argument is that you cannot be an Evangelical and vote for anyone, unless Jesus himself stood for election as American president, and then that would never happen as last time he was on earth I believe he got killed for what he said!

Tee595

Posted: March 03, 2008 7:00 PM

I would like to say,we need change badly.In my opinion God has already spoken and is continuing to speak regarding this political match.I love Obama and Hiliary for diffrent reason and I think both come with strong views and points,I also think it is wonderful that a black man and a white woman is running because we need as a world to see that kind of change as well,on the other hand I feel white people(not all)have chosen still not to give a black person a chance and that is in no way Godly and in the past couple of weeks Hiliary Clinton has shown just that (dirty politics)and that is not Godly either.So people do we want what is right or dirty politics because you are scared of the black man?

Bob Edwards

Posted: March 03, 2008 6:04 PM

Excuse me, but the Republican party held the presidency, majorities in the house and senate, and a majority of the Supreme Court Justices from 2000-2006 and held all but the presidency for six years prior to that. And what did they do to reduce abortions? Nothing except to pass a bill that was unconstitutional under the rulings that said abortions where the mother's health was involved could not be regulated by the state. The Republican party will never actually try to prohibit abortion because doing so would remove the reason why evangical christians would support the party of big business. The decision in Roe v. Wade was written by a former Republican fund raiser rewarded by a Republican president for his service by a Supreme Court appointment.

Joe G

Posted: March 03, 2008 5:04 PM

I must be simple minded or something. I cannot understand why a TRUE Christian could support an organization (The Democratic Party) that supports and promotes the killing of babies, perverted sexual acts and a don't work mentality! Don't you read the Bible? What does Jesus say about anyone that harms a child. What does the Old Testament and Romans say about perverted sex acts? I really don't believe there are many TRUE Christians today. It's not difficult to figure out - just read the Bible for YOURSELF!!!

Ross	Posted: March 03, 2008 5:03 PM

@xyzwriter - I suspect you haven't even tried to find you what Obama's positions are. While there is an email newsletter sign-up when you first go to his website, there is also a very prominent 'Skip Signup' to go straight to the website - where you will find plenty of policy information: http://www.barackobama.com/issues/ Even if you prefer to vote republican, don't you at least owe it to yourself to see what the other major candidates have to say?

xyzwriter

Posted: March 03, 2008 3:59 PM

My problem with the public's view of Obama is the man's total lack of policy statement. "Hope", "Future", "Dream", "Vision", etc. tell us nothing about what kind of president this man would be. The willingness of Americans to support a man who has told them nothing scares me. I tried to get into his official website, only to find that I had to "sign my life away" in order to even access it. On the other hand, Hillery Clinton's site is open to anyone and she DOES cite how she would accomplish change in the nation. I say this not to persuade people to vote for Clinton--I support McCain. I only urge people to insist that Obama be specific in his claims to be able to move our country into a better time.

Jeff	Posted: March 03, 2008 3:49 PM


Well if the exit polls began to ask if you are an evangelical then why not satanist, Hindu, Jew, Muslim, atheist, etc.. Why is it that we are so hooked into the media and polls instead of just listening with our hearts and minds and responding and why do people have to know? What is wrong with mystery and surprise?

Jim Wait

Posted: March 03, 2008 3:24 PM

I think Barack Obama is God's gift to our country during this special time of history. We need hope and vision not more war and not "my way or the highway" mentality. The Cross and the Cross alone is God's answer to evil. God will bring about God's purposes and plans by what was accomplished on the Cross, the taking of evil upon God's Self. We do not need any more war(s) in the so called name of security and protection. If Christianity says anything (and it says everything!) this is God's world and Jesus is Lord, and war and force will NEVER bring about God's purposes.

T P	Posted: March 03, 2008 2:29 PM

There is not one candidate I would vote for whether they appealed to evangelicals or not. Sadly, all of them are speaking to certain demographic passions being careful not to stir the intellect. One person posted: If the question were "how would Jesus vote," then I believe the answer would be the conservative candidate. I believe Jesus would write in his own name. In fact, I think God already had, an we're just awaiting that day. King of Kings...Lord of Lords...? Most professing Christians, being disillusioned, have succumbed to the idea that the world's problems will be solved via politics or politics with Christ stamped on it. The whole circus is like watching Rome decide its next caesar/god. And four years later, everyone will still be wishing economy this, health care that, Middle East etc... should the Lord tarry that is. Just some thoughts.

Jesse

Posted: March 03, 2008 2:18 PM


Good call Michael.

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