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Election Day is 50 days away. What are evangelicals saying?

John Fea   |  September 15, 2024

A group of evangelicals have issued “Our Confession of Evangelical Conviction.” It is essentially an anti-MAGA document. It is signed by some well-known evangelicals with big platforms.

What strikes me about the statement is how it defines “evangelical.” It defines it theologically, not unlike the so-called Bebbington Quadrilateral.

Recently we’ve called your attention to historian Matt Sutton’s definition of evangelicalism published in the scholarly Journal of the American Academy of Religion. To refresh your memory, Sutton defined post-World War II evangelicalism as “a white, patriarchal, nationalist religious movement made up of Christians who seek power to transform American culture through conservative-leaning politics and free market economics.” In other words, Sutton rejects the idea that evangelicalism should be defined theologically. (Interesting enough, there are some signers of this document who, based on their social media feeds, agree with Sutton’s definition.)

Maybe this document should be titled “Our Confession of White, Patriarchal, Christian Nationalist Free-Market Conviction.” 😉

Skye Jethani was the “lead author”:

In the coming weeks, churches will be reading this Confession of Evangelical Conviction. I was the lead author of the statement. I'm grateful to the wise women & men who helped me & the hundreds of leaders who've added their names to the statement. https://t.co/ocDTetkHnB

— Skye Jethani (@SkyeJethani) September 7, 2024

There is even a video to go along with the statement:

***

I got my new issue of Christianity Today in the mail yesterday. There is a golden calf on the cover:

The issue includes several articles on politics. There is a piece by Russell Moore titled “The Uneasy Conscience of Christian Nationalism;” a piece by Mike Cosper on “The Soul of MAGA;” and a piece on repairing democracy by Bonnie Kristian. Also check out Tim Dalrymple’s online piece, “Against the Culture of Demonization.” It looks like a great issue and I look forward to digging in. One minor point: The issue does not have a masthead.

***

A recent Pew survey shows that there will probably be little change in the white evangelical vote in November. 82% of white evangelical registered voters support Donald Trump. If these numbers hold, they will roughly match the number of white evangelicals who voted for Trump in 2016 and 2020. It is also worth noting that white non-evangelical Protestants also lean toward Trump. 58% of this group support the former president.

***

Let’s turn to X:

The Liberty University Standing for Freedom Center, a non-profit, continues its soft support for Trump:

Springfield, OH Residents: We are facing a major migration crisis in our town.

MSM "Fact Checkers": No you're not.

— Standing for Freedom Center (@freedomcenterlu) September 13, 2024

HEARTBREAKING: Springfield, OH resident says she’s leaving her home of 45 years due to the Haitian migrant crisis

“I understand they’re here under temporary protected status… but who’s protecting us?”

pic.twitter.com/7wWZbdX92r

— Standing for Freedom Center (@freedomcenterlu) September 9, 2024

“Sold Out.” Yup, that sounds about right:

SOLD OUT: We’re looking forward to hearing from Vice-Presidential Nominee @JDVance, Governor @BrianKempGA, Senator @KatieBrittforAL, former Congresswoman @TulsiGabbard, Representatives @MikeCollinsGA and @standwithbarry at our Victory Dinner in Atlanta this Monday! pic.twitter.com/8fpLfusaJP

— Faith & Freedom (@FaithandFreedom) September 12, 2024

Russell Moore on Haitian migrants:

My essay in @TheAtlantic: lies that jeopardize the safety of Haitian migrants are yet another moral test, especially for Christians:https://t.co/K7qNsAtQzQ

— Russell Moore (@drmoore) September 14, 2024

Ralph Reed turns the spin machine up to 11:

Faith & Freedom Coalition Founder and Chairman @RalphReed knows the American public saw Kamala Harris’s failed and radical record through the bias of Tuesday’s debate:

“On the issues, on the policies, she lost the debate.” pic.twitter.com/Ac8kkIiLjE

— Faith & Freedom (@FaithandFreedom) September 14, 2024

The future of the country is at stake in this election. Agreed! ;-):

Christians must make a plan to vote early or vote in person and encourage their friends and family to do the same. The future of our country is at stake. pic.twitter.com/gfm2vsdG0z

— Faith & Freedom (@FaithandFreedom) September 13, 2024

Lance is sharing a tweet from Laura Loomer:

Harris said this: “When I am elected President I will sign that bill for reparations.” https://t.co/oD4hiyEqoB

— Lance Wallnau (@lancewallnau) September 14, 2024

Lance is still pushing the “Jezebel Spirit”:

Trump vs. The Jezebel Spirit: How Trump Can Still Win pic.twitter.com/rkoEBhVgMS

— Lance Wallnau (@lancewallnau) September 14, 2024

The camera angle! The camera angle!:

Camera Tricks: How Angles Deceive in Politics | The way they set up those camera angles was no accident—designed to make her appear larger and him smaller, playing with perception. At 6’3”, Trump had to navigate a tricky setup, and I believe they threw him off by placing the… pic.twitter.com/HJy1DZYT5C

— Lance Wallnau (@lancewallnau) September 13, 2024

More Lance:

And this sums up the difference between a conservative and the new Marxist Democrat. Americans deep down do not want loss of freedom. It’s one of the highest ranking values we have. It’s why Dems frame pro abortion as “pro-choice.” America is being deceived by Marxist promises… https://t.co/ikqFR8mKWr

— Lance Wallnau (@lancewallnau) September 13, 2024

Charlie Kirk will be at an evangelical megachurch near you this weekend:

President Trump vows to save America's suburbs:

"The Radical Left wants to abolish the suburbs by forcing apartment complexes and low-income housing into suburbs nationwide. I will end this Marxist crusade." pic.twitter.com/xooKYIXbdt

— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) September 12, 2024

A “love affair”:

Trump and Evangelicals: a love affair. Watch. @RealAmVoice @realDonaldTrump @TeamTrump @TrumpWarRoom pic.twitter.com/JXDo0ZUGCz

— David Brody (@DBrodyReports) September 13, 2024

David Barton seems to think that when the founders said people have the right to “life” (as in “life, liberty, and property”) they were opposing abortion:

Did you know? Abortions date back to the 1600s? #abortions #truth #WallBuilders pic.twitter.com/TXU9Ink3uj

— David Barton (@DavidBartonWB) September 13, 2024

Also “whistling”:

#Election #WallBuilders #pray pic.twitter.com/mbS4v1uhGq

— David Barton (@DavidBartonWB) September 13, 2024

Metaxas on “Democrats for Trump”:

Democrats for Trump. It's a thing. God bless America. https://t.co/lKDhGLIHi9

— Eric Metaxas (@ericmetaxas) September 13, 2024

Metaxas: God will judge pastors who vote for Harris:

So if your pastor thinks it's ok to vote for Kamala, he is ok w/the brutal murder of innocents. Is your pastor being "neutral" on this the way German pastors were "neutral" on Hitler? Are you tithing to his church? God is a judge. https://t.co/Yp1wEHPCPW

— Eric Metaxas (@ericmetaxas) September 13, 2024

And this:

So if you are going to a church w/a cowardly pastor, you are guilty. https://t.co/n8yytgYZYo https://t.co/1IY3hDJEXO

— Eric Metaxas (@ericmetaxas) September 13, 2024

If there is a conspiracy out there, Metaxas, the Yale grad, will embrace it:

Kamala cheated. https://t.co/KNcnD8Lysl

— Eric Metaxas (@ericmetaxas) September 13, 2024

Robert Jeffress tells his congregation how to vote:

We are responsible for the kind of leaders we elect! Watch the special sermon, How A Christian Should Vote, at https://t.co/kOFYBJ2oIh 📮 pic.twitter.com/DcrCuguVk8

— Dr. Robert Jeffress (@robertjeffress) September 12, 2024

It looks like Kristin is now an expert on the theology of the soul. Al Mohler’s not buying it:

Life begins at conception. To be human is to be ensouled. There is no human being without a soul. Period. Any denial of this truth is not only dangerous — it is deadly. pic.twitter.com/WUrnOR048V

— Albert Mohler (@albertmohler) September 13, 2024

Phil Vischer has thoughts on the last debate:

“Migrant crime is exploding”
“Migrants are eating our pets”

Our willingness to believe claims with no factual support, simply because they paint migrants in a negative light, shows how thoroughly we are failing to love the “least of these.”

— Phil Vischer (@philvischer) September 12, 2024

Hurling a lot of insults, Larry. And still missing the point of the tweet.

— Phil Vischer (@philvischer) September 14, 2024

Theobro update:

Scorching hot take: I think Trump is gonna win, and maybe win big.

— Owen Strachan (@ostrachan) September 11, 2024

It sounds like Kristin DuMez has just discovered the concept of ensoulment and thinks she may have found a justification for killing the unborn.

She laments that our understanding of the ethics of abortion has been impoverished because no one has given due consideration to… pic.twitter.com/yRtmR9VPhS

— Denny Burk (@DennyBurk) September 13, 2024

I totally agree that the scapegoating and harassing of Haitian immigrants is deeply immoral and dehumanizing. Those fanning this cruelty should stop immediately.

This situation is also a reminder of how broken and unjust our immigration system is. We all know that at some… https://t.co/547nXL6UV2

— Andrew T. Walker (@andrewtwalk) September 14, 2024

The modern pro-abortion movement is based on the idea of restricting the reach of the law’s protection of human dignity. How much more depraved is it, then, when progressive Christians are found doing the same thing by questioning whether “ensoulment” would justify killing unborn…

— Andrew T. Walker (@andrewtwalk) September 13, 2024

I honestly wonder what Big Eva leaders would do if 1,000 illegal immigrants invaded their gated community? https://t.co/DH7Ov3FmaG

— Tom Buck (Five Point Buck) (@TomBuck) September 13, 2024

A Southern Baptist theobro tells the Pope to repent:

.@Pontifex, I don’t know what good your gospel is if other religions making contradictory and counter-claims to your own gospel are just as true. It sounds to me like you should repent of false teaching.

— Andrew T. Walker (@andrewtwalk) September 13, 2024

Justin Giboney:

Your concerns might be legitimate but the Christian public witness should never be defined by fear, doom, and gloom.

Find a way to fight back with grace and tenacity.

— Justin Giboney (@JustinEGiboney) September 13, 2024

The Sean Feucht-Julie Roys feud continues:

Once again, your fav @Evangels4Harris puppet will attack anyone supporting Trump while fawning over the Harris supporters.

Hundreds of millions of aborted babies in heaven would like a word with you. https://t.co/hjGp5zn6i1

— Sean Feucht (@seanfeucht) September 14, 2024

Sean is not happy about the Taylor Swift endorsement of Kamala Harris:

RESIST THE BRAINWASHING.

READ THE BIBLE.

RINSE & REPEAT. #HoldTheLine pic.twitter.com/rb88qlpmkM

— Sean Feucht (@seanfeucht) September 12, 2024

Christianity Today podcaster Mike Cosper engages MAGA evangelical Allie Beth Stuckey:

Post-2016, we’ve seen this same willingness to twist Trump’s errors into some kind of serpent wisdom. Covfefe comes to mind.

It’s as if his supporters can’t live with a narrative that includes error.

Until my dying day, I will never understand this phenomenon. https://t.co/bMBbytBPum

— Mike Cosper (@MikeCosper) September 14, 2024

Jemar Tisby agrees with the Christian Right here.

The separation of church and state does not mean the separation of faith and politics.

Your religious, spiritual, and philosophical convictions can and should inform your politics as you also consider that you live in a pluralistic society.

It could scarcely be otherwise.

— JemarTisby.Substack.com. (@JemarTisby) September 13, 2024

Filed Under: Way of Improvement Tagged With: 2024 presidential election, evangelicals and politics