Evangelicals–left, right, and center–have now had a chance to sleep on America’s new political reality. We posted yesterday on their initial reaction to Biden’s withdrawal from the race. Let’s see what they are saying today:
President of the Southern Baptist Convention:
Warren Throckmorton:
Activist Jemar Tisby:
Southern Baptist professor:
People are really upset about the statement from Brent Leatherwood of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission.
Now watch them turn on one of their own:
And now back to our regular programming:
What will this mean for Nov. 5? Frankly, it’s hard to imagine the nation being excited about a Kamala Harris presidency. Her campaign in the 2020 cycle ended as an embarrassment, but Biden chose her and, as his post Sunday indicated, he stands by her now.
The bottom line as Biden departs the race is that he has now done what conservatives predicted all along. He will go down in history as the man who made the leftward leap of the Democratic Party possible. He was elected as good old Joe from Scranton, the working man’s Democratic candidate. He had played that role (awkwardly and often embarrassingly) for more than three decades in the Senate. He then served as Barack Obama’s vice president, only to be snubbed after eight years of loyal service when Obama pushed him out of the way and supported Hillary Clinton in the 2016 race. He fought back in 2020 and gained the nomination as the only hope for Democrats to unite the party, but all along the Democrats assured themselves that Biden would be the bridge to a far more ideologically liberal party.
Understand clearly that the Democratic Party is going to lurch far to the left with this generational shift. With Biden out of the way, it will be full steam ahead. And Biden bears responsibility for making it all happen. The Democratic left had one final role for Biden to play, and he played it. They finally decided that he played it for too long and so the gig is up. Brace yourselves for what is to come.
And watch the parable unfold as President Joe Biden rather bitterly leaves the political stage. Exit, stage left.
Christianity Today Podcaster Mike Cosper:
MAGA worship leader calls an “immediate press conference” to fight the “powers and principalities” of the Democratic Party:
Huck being Huck:
Biden dropped out. And I won a few bets.
I just hope whoever our next President is will end the genocide in Gaza and stand up for the life and dignity of every human being. Some things are not about Left and Right… they are about right and wrong.
I will vote for the person I think is most committed to love and compassion and peace and justice, especially for those most vulnerable.
I don’t know who that is yet. I know I will not be voting for Trump and I wasn’t excited about Biden. For now I will continue to put my hope in Jesus, and in November I’ll vote for the person I think will do the least amount of damage to the world.
Megachurch pastor Greg Laurie:
Writer and radio host Eric Metaxas:
Tim Barton, president of Wallbuilders:
Charlie Kirk:
Right-wing radio host Todd Starnes with the conspiracy theory:
Something smells.
Why would President Biden announce such a momentous and historic decision on a Sunday afternoon on a social media platform? The letter he posted was not written on White House stationary. And his signature appeared to be photoshopped. Also, Biden’s signature was underlined and typically he does not underline his name.
His staff only found out once the message had been posted on X. And Cabinet members were notified by the Chief of Staff — not Biden.
The last time the public saw Biden he feebly walked down the stairs of Air Force One and had to be physically assisted into the presidential limo. He has not been seen in public since.
How do we know Biden wrote that letter? And how do we know that Biden posted the letter on his X page? There wasn’t even an official White House photograph of the moment.
His brother, Frank Biden, told CBS News that health “absolutely” was the deciding factor in the decision. And then he told CBS “Selfishly, I will have him back to enjoy whatever time he has left.”
Is President Biden still alive? Is he awake and alert? Is he in command of his faculties? With respect, we need to see proof of life.
Justin Giboney:
I don’t know enough about the SBC to comment as anything more than an interested outsider, but if the ERLC is the place the convention has committed to informed and serious reflection about religious liberty, public policy, and ” the moral demands of the gospel,” then the recurring pattern of rising up in outrage against it by prominent sections of the denomination should occasion at least a moment of sober self-reflection.
It is hard to see the SBC as a Christ focused conference with all the partisan anger of names of people in an evangelical denomination speak using vile descriptions when speaking of Mr Leatherwood.
When someone makes a decision such as President Biden made. There is likely not just one factor leading to that decision. He did not rusch into the decision as some would have liked. If he had the same people who have colorful was to express their disdain; thought he waited too long and should have decided sooner. Others launched in to why they are unhappy he recommended that VP Harris be the runner for Runner for President.
Pressure or not; President Biden had the right to consider his options. A lot of people called for him to step down. How many of them actually addressed this directly with Biden. Others, who have served with him and whom he has trust probably advised him. I was disappointed with his decision but as he made this decision, I’d like to think he did it for reasons beyoun his personal reason and did look out for the common good. He had to struggle with his pride, but who doesn’t? In the end, he decided and made the announcement through social media. I rather liked that. I heard about it when one of my daughters texted. I liked that too. With social media, his announcement could be heard and a small sliver of time before the media, and anyone else could start tearing his decision apart, brag, sell books. Considering all the praying about this decision, I find it easier to stop looking at the candidates, and spend more time considering that challenges of this time.
Do Southern Baptist pastors learn how to think? Or, do they learn knee jerk reactions in seminary?
Thanks for the comment, Susan