“Evangelicals for Harris” releases an ad. Is this a pro-Harris or anti-Trump movement?

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The group “Evangelicals for Harris” just released its first political ad. The ad makes me wonder: Is “Evangelicals for Harris” a pro-Harris political movement or an anti-Trump movement.?

Watch the ad:

Franklin Graham is not happy with the use of his father, Billy Graham, in the ad.

Others are unhappy with the whole concept of “Evangelicals for Harris.”

I went over to the “Evangelicals and Harris” website. Under the “On the Issues” tab, the site does a nice job comparing Trump’s policies and record with the Harris-Biden record. But I am still left wondering: How is “Evangelicals for Harris” any different from any other pro-Harris website? It says that “Biden-Harris delivers” on economic growth, jobs, manufacturing, healthcare, infrastructure, the pandemic, and creation care, but there is nothing about why these matters should be of concern to evangelical voters. The issue of abortion and gender identity, which are two of the main reasons conservative evangelicals won’t vote for Harris, are not even addressed on the website.

There are a lot of reasons why evangelicals should not vote for Trump. There a lot of reasons to criticize MAGA evangelicals. But why should evangelicals be for Harris? The title of the movement–“Evangelicals for Harris”– implies full-throated evangelical support for the vice-president. But so far I haven’t seen that case made. At this point it appears that “Evangelicals for Harris” is really just an “Evangelicals Against Trump.” movement.

I haven’t been able to find the “Evangelicals for Harris” ZOOM call that was held last night. Perhaps the content from that call will prove me wrong. But most of the “Evangelicals for Harris” X feed seems heavily devoted to anti-Trump tweets, with the exception of some vague references to “loving your neighbor” and “compassion” that are not connected in specific ways to Harris-Walz policy proposals.

Here are some tweets. Feel free to go to the “Evangelicals for Harris” X feed and see if I am being overly selective in my choice of tweets to post here. I don’t think I am.

“Respect”:

Shane is going to vote for love and against Trump:

“not voting against Trump”:

“A vote against another 4 years…”:

Is this “pro-Harris?”:

“Why does Mr. Trump not feel the same?”:

“Mr. Trump…does not”:

Against Project 2025:

“Does Mr. Trump follow this? He does not.”:

I’ll stop there. I think you get the idea.

Let me be clear. I am not opposed ideologically, politically, or theologically to any of these tweets. My book Believe Me was dedicated to the so-called “19 Percent.” I just want to know more about why evangelicals should be FOR Kamala Harris. I hope “Evangelicals for Harris” will make a specific case that takes us beyond vague references to “love” and “compassion.”

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Comments

  1. As a graduate of an evangelical seminary and a historian of evangelicalism, I do think there is a case for supporting (vigorously) the Harris candidacy. If we start with the common sense view that neither candidate or party platform will be doctrinally pure, then we can see each through the lens of Jesus’ actual teaching. Who is talking about community and care for neighbor? Who is talking about compassionate welcome for the stranger? Who is speaking in a tone that conveys wisdom and grace and gentleness? This time around, only one candidate fits all of those qualities–things we evangelicals used to refer to as “Christlike.” Leading this diverse nation is hard. Leading it by dividing people and stoking anger is simply antithetical to everything evangelicals (should) hold dear. I am supporting Kamala Harris not only as a way of voting against her opponent, but as a way of publicly affirming the best and most universal of Christian values.

  2. I agree with much of your comment John. But my point is not COULD a case be made for Harris, but rather has “Evangelicals for Harris” MADE the case. Right now it looks more like “Evangelicals Against Trump.” I was actually hoping to learn something from this group–something to help me make a legitimate case FOR Harris. Right now it just seems like warmed over progressivism. Let’s hear about why evangelicals should rally around Harris and Walz’s policies.

  3. If these EFHs are deceived enough not to see the -Destructive, Deep Globalist Control-that H/W would

    be all in on, that would bring all out -Socialism-to the U S A, then there is not any -Seeing Eye Guide- that

    CAN HELP YOU.

    You are Evangel-I-Cant’s- vote for DJTRUMPers, only. Just with a new name. So be it. Reap what you are

    trying to SOW.