US Evangelicals vs. the rest of the world

[RedPonyDriver]

I thought this was rather interesting.
http://kristof.blogs.nytimes.com/20...-evangelicals/?smid=fb-nytimes&smtyp=cur&_r=0

From the article:

1. Only in the United States is climate change a controversial and politicized issue. Evangelicals in 129 countries support their government’s efforts to face this challenge.
2. Evangelicals in other countries do not consider a national healthcare system as a controversial issue and, in fact, see it as highly desirable.
3. One of the highest priorities for a majority of evangelicals around the world is for their governments to combat poverty and hunger, improve public education and provide clean water for ALL citizens, even if this means paying more taxes.
4. Evangelicals from other countries want to see their government buy fewer weapons and invest in economic development and peace initiatives.
5. Globally, evangelicals disapprove of torture being used by their governments in any form.
6. A majority of evangelicals around the world view capital punishment as barbaric.
7. Our evangelical brothers and sisters cannot comprehend that American evangelicals are so overwhelmingly opposed to any gun control reform.
8. Nuclear disarmament and the eventual abolition of nuclear weapons is not even questioned among the vast majority of evangelicals in other countries.
9. Except for countries with high populations of Muslims, protecting vulnerable L.G.B.T. citizens and other social justice issues are not viewed as being part of a “liberal” agenda.
10. Whether abortion is legal or illegal, a majority of evangelicals in other countries have not prioritized this in their politics. Where abortion is illegal, evangelicals are more concerned about the high rate of maternal deaths that result from “bedroom abortions.”
11. Evangelicals in other countries working to help refugees and internally displaced people have questioned if Americans who support Mr. Trump are reading from a different Bible, because theirs is very clear that “welcoming the stranger” is a Judeo-Christian priority.

 

[Goodbook]

American christianity is rather wacky and politicised.
I suppose if you grew up in it, you wouldnt know different.

The phrase 'only in america' is never more true when discussing religion and politics.

 

[Catherineanne]

I thought this was rather interesting.
http://kristof.blogs.nytimes.com/20...-evangelicals/?smid=fb-nytimes&smtyp=cur&_r=0

From the article:

1. Only in the United States is climate change a controversial and politicized issue. Evangelicals in 129 countries support their government’s efforts to face this challenge.
2. Evangelicals in other countries do not consider a national healthcare system as a controversial issue and, in fact, see it as highly desirable.
3. One of the highest priorities for a majority of evangelicals around the world is for their governments to combat poverty and hunger, improve public education and provide clean water for ALL citizens, even if this means paying more taxes.
4. Evangelicals from other countries want to see their government buy fewer weapons and invest in economic development and peace initiatives.
5. Globally, evangelicals disapprove of torture being used by their governments in any form.
6. A majority of evangelicals around the world view capital punishment as barbaric.
7. Our evangelical brothers and sisters cannot comprehend that American evangelicals are so overwhelmingly opposed to any gun control reform.
8. Nuclear disarmament and the eventual abolition of nuclear weapons is not even questioned among the vast majority of evangelicals in other countries.
9. Except for countries with high populations of Muslims, protecting vulnerable L.G.B.T. citizens and other social justice issues are not viewed as being part of a “liberal” agenda.
10. Whether abortion is legal or illegal, a majority of evangelicals in other countries have not prioritized this in their politics. Where abortion is illegal, evangelicals are more concerned about the high rate of maternal deaths that result from “bedroom abortions.”
11. Evangelicals in other countries working to help refugees and internally displaced people have questioned if Americans who support Mr. Trump are reading from a different Bible, because theirs is very clear that “welcoming the stranger” is a Judeo-Christian priority.

Those seem pretty fair.

Evangelicals in the UK are more interested in promoting the Gospel and winning souls for Christ. They would (I think) regard political activism as secondary to this.

Where they are politically active I am pretty sure they would not oppose the NHS, fair taxation or support wider availability of guns, although they might well be very strongly 'pro-Life'.

 

[Emmy]

DearRedPonyDriver. You are right about Evangelicals in the UK, we are very interested in winning souls for Christ.
In Matthew 22: 35-40: Jesus told us: " The first and great Commandment is: Love God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. The second is like it: love thy neighbour as thyself." In verse 40 we are told : on these two Commandments hang all the Law and all the Prophets. In Matthews 7: 7-10: we are told: " Ask and you shall receive,"
we keep asking for Love and Joy, then thank God and share all love and joy with our neighbour: (neighbour is all we know and all we meet, friends and not friends) God is Love, and God wants loving men and women. We keep asking and thanking God, then share all love and joy with our neighbour.
The Bible tells us: " Repent and be Born Again," we give up our selfish wishes and desires, and start loving and caring,
be kind and always be friendly and help when needed. We might stumble and forget at times, but then we ask God to forgive us, and carry on Caring in thought and deed. Love is a Christian`s weapon, and love is very catching. Soon we will be able to understand and be of great assistance in giving helpful advice.
The Holy Spirit will help and guide us, and Jesus our Saviour will lead us all the way: JESUS IS THE WAY. This imperfect world will noticeably change, and life will be filled with love and joy. Why not all of us give it a try? it is worth it. I say this with love, RedPonyDriver. Greetings from Emmy, your sister in Christ.

 

[Shempster]

Perhaps the problem is that the US government is on a quest to subdue and dominate its citizens.
Nobody is against windmills and solar panels. They just know that there are those who want to simply tax citizens for using energy and the money will probably be squandered on multi billion dollar gifts to other nations.

Nobody is against health care...unless its really just a huge tax and all we got for it is higher expenses and much worse care.

When we go to the grocery in a very poor area, its common to see folks using ebt cards and filling shopping carts to the brim with more expensive food. I think its like $600 per month per family member. Can't find any hungry folks anywhere.

When it comes to weapons and guns you are correct in your assumptions.

Most churches teach that the LBGT community are engaging in gross sin. I have heard the concerns that when the judgement falls, Christians will suffer too. Not sure where this comes from.
Same goes for abortion. They feel like they are just as guilty if they vote for a government that mass murders unborn babies.

As far as welcoming in Syrians, Sudanese, Somalis, Iraqis, ect... we can see that there are a percentage of terrorists within those groups and the will not hesitate to kill you or your children if they get a chance to.
If you want to be scriptural about it, then I suppose we should let them in and deal with the consequences. Just like if you as a mother see a man go into the womens restroom and then you let your 9 year old daughter go in there. You really should because if you don't, it will look like you are an LGBT hater.

Life is not as simple as this thread sounds.

 

[RedPonyDriver]

When we go to the grocery in a very poor area, its common to see folks using ebt cards and filling shopping carts to the brim with more expensive food. I think its like $600 per month per family member. Can't find any hungry folks anywhere.

I do so wish you'd do a little research before you say things like this...the average SNAP benefit, per month, per person is 160.00. http://www.fns.usda.gov/pd/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap

Perhaps the problem is that the US government is on a quest to subdue and dominate its citizens.

What on earth are you talking about?

Nobody is against health care...unless its really just a huge tax and all we got for it is higher expenses and much worse care

So you're ok with people dying? The US is currently something like 37th in the world for health care.
http://thepatientfactor.com/canadia...zations-ranking-of-the-worlds-health-systems/

clearly there's a problem.

Same goes for abortion. They feel like they are just as guilty if they vote for a government that mass murders unborn babies.

You do realize that because of the Hyde Amendment, no federal funds can be used for abortion. The number of abortions in the US has been steadily declining for years. Maybe if there were stronger safety nets and less emphasis on this "abstinence only" sex lack of education, the rates would decline even more.

My question to you is why is there such a difference between US Evangelicals and Evangelicals elsewhere?