Joshua Generation Project
Posted on June 21st, 2008 by catalyst into the Politics categoryThis isn't too surprising, but Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama is aggressively courting the Christian Vote.
This month, the Illinois senator held a closed-door meeting in Chicago with almost 40 Christian leaders, including evangelical heavyweights such as the Rev. Franklin Graham, publishing magnate Steve Strang and megachurch pastor Bishop T.D. Jakes.
And specifically, Obama is targeting young Christians though an effort his campaign calls the Josha Generation Project.
Obama's campaign is also launching a grass-roots effort, tentatively called Joshua Generation, with plans to hold concerts and house meetings targeted at young evangelicals and Catholics.
Color me unimpressed. The name "Joshua Generation" feels completely patronizing and cliche.
And look, I'm voting for Obama because I think he will be a competent leader. I think he will get our troops out of Iraq. And I think he will eliminate the government corruption that has marked that last eight years of President Bush. But I'm not voting for him because he is a Christian. I'm not looking for another Christian President. We already had one of those, and the guy was an unmitigated disaster.
I just want someone who can make this country work again. If Obama wants to talk about his Faith. Great. But this Joshua Generation feels like Obama hired some former Evangelical Youth Pastors and asked them how to reach young Christians. Meh. I expect better.
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June 21st, 2008 at 1:09 pm
i totally agree, Justin. i meant to Google that Joshua Generation business when I read about it in that homeschooling article. now i’m glad i didn’t as it was just annoy me further.
i feel like he’s being slightly demeaning to us “young Christian voters” by needing to come up with a Christian-y gimick in order to gain our vote. does he not think “we” are intelligent enough to decide who to vote for based on principles and issues? this is just more religious nonsense stuff that i will be called to answer for as the token American where i live. French people just don’t get the American need to put religion into every aspect of life. neither do i.
June 21st, 2008 at 2:16 pm
It could be worse. He could have rolled out the “Judah Generation Project”.
June 21st, 2008 at 2:35 pm
I have a lot of thoughts about the election and reaching out to young christian voters. My issue is with the dang “Joshua Generation” thing. People here can be a bit cynical about stuff. On this one, I have no problem driving the cynical bandwagon. I have heard that as a youth group name or rallying cry since at least the mid-80’s. I am not a fan of the rah-rah the youth are going to change the world talk in youth groups.
I am speaking for a friend tomorrow night at his youth group. I was testing out my material on my son. I am talking about focusing our life on grace instead of on all of the things we have to do or should not do. He made a great comment. He said, “I feel like people in church are always trying to get me to do stuff that I don’t feel like I’m ready for.” He feels more forced to do things rather than inspired to take action because God has called him to something. The whole Joshua Generation is a great short term motivator but not much for helping folks actually find Christ and His purpose for them.
Political point: This is just more proof that Obama is still a politician just like everyone else. Better? Time will tell.
I am convinced that every president has to become 3 very different people to become elected and to govern. Unfortunately, for most presidents we never know if we ever saw the real person and their actual beliefs.
June 21st, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Oh yeah. It’s even worse to talk to College aged and young professionals with 1980-90 marketing. I can see a few of them saying, “Our youth group was called that when my older brother was in HS.”
June 23rd, 2008 at 8:12 am
Personally, I’m quite tired of everything being called a “grass-roots effort” or a “grass-roots movement.” Joshua Generation plus “grass-roots effort” makes the whole thing feel so overhyped. It makes me instinctively feel like I’m being sold something and look for the catch.
June 23rd, 2008 at 9:46 pm
I like hilary’s quote that she is “tossing her full support behind obama”…
Does that mean she is flinging her 18-hour support bras in his direction??
June 24th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
i hope young christians will engage with the political process. call it whatever you like. older folks, boomers, are so gimmicky. it worked so well in the 80’s.
i know it has become so cliche to talk about the next generation and young people being mobilized to usher in change.
and yet, every revolution does this. if obama is sincere about change, and god i hope he is, then of course he has to capture the imagination and confidence of all kinds of young people. if he truly wants to make a go at it of ushering in a new kind of politics, then he has to engage in truly meaningful ways with the under 30’s.
but for him to spend time or energy in reaching out to the under 18’s is indeed very interesting, for they have no voting power. and that makes me pause and wonder if this is a sign of how sincere and dedicated he is to a new America, or if it’s a way to look sexy to the young who do have voting power.
I don’t know. But if he wants to hit up a youth group in Portland, I’d have my 14-year old daughter and her friends there. In fact, me and my daughter and some of her friends are interested in volunteering our time for the Obama campaign after summer. These kids are barely starting high school. They have no political power. But they are attracted to Obama’s message of change and hope and appearance of being a True Shifter in or nation. (shifter, people, i said shiFter….smile….)
Ok, that’s what this Mama for Obama thinks!
June 24th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
So a genuine question here, how would “the most liberal senator” eliminate the corruption that is our current government situation? As a libertarian, the only way I see to eliminate corruption is to eliminate 75% of the US government especially FDA, USDA, & the AMA who are all fornicating with Big Pharma & Monsanto - the evil creator of Round-up resistant soy beans - spreading their herbicide all over the world.
Read the ingredient list on the foods you eat - if it has soy in it - how do you know you’re not eating something created in a lab? Can you imagine? A food thats resistant to an herbicide - they are bullying farmers all over the world to only use their seeds - in fact the farmers are REQUIRED to purchase Monsantos seeds EVERY year from Monsanto. Usually farmers grow their own seeds.
An exerpt from http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_3329.cfm:
will show you the ‘revolving door’ Washington insiders have with Big corporations like Monsanto.
Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld was president of Searle Pharmaceuticals, a company owned by Monsanto… Rumsfeld is believed to have earned around US$12 million from the sale of Searle to Monsanto. (item 1)
Believe me the first time I heard Obama - I was hooked, I didnt agree with anything he said but he is extremely charismatic. But I dont see him having any solutions other than increasing the size of the federal government - like universal health care - which again FDA, USDA, AMA will only get more powerful.
I’ve heard the medical system in Canada is amazing and yet they are trying to pass a bill known as Bill C51. According to some interpretations of the bill, it would remove all supplements from over-the-counter availability, by only allowing MD’s to prescribe them as they see fit. Supplements like Vitamins, minerals… things we can currently buy over the counter.
I see our freedoms from mandatory vaccinations, & seeing holistic providers all going away.
Do any of you care for these issues? I’m obviously passionate about them and quite worried actually.
my only solution is to make as much money as I can so we can afford pesticide free/organic food and visit any holistic provider regardless of the cost.
June 24th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
I have a very literal mind and this image… :O