He was the first “born again” president and he was elected during Newsweek magazine’s “Year of the Evangelical.” So what are evangelicals saying about the recent death of Jimmy Carter?
Christianity Today is running an obituary by historian David Swartz. A taste:
In the end, Carter revealed the full dimensions of a diverse evangelical movement. For those convinced that conservative theology requires conservative politics, the former president showed that evangelicals sometimes take moderate and progressive views on civil rights, the environment, and gender equality. Carter’s political career also showed significant limits. This progressive evangelical may have reached the highest office in the nation, but he was left behind as backlash from his own people hamstrung his presidency and sabotaged a potential second term.
The tensions resulting from such high political visibility have largely resolved. The passage of time, the achievement of humanitarian triumphs, and the genial specter of an old man hammering nails and teaching Sunday school in rural Georgia granted Carter the blessing of a long farewell to a remarkable life.
Mike Pence:
Apparently Daniel Darling retweeted Pence’s post, leading to this interesting exchange:
Megan has more to say:
Is this a reference to Carter?:
More from Southern Baptist preacher Tom Buck:
Russell Moore remembers praying with Jimmy Carter:
Jimmy Carter told me to stop worrying about Donald Trump.
When Carter invited me to meet with him in his Atlanta office, just a few weeks after the world-shocking 2016 U.S. presidential election, I assumed the topic would be Donald Trump. After all, I was a vocal evangelical-Christian critic of Trump, and now the religious right was gathering steam for revenge. Some Trump-supporting evangelicals wanted me to be fired or the religious organization I was working for at the time to be defunded. I was rattled by what a Trump presidency would mean for American democracy and, more important, for the witness of the Church after white evangelicals proved to be Trump’s most loyal base. Carter was unfazed.
What would Carter’s death be without a theobro take:
And a theobro response to a theobro:
The leader of the theobros:
The National Association of Evangelicals:
Jim Wallis:
Shane Claiborne:
Franklin Graham:
Jentezen Franklin:
Greg Laurie:
President Jimmy Carter, Age 100, Passes Away
President Jimmy Carter, the oldest living president in history, passed away today at the age of 100 after spending two years in hospice care.
I had the unique privilege of meeting President Carter on three separate occasions, each leaving a lasting impression on me.
The first was at a Billy Graham Crusade in Atlanta, Georgia—a state where Jimmy Carter once served as Governor. Before the crusade began, Billy Graham was showing the President around when they came upon me. Billy introduced me, saying, “Mr. President, this is Greg Laurie. He is a preacher of the Gospel!” It was a profound honor to be introduced to President Carter in such a meaningful way.
The second encounter was on a commercial flight. I vividly remember the former president walking down the aisle, shaking hands with every single passenger, and humbly saying, “Hello, I’m Jimmy Carter.” That moment was unforgettable. Regardless of how one may have voted, it was an honor for everyone on that flight to shake the hand of a former president.
The third time I saw him was at the dedication of the Billy Graham Library, where we had our photograph taken together. Once again, President Carter was gracious and approachable, embodying humility and warmth.
In many ways, he may have been an even better former president than he was while in office. He dedicated much of his post-presidential life to serving others—teaching Sunday school at his church, working with Habitat for Humanity, and engaging in various humanitarian efforts.
We must have respect for the presidency and those who serve in it, even if we do not always agree with their policies. Today, I honor the memory of President Jimmy Carter, a man who exemplified service, humility, and faith throughout his remarkable life. Left to right, Franklin and Jane Graham, myself, George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush, Cathe Laurie and Jimmy Carter.
Tony Perkins:
Gary Bauer:
Johnnie Moore:
Retweeted by Eric Metaxas:
More Metaxas:
“Meets his maker”:
Samuel Rodriguez:
Charlie Kirk: