Self-appointed spokespersons get on my nerves. Such is the case with the Rev. Rob McCoy, pastor of Calvary Chapel in Thousand Oaks, Calif.
Although a second-tier player, at best, in the ongoing evangelical king-of-the-hill game, McCoy claims in a July 29 Washington Times article to speak for the entire community of evangelical Christians. (The link to the article is not working now.)
But he told the newspaper, “I will vote for (John) McCain unless he does one thing. You know what that is? If he puts (Mitt) Romney on the ticket as veep.”
Fine. That’s his personal opinion and God-given right. But he has more to say.
Should McCain choose Romney as his running mate, McCoy added, “It will alienate the entire evangelical community – 62 million self-professing evangelicals in this country, half of them registered to vote, are going to be deeply saddened.”
Heck, I can’t even speak for my family of four on most issues. Yet Rev. McCoy knows the reaction of 62 million people — most of whom he’ll never meet.
I, too, am interested in knowing the choices for vice president. Those decisions will influence the next presidential election.
And the presidential candidates should be warned. If not pleased, I carry the full influence of one vote.
Just like Rev. McCoy and every other American — whether counted among the evangelicals or not.
Oh, I’m sure there are many folks in Calvary Chapel (and perhaps elsewhere) who follow this pastor’s lead in political matters — but the total is a good bit short of 62 million.
Director of the Jesus Worldview Initiative at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee and former executive editor and publisher at Good Faith Media.
