Church Initiative for Rand Paul

[Rad]

How else is Rand going to get votes from this constituency if people don't go and find them? Just ignore them and let all Rand's work go to waste? He is the best Republican running. He is right about these countries stabbing us in the back. People need to get involved now and get to know people. This operation will take time and dedication!

 

[erowe1]

Payment for the time I spend on the job and tithing expenses. It wouldn't be polite to go and not monetarily support the church!

You won't have to tithe. No, I won't pay for your time on the job. But if you actually do this and report back on it, good or bad, I'll give you a +rep.

 

[craezie]

You can't just "infiltrate" a church and get votes for a politician. Just as a good segment of America is over politicians, a good segment of the Christian church is over the political manipulation of the right.

That being said, I think that the church (at least the protestant evangelical wing) has experienced a change in values over the past few years, with many more people getting serious about social justice issues, caring for the poor, and speaking up for the vulnerable. Many, many more Christians have become involved in things like caring for orphans overseas, domestic foster care, community outreach, refugee organizations, etc. Having been very involved in these myself, the issues with American political status quo--the way that the wars create vulnerable women and orphans, the ways that the failed War on Drugs has put thousands of kids into the system, and the ways that crony capitalism exploits people economically are very evident. These people are ripe for the pickings--are are mostly a younger (25-40) audience influenced not only at church but by bloggers and online communities.

The challenge: there seems to be a prevalent attitude among these same Christians that politics is worthless. I know many people who are the most socially active and serving in their community that never vote. There is a general disgust for "Religious Right" Christians, as they are largely viewed as hypocrites.

 

[Rad]

Those don't vote Republican

 

[Liberty74]

Infiltrating churches? Eh...

But I do think Rand needs go after the primary Christian voter. He does not need to go all Ralph Reed on people and push values but link how his message goes hand in hand with Christian thinking. Not all Christians are evil and want to go to war and lose sons and daughters. Not all Christians want government morality dictating like Huck. Rand has a case to be made towards that base. Heck, Pat Robertson even supports legalizing pot.

 

[craezie]

Those don't vote Republican

A lot aren't voting at all. That is my point. The same party that had all the baby boomer "Religious Right" Christian voters in the 90s has completely ignored their children. Lots of those kids ended up leaving the church, but those that are there are more serious about their faith than their parents but also less interested in politicians. Let's face it, they were and are mostly disingenous.

A quick perusal of the top 10 Christian bloggers by readership (descending order): Ann Voskamp, Tim Challies, Albert Mohler, John Zuhlsdorf, Donald Miller, Thom Ranier, Rachel Held Evans, Sarah Bessey, Jen Hatmaker, Jeremy Myers. With the exception of Al Mohler, none are promoting religious right type politics, if they discuss politics at all. You will find a lot of wrestling with authentic faith, and social issues like fighting sex trafficking, racism, poverty, child welfare and homelessness. However, most are coming from a totally different approach than the liberal social justice movement of yesteryear as well. Abortion is and continues to be a watershed issue for all Christians, and most will never vote for someone like Hillary or most Democrats for that reason.

My take: millennial Christians--especially women-- are ripe for the picking. But you will have to move way beyond stereotypes and cliched methods to reach them.

 

[H. E. Panqui]

...rad is right on!..if your prophet rand is going to go out there and possibly shame himself, blacken his soul, etc.--lying in the major media microphone to the vast school of republicrat mulletry--selling himself for the greater good...well, the least you cheerleaders, campaign operatives, etc., can do is go to a few local church mullets and sell him..

...(the stinking republicrats:...pandering to the mullets who talk to invisible men...insulting rational agnostics, etc....always!!..

 

[Sola_Fide]

Rand said he believed in theistic evolution. If I was his advisor, I would tell him to really quiet that down when he is speaking to Christians who believe the Bible.

 

[PaleoPaul]

Rand said he believed in theistic evolution. If I was his advisor, I would tell him to really quiet that down when he is speaking to Christians who believe the Bible.

Theistic evolution is gaining lots of ground, even in more conservative or evangelical churches.

 

[XTreat]

True Christians can pick out fake ones very easily. It won't work.

It worked for Marjoe and his camera crew.