White evangelical politics assume top-down office-holding is the route to influence.
Evidence
The first-order principle for many white evangelical pastors and congregations is that we (as Christians) will be best able to influence our world toward a more Christian future through the power afforded by the office of the presidency, or Congress, or state legislatures, or school boards. For this to happen, Christians must vote in large numbers and for the right people. — Andrew L. Whitehead, American Idolatry, 235
Categorization
- XREF: connects to: White evangelical quietism is a tactic that flips when power shifts — Robert P. Jones, White Too Long: The Legacy of White…, 294; White evangelical leaders lost control of their own flocks to Trump’s appeal — Kristin Kobes Du Mez, Jesus and John Wayne: How White…, 573; White Christian politics since the 1970s has leaned toward domination and control — Andrew L. Whitehead, American Idolatry, 209 (+5 more)
Broader Connections
- A megachurch pastor served as a political channel between the White House and evangelicals
#exemplifies(0.84) - White evangelical quietism is a tactic that flips when power shifts
#complicates(0.82) — Robert P. Jones, White Too Long, 294 - Trump framed white evangelicals as a persecuted majority needing to claim power
#exemplifies(0.80) — Kristin Kobes Du Mez, Jesus and John Wayne, 576 - White evangelical leaders lost control of their own flocks to Trump’s appeal
#complicates(0.78) — Kristin Kobes Du Mez, Jesus and John Wayne, 573 - White Christian politics since the 1970s has leaned toward domination and control
#expands(0.75) — Andrew L. Whitehead, American Idolatry, 209 - Majority-status loss prompted white conservative Christians to seek state religious favoritism
#expands(0.74) — Ruiqian Li and Paul Froese, The Duality of American Christian…, 43 - White Christian nationalism explains seemingly contradictory Christian political behavior
#qualifies(0.73) — Philip S. Gorski and Samuel L. Perry, The Flag and the Cross, 17 - Christian nationalism centers on preserving white conservative dominance.
#qualifies(0.72) — Andrew L. Whitehead, American Idolatry, 226