Iowa pastors play influential role in 2016 presidential race

[Curmudgeoness]

What is wrong with that headline?

Going into 2016, the power of the Iowa pastors is considered indisputable. Four years ago, pastors united behind Santorum, who eked out a victory in the caucuses and saw his stature rise in the crowded field. Back in 2008, evangelical support was part of Huckabee's winning coalition.

"In our church, the last four cycles we've probably had almost 100 percent of our people vote," said Bill Tvedt, pastor at Jubilee Family Church in Oskaloosa, who has not endorsed a candidate. "In our local county, we control the Republican party pretty much — our church and another church."

Lots of the potential 2016 GOP candidates are wooing pastors.

http://news.yahoo.com/iowa-pastors-play-influential-role-2016-presidential-race-120424422--election.html

There is a lot more in the story, but the point of the article is that churches and their leaders are playing a significant part in elections in the US. These churches are tax-exempt entities, and they are not supposed to cross the line that they have crossed---miles back. At what point will they be stopped? Will there ever be the will to rein this in? Will there ever be the guts?

After reading this, I am so pissed that my stomach hurts. Not that I didn't know it, but shit, this article is even naming the players and they are talking about it openly....obviously they do not fear losing their tax-exempt status, although they should. And it can start with these ones.

[F4lconF16]

1. It's actually terrifying.

I mean, there are a lot of things to be scared of out there, but this is egregious.

This really got to me:

"In our local county, we control the Republican party pretty much — our church and another church."

It's so damn blatant, too. And they're tax free, so we end up paying for it. Yuck.

[Curmudgeoness]

2. Yeah, I almost highlighted that part

but figured it was unnecessary since everyone would see it anyways.

Blatant is the right word for it. They KNOW that they will not have any consequences for this, and that is what really ticks me off.

[trotsky]

3. "In our local county, we control the Republican party pretty much — our church and another church."

And even if you replaced "Republican" with "Democrat," that should send chills down the spine of any decent American. Fucking frightening. But NEVER FORGET: the biggest problem is atheists who post criticisms of religion on the Internet!!!

[progressoid]

7. I can safely say

as a long time Democrat, Iowan and former church goer, that Dems and churches here are generally kept separate.
I can't say the same for the Repubs. I wouldn't be surprised if they start their meetings with prayers. I recently had a job at a Catholic Church. During my brief time there I saw two different notices on bulletin boards about voting for the correct pro-choice candidates.

[mountain grammy]

4. Division and divinity

all subsidized by the good taxpayers of America.

[beam me up scottie]

5. Let the Jesus humping commence.

Iowa pastors have been politically active for years, but became more involved after the Iowa Supreme Court's 2009 decision allowing gay marriage, which incensed many. Their turnout machines are formidable, with more than half of the 2012 caucus participants identifying as evangelical or born-again Christian, according to exit polls.

"They provide a voice in the pulpit," said Jamie Johnson, a pastor from Story City who is working for Perry.

Said Gordon, executive pastor at Cornerstone World Outreach, "I teach our people that civic responsibility is a part of our Christian heritage."

Some pastors arrange buses for people to attend the Iowa Straw Poll, the summer event viewed as an early test of campaign organizations.

It is sickening. I wish I could say there's a chance they'll be checked but this has been coming for a long time. The Dominionists have been planning a takeover for decades, they've put key players in positions of power -judges, politicians, you name it - they own it.

There's been a lot published about Dominionism but many people are still clueless about the threat.

From George Grant's The Changing of the Guard:

“Christians have an obligation, a mandate, a commission, a holy responsibility to reclaim the land for Jesus Christ-to have dominion in the civil structures, just as in every other aspect of life and godliness.

But it is dominion that we are after. Not just a voice.

It is dominion we are after. Not just influence.

It is dominion we are after. Not just equal time.

It is dominion we are after.

World conquest. That’s what Christ has commissioned us to accomplish. We must win the world with the power of the Gospel. And we must never settle for anything less.

If Jesus Christ is indeed Lord, as the Bible says, and if our commission is to bring the land into subjection to His Lordship, as the Bible says, then all our activities, all our witnessing, all our preaching, all our craftsmanship, all our stewardship, and all our political action will aim at nothing short of that sacred purpose.

Thus, Christian politics has as its primary intent the conquest of the land – of men, families, institutions, bureaucracies, courts, and governments for the Kingdom of Christ. It is to reinstitute the authority of God’s Word as supreme over all judgments, over all legislation, over all declarations, constitutions, and confederations.”

That might just sound like the rantings of a single lunatic but he's far from alone.

Very scary stuff.

[Curmudgeoness]

6. It is the ranting of a lunatic,

but you are right, he is not alone. Be very afraid. I know that I am.