Christian's Guide to Politics

POLITICS

Midterm Elections a Referendum on Trump… Dems with 10-Point Lead on Generic Congressional Ballot Question

📷📷

resident Donald Trump will factor into their vote for Congress, and nearly half of voters say their impression of the president makes them more likely to vote for a Democrat for Congress this November. This as President Trump’s job approval rating remains upside down among Americans.

Marist Poll

Published on October 26, 2018SHARETWEETCOMMENT

More than two in three registered voters nationally say their impression of President Donald Trump will factor into their vote for Congress, and nearly half of voters say their impression of the president makes them more likely to vote for a Democrat for Congress this November. This as President Trump’s job approval rating remains upside down among Americans.

67% of U.S. voters say their opinion of Trump will be either a major (44%) or minor (23%) factor in deciding their vote for Congress. 31% report their impression of the president will not be a factor when casting their ballot. When The Marist Poll asked this question about President Barack Obama prior to the 2014 midterm elections, 47% of registered voters nationally responded that their impression of Obama would play either a major (28%) or minor (19%) role in deciding for whom to vote. A majority (52%), at that time, said their impression of President Obama was not a factor at all.

Not surprisingly, a majority of Democrats (56%) currently say President Trump will heavily influence their decision. An additional 21% say their opinion of the president will be a minor factor when choosing a candidate. Fewer Republicans (41%), though the plurality, think their impression of Trump will be a major factor in determining for whom to vote. 23% say it will play a minor role, and 35% report their opinion of the president will not factor into their decision. There is less consensus among independents. 38% of independents say President Trump will be top of mind when deciding the candidate to support. 26% report the president will impact their decision but to a lesser degree, and 35% of independents say their impression of the president will not factor into their decision at all. A majority of women (51%), including suburban women (54%), say President Trump will be a major factor in their vote. In contrast, 37% of men which includes 32% of suburban men share this view.

“For many voters, the midterm elections are the first time they will weigh in on President Trump since 2016,” says Dr. Lee M. Miringoff, Director of The Marist College Institute for Public Opinion. “Voters who see Trump as a big deal in deciding their 2018 vote are twice as likely to support a Democrat in their district for Congress.”

47% of voters nationally report their opinion of Trump will make them more likely to vote for a Democrat for Congress this November. 34% say their opinion of the president makes them more likely to vote for a Republican. 15% say it makes no difference to their vote, and 4% are unsure. In 2014, 41% of voters said their impression of President Obama made them more likely to support the Republican on the ballot, and 38% said it made them more likely to support the Democrat. 18%, at that time, said their impression of Obama made no difference to their vote.

91% of Democrats and 80% of Republicans report their impression of President Trump makes them more likely to support their own party’s candidate. Of note, a plurality of independent voters (40%) say they are more likely to support the Democrat, and 29% say they are more likely to back the Republican. In 2014, 41% of independents said their impression of President Obama made them more likely to back the Republican. 25% backed the Democrat.

“In the face of unprecedented enthusiasm of both Democratic and Republican core voters, independents may be the tipping point on November 6th,” says Dr. Lee M. Miringoff, Director of The Marist College Institute for Public Opinion.

39% of Americans approve of the job the president is doing in office, including 24% who strongly do so. 53% disapprove, including 39% who strongly have this opinion. The president’s approval rating is little changed from early October when 41% of residents approved of how he was performing in his post, and 53% disapproved. Among registered voters, the president’s approval rating is 41%. Earlier this month, it stood at 43%. The proportion of registered voters who disapprove of the job Trump is doing as president is unchanged (53%).

More than three in four registered voters (76%) consider this year’s midterm elections to be very important. Democrats (83%) and Republicans (80%) are similarly energized for the midterms. Among independents, 67% have this view. There has been little change on this question from earlier in October.

Free Speech:

Past:

buy an ad or billboard

write a letter to the editor

publish a pamphlet/book

talk to your friends

Limited in scope/potentially costly

Present:

Get a FB or Twitter account and let your fingers fly for free.

Get enough interest and you could go viral.

You can post or repost to your heart’s (dis) content.

This right is largely protected by the Constitution.

But the ability to know what one SHOULD say is vastly different than what we CAN say.

Also, the ability to listen is too much absent in our world.

These days, if someone disagrees with us, we are as likely to judge them an enemy, despise them, vilify them as evil.

Especially when it comes to politics.

“I don’t know of a single nation in the history of the world that has been able to solve its problems when half the people in a country absolutely hate the other half of people in that country.”

-Sen. Marco Rubio

Our culture leans toward polarization and disunity, fed by news, etc.

Politicians are rewarded when they are divisive and call their opponents “enemies”.

This draws the faithful and raises lots of money.

Be Careful With Social Media

Be Wise in Consuming Media

Recognize Politician’s Agendas

Learn From the Word

Not a new problem. Differences plagued even the 1st C. church at times.

Great theological debate recorded in .

Jewish Christians thought males couldn’t be saved unless they were circumcised.

Acts 15:1–3 NLT

While Paul and Barnabas were at Antioch of Syria, some men from Judea arrived and began to teach the believers: “Unless you are circumcised as required by the law of Moses, you cannot be saved.” Paul and Barnabas disagreed with them, arguing vehemently. Finally, the church decided to send Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem, accompanied by some local believers, to talk to the apostles and elders about this question. The church sent the delegates to Jerusalem, and they stopped along the way in Phoenicia and Samaria to visit the believers. They told them—much to everyone’s joy—that the Gentiles, too, were being converted.

This was perceived as a very big deal. Gentile (non-Jewish) converts hadn’t been circumcised.

The issue was less to do with the act as it was the idea that there was some action other than faith that one had to take to experience salvation.

acts 15:1-3

Acts 15:1–2 CSB

Some men came down from Judea and began to teach the brothers: “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom prescribed by Moses, you cannot be saved.” After Paul and Barnabas had engaged them in serious argument and debate, Paul and Barnabas and some others were appointed to go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem about this issue.

They decided to have a meeting. Face to face. (good idea!)

Acts 15:4–5 NLT

When they arrived in Jerusalem, Barnabas and Paul were welcomed by the whole church, including the apostles and elders. They reported everything God had done through them. But then some of the believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up and insisted, “The Gentile converts must be circumcised and required to follow the law of Moses.”

Welcomed in brotherhood. Even though they already knew that there was significant disagreement.

Acts 15:4

Paul & Barnabas told about the work God was doing.

Not necessarily heard by everyone at that point.

The “other side” presented their case.

Acts 15:6–11 NLT

So the apostles and elders met together to resolve this issue. At the meeting, after a long discussion, Peter stood and addressed them as follows: “Brothers, you all know that God chose me from among you some time ago to preach to the Gentiles so that they could hear the Good News and believe. God knows people’s hearts, and he confirmed that he accepts Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us. He made no distinction between us and them, for he cleansed their hearts through faith. So why are you now challenging God by burdening the Gentile believers with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were able to bear? We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.”

5:

Peter: Trusted source who could bring the whole debate into focus.

Demonstrates that we should try to respect those with whom we disagree. They may know something we don’t. Or see things from a perspective we haven’t considered.

acts 15:6

Acts 15:12 NLT

Everyone listened quietly as Barnabas and Paul told about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.

Acts 15:19–21 NLT

“And so my judgment is that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from eating food offered to idols, from sexual immorality, from eating the meat of strangled animals, and from consuming blood. For these laws of Moses have been preached in Jewish synagogues in every city on every Sabbath for many generations.”

acts 15:19

Another trusted source - James - offers a way through the debate.

Notice he doesn’t talk about what originally caused the debate: salvation through circumcision. He talks about how the Gentiles should live in faithfulness to Christ.

But he puts it in language the Jewish Christians can understand and appreciate.

Some Principles:

Let’s make some observations that apply to how we handle our disagreements. Particularly in the church, but also with our neighbors.

People With Whom We Disagree are Not the Enemy

Luke 6:27–28 NLT

“But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.

Luke

Truth, yes, But in Love

Ephesians 4:15 NLT

Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.

Ephesians 4:25–27 NLT

So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

eph 4:25-

Ephesians 4:29 NLT

Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

eph 4:29

Do the things I say, post, tweet, text express love and concern towards people that I disagree with?

God Desires Acceptance and Unity

Romans 15:5 NLT

May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus.

Romans 15:7 NLT

Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.

2 Timothy 2:23–25 CSB

But reject foolish and ignorant disputes, because you know that they breed quarrels. The Lord’s servant must not quarrel, but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach, and patient, instructing his opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance leading them to the knowledge of the truth.

Harmony implies working together. Doing the same thing in a complementary way. We have to work side by side to do that.

We take a long, hard look inside and see if everything we’re about is completely acceptable to Jesus who died for us while we were still his enemy. (Rom. 5:6-8)

Hearts and Minds Go Together

2 Timothy 2:23–25 NLT

Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights. A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth.

Win hearts and minds will follow.

We do that by kindness, patience, opportunities to teach.

Why It Matters

John 13:35 NLT

Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

John 13:35

What if:

We were known for being kind-hearted?

For seeking unity?

For loving those with whom we disagree?

We could be friends?

How refreshing for our non-believing friends to open our FB page and find words of love and affirmation.

Felt like they could share their beliefs and opinions without fear of condemnation.