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Evangelical roundup for February 12, 2023

John Fea   |  February 13, 2023

What is happening in Evangelical land?

Revival continues to rage at Asbury University. We are covering that separately. Get up to speed with our regular updates here.

So here is your non-Wilmore, Kentucky roundup:

White evangelicals are most likely to embrace Christian nationalism.

Evangelicals as “second-class” citizens in the GOP.

Evangelicals in Turkey.

The Council for Christian Colleges and Universities honors David Brooks:

It was a true honor to recognize and present @nytdavidbrooks with the 2023 Hatfield Leadership Award last week at our 2023 #CCCUPresConf in Washington, D.C.

Thank you, David, for defending truth, thought & #ChristianHigherEd for future generations.https://t.co/drlQ2eh7va

— CCCU (@cccuorg) February 10, 2023

Evangelicals did not like Sam Smith’s Grammy performance. But neither did Satanists.

Russell Spittler, RIP.

A former president of the Southern Baptist Convention is working toward racial reconciliation.

News on the Jack Hayford memorial service:

Pentecostal giant Jack Hayford, playing with his grandkids with a lightsaber.

His memorial is Feb. 18th and will be streamed online here: https://t.co/St9P2qclu4 pic.twitter.com/srww3hhO2V

— Daniel Silliman (@danielsilliman) February 12, 2023

A..R. Bernard

A murdered New Jersey councilwoman was a Pentecostal pastor.

ESV Bibles:

ESV Bibles have eked ahead of NKJVs in sales, but still come in fourth at Christian bookstores pic.twitter.com/r3V2L6QBMU

— Daniel Silliman (@danielsilliman) February 10, 2023

Michael Wear critiques the recent PRRI study on Christian nationalism:

First, the headline: "Survey: A third of Americans are Christian nationalists…"

The opening line of the article: "A new survey finds that fewer than a third of Americans, or 29%, qualify as Christian nationalists."

— Michael Wear (@MichaelRWear) February 10, 2023

Christian nationalism, a box that is constituted of whatever PRRI wants it to be–in this case, five statements designed by PRRI of varying levels of clarity, meaning and relevance to the political narratives around Christian nationalism.

— Michael Wear (@MichaelRWear) February 10, 2023

Moving on…So, wow, surely this third of Americans (sorry, less than 3 out of ten) must all be really gung-ho about these five made up statements which they themselves have no idea constitute an entire political ideology that PRRI is ascribing to them. Nope!

— Michael Wear (@MichaelRWear) February 10, 2023

(One would think "Christian nationalists" and "Christian nationalist adherents" would refer to the same group…no again)

— Michael Wear (@MichaelRWear) February 10, 2023

That's 5% of the public. I think you'd get a higher % of Americans willing to say that Taylor Swift ought to have dominion over all areas of society (no shade to Swifties here, what a benevolent government that would be)

— Michael Wear (@MichaelRWear) February 10, 2023

Why are they categorized this way? Get this: a majority of this group express some level of agreement with a majority of the five statements.

— Michael Wear (@MichaelRWear) February 10, 2023

Do we know, does PRRI tell us, anything about how the Sympathizers would describe why they don't completely agree? Might it be irresponsible to ask vague, academic questions to people who are unaware of the context, & categorize them on their not completely affirmative responses?

— Michael Wear (@MichaelRWear) February 10, 2023

Remember, I'm only talking about the headline and opening lines of this article. Last thing: the article (not the headline) says 29% are Christian nationalists, "two-thirds define themselves as white evangelicals." Now I may be wrong here, but I can't find this stat anywhere.

— Michael Wear (@MichaelRWear) February 10, 2023

According to the RNS article, support for Christian nationalism is "significantly smaller" among other categories. You won't read in the article that PRRI has categorized 52% of Protestants of color are also "adherents" of "Christian nationalist ideology."

— Michael Wear (@MichaelRWear) February 10, 2023

2) It is also not new, but pretending like it is helps people seem like they're not criticizing the thing they've always criticized, or that the need to criticize it just recently emerged.

— Michael Wear (@MichaelRWear) February 10, 2023

One of the most counter-productive things pro-democracy, pro-pluralism advocates could do is to make the dividing line here between those who believe Christians can bring their faith into politics and those who believe that is inherently harmful.

— Michael Wear (@MichaelRWear) February 10, 2023

I have great respect for Melissa Deckman. I've spoken to her class before, & think she's a stellar academic. Many friends have worked at PRRI over the years, & much of their research has been helpful. This isn't personal. This research is misguided in its construction & its use.

— Michael Wear (@MichaelRWear) February 10, 2023

Blast from the past:

J.D. Greear sends a warning to Andy Stanley about LGBTQ issues.

Full House and Hallmark Channel actress Candace Cameron Bure wants more Christian artists at the Grammys.

Charlie Kirk on “He Gets Us”:

He Gets Us is running a $20 million ad on Sunday. Do you think open borders is biblical? pic.twitter.com/WDyCwk2zr4

— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) February 10, 2023

Richard Land on the “extreme liberal bias” at The New York Times.

Satan is trying to “block the conservative/evangelical viewpoint.”

Eric Metaxas couldn’t watch the State of the Union Address:

Metaxas also talked with Alan Dershowitz:

Another megachurch pastor behaving badly.

Jack Hibbs is upset with the National Air and Space Museum, but he still hasn’t acknowledge the Asbury Revival.

"Staff also allegedly told them that the museum is a “neutral zone” and that the First Amendment “does not apply here” before ultimately making them leave the museum." https://t.co/XW1utjoKUH

— Jack Hibbs (@RealJackHibbs) February 10, 2023

Robert Jeffress on whether it is okay to pray for your favorite football team to win.

Tony Perkins finds “cancel culture” in the book of Jeremiah:

The cancel culture was not happy, because Jeremiah was exposing their deception and lies.

Today’s reading: Jeremiah 20
Full devotional: https://t.co/dcWX4IA1lE pic.twitter.com/vva96RaQGE

— Tony Perkins (@tperkins) February 10, 2023

So many people write to Beth:

I’m so sorry I can’t answer everyone’s emails and messages! It is amazing to have so many folk write me. I keep hoping to find an empty week (or month) so I can just answer everyone. Do my good intentions/thoughts count here? 😭😂❤️ pic.twitter.com/2hwn1ibb5w

— Beth Allison Barr, PhD (@bethallisonbarr) February 9, 2023

Perkins takes a shot at New Yorkers:

It doesn't look real – the picture doesn't show anyone getting mugged on the street! https://t.co/7qkVfyj7vY

— Tony Perkins (@tperkins) February 10, 2023

Franklin in Mexico City:

I’m grateful to God for the opportunity to preach the Gospel tonight in Mexico City. The stadium was packed, as well as the overflow area. We praise God for each one who made the decision to put their faith in Jesus Christ and follow Him as Lord of their lives! pic.twitter.com/0fKv4knPOG

— Franklin Graham (@Franklin_Graham) February 12, 2023

James Robison cites one of the most popular verses in revolutionary America. Something tells me he just doesn’t only mean freedom in Christ:

“It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery” (Gal. 5:1 NASB).

— James Robison (@revjamesrobison) February 12, 2023

A stabbing at Cedarville University.

Al Mohler suggests that “Satanism” may not be constitutionally protected religion.

The president of the Southern Baptist Convention replies to a Christian conservative “journalist”:

If that is true—if abortion is not a good lead issue for them—then it should embolden those who support life to craft sensible legislation and take it to those states where life is not already being protected by state law.

— Bart Barber (@bartbarber) February 9, 2023

This evangelical prophet seems a bit testy about losing followers:

Looks like I lost a few subscribers this morning. Possibly because I talked about racism & colonialism.

But also possibly because I argue that justice should be just as important as evangelism.

It’s ok though. My goal isn’t platform; it’s faithfulness.https://t.co/djeB2407LO

— Joash Thomas (@JoashPThomas) February 6, 2023

A Christian nationalism roundtable.

Filed Under: Way of Improvement Tagged With: Evangelical roundup, evangelicalism

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Richard says

    February 13, 2023 at 9:14 pm

    The article about Gagnon mentions Gagnon and Archer, two well known evangelical names. Any connection to Robert Gagnon and Gleason Archer?