This Saturday we will continue our journey through our topic of Christian Culture. We pray it is powerful and helpful in our daily walk in the 'world'.
As we have stated this may be a detour from classical Bible Study. However, we must listen to Jesus's admonition in the Great Commission. [Matt. 28:16-20] One may be assured that in conversations about faith wherever we may be geographically, questions will arise that are often more cultural than theological. We need to be armed. Please note these notes are longer than our usual notes. The topics covered seemed to exhibit a need to be linked, spiritually, theologically and culturally.
Please join us, our Zoom Link and Bible Study notes are below for this Saturday's session at 8:00 AM PDT 04/12/2025. I pray you and yours are well.
Please remember that you bless us with your presence, and may the Holy Spirit bring you His comfort and His peace. Join us!!!
Zoom Link:
For Study, Prayer and Fellowship - 8:00 AM PDT on 04/12/2025:
Meeting ID: 829 6896 1343
Passcode: 77299ere:
04/12/2025 – Prologue – Gracious God, we seek Your healing for the world. We pray for peace and unity to overcome division and hatred. Inspire us to be instruments of Your peace and grant us the strength to bring comfort to those who suffer. “And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” [Col. 3:14]
The True Path – The Christian church and Christian culture are placed in the hands of the Apostles. [Acts 3,4,5] The rulers, elders, and teachers of the law seized Peter and John; asking, “By what power or what name did you do this?” [Acts 4:3-7]
Religion’s influence in U.S. politics has surged. Christian voters had a greater impact on 2024’s election results than ever before. Two-thirds of Americans identify as Christian, with an estimated 55% as “practicing Christians,” and align with more conservative positions. Practicing Christians are more likely to vote compared to other eligible voters; giving them an outsized influence on election outcomes and they are more likely to vote Republican than other eligible voters, except for Black Christians.
Since the 1960s, the link between religion, race, and voting patterns has become more focused and predictable. Researchers can use a person’s specific religion and racial identities to determine voting behavior with significant accuracy. According to Gallup as of March 2024, two-thirds of adult Americans identify as Christian (Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox, or others), while just 7% of adult Americans identify with another religion. Of those who identify as Christian, analysis shows 55% are practicing, they self-identify as Christian, saying faith is important in their lives, and attend church at least monthly.
Christianity increases the probability of voting Republican, except for African Americans;
for whom voting is primarily shaped by race rather than by religion and race. Consider the 2016 presidential election, when practicing Christians were seemingly torn as to whether to vote for Donald Trump. He clearly was not “one of them,” there were “Never Trump” movements and significant questions within Christian communities about his moral and ethical behaviors. The 2016 election serves as an excellent test of the impact of Christianity on presidential elections.
A minority of the general voting population voted for Donald Trump in each racial category. For white voters, a minority voted for Trump (48%), but for white practicing Christians, two-thirds voted for him. For white evangelicals, 80% voted for Trump, as they did in the 2020 election.
The implication of these patterns is significant. Practicing Christians form a sizable portion of the American electorate and vote at a higher rate than other adults, they have an outsized influence on election outcomes. According to current analysis, that influence includes an increased likelihood that their turnout will benefit Republican candidates. African-American Christians are the exception. There are several factors why, but one factor is the tie between Christian religious or community commitments and the spectrum of conservatism. There is a close correlation between how Christian voters identify on issues, regardless of affiliation, and how they actually vote. This mirroring of the data suggests that religion and religious communities shape a web of intertwined, nonreligious factors that affect voting patterns, specifically views on economics, government authority, fiscal responsibility, and social issues.
Due to changes in immigration laws (allowing a greater number of non-European immigrants) and several prominent social movements (civil rights, feminism, and greater church/state separation), the 1960s gave rise to momentous social changes. America became far more diverse and pluralistic, and challenges to the status quo are frequent.
Following the 1960s, the link between religion, race, and politics began to crystallize. With movements such as the Moral Majority, in the late 1970s, how Christians viewed political issues outside of their religious communities became increasingly defined or even proscribed including their views on the obligation to vote and for whom to vote.
Through several decades of change including a growing tendency of people to self-identify with specific communities and increasing polarization between these groups Christianity has become united with a host of political issues and linked with clear voting patterns. Practicing Christians largely vote Republican. This effect is strongest for white Americans, followed closely by Asian Americans. Hispanic Americans are more likely to vote Republican if they are practicing Christians, if they identify as evangelicals. African Americans are the exception. They have overwhelmingly voted Democratic since the 1960s, whether they are practicing Christians or not. Race is a more important factor than the interaction of religion and race.
Religion is a potent factor in elections, and the role of Christianity in 2024’s political landscape is significant. With the rise of newer organized movements and the impact of polarized news and social media outlets, the voting behaviors of practicing Christians may have an even more pronounced impact on results than in past election cycles.
NB - This material may be quoted or reproduced without prior permission, if appropriate credit is given to the author and Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.
Except for time in the Marine Corps; I have spent more time in Kyrgyzstan than any other country. Under different circumstances I would have no difficulty in making the decision to live there permanently. I am not being critical of the people of Kyrgyzstan when I quote the preamble to their constitution:
“We, people of the Kyrgyz Republic, proceeding from the right to independently determine our own destiny; for the purpose of ensuring supremacy of law, justice and equality; approving the basis of authentic democracy; being loyal to the traditions of our ancestors, following Manas’ precepts, to live in unity, peace and harmony, in harmony with the nature; approving the rights and interests of the people of the Kyrgyz Republic; expressing unshakable will to preserving and strengthening of statehood; confirming commitment to protection, respect of rights and freedoms of man and citizen; recognizing the universal principles and values; aiming at social justice, economic welfare, develop-ment of education, science and spirituality; revering memory of the heroes who gave their lives for the freedom of our people; and realizing theresponsibility for the Fatherland by the present and future generations, we accept this Constitution.”
Unfortunately, I think this preamble tries to say too much. The writers honor Manas, an ancestor to all of the Kyrgyz people, who was a man of mythical proportions who unified 40 tribes of Kyrgyz people into a single nation, approximately 1,000 years ago. He was a strong leader, who seemed free of corruption, with faith in his people. It is worth noting that the first 16 words of this preamble are extraordinarily Christian.
The US Preamble states: “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
There has been a tremendous loss of liberty in the US since this preamble was written 250 year ago. Our loss of liberty has not been the fault of the Constitution itself. The Framers can be faulted for their use of ambiguous language, it is we, through our elected officials and our courts, who have chosen to take unwarranted advantage of that language to expand government beyond reasonable bounds. We have no reason to boast about the legacy we are handing to posterity. The republic survives, and has survived longer than all others; but it hangs by a thread. Liberty, in nearly every dimension, has been greatly reduced, and we are handing this imperiled republic to a citizenry ill-equipped to keep it.
The right to self-determination received its first public exposure in near modern times with the American revolution (1775, 1776 – 1781, 1783). Last week we discussed that it is possible to claim the American revolution was perhaps, but yet another, reformation. In 1946, it was confirmed in the UN with the adoption of Art. 1 and Art. 15.
What are the Biblical underpinnings for a people group to claim the right to self-
determination? Here are seven:
1) “So, God created man in His own image …” [Gen 1:27];
2) “For you created my innermost being: you knit me together in my mother’s womb …” [Ps. 139:13-14];
3) “But select capable men from all people, men who fear God …” [Ex. 18:21];
4) “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities …” [Rom. 13:1]
5) “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves …” [Prov. 31:8-9]
6) “… I have come down to rescue them from the hand …” [Ex.3:8-9]
7) “… We must obey God rather than men! [Acts 5:29]
So, I sit here this evening thinking about governments and man’s humanity/inhumanity toward his brothers and sisters. Thinking about the massive casualties we have recently seen: The war in Ukraine 1,312,780 total casualties (not including the displaced) and the war in Gaza 158,312 total casualties (displaced not counted). Thus, we have 1,480,092 total killed or wounded and many of those with serious life altering wounds. We may have one small consolation; fewer people are being killed in conflicts in this century than the previous century. We have work to do and the work is in the promulgation of the above and our living each day guided by the preceding paragraph. AMEN
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