How Trump’s Victory Affects The Civil War In Evangelicalism

The Federalist ^ | 12/02/2024 | Jon Harris

[SeekAndFind]

Many Evangelical leaders have increasingly aligned with the leftist ruling class, while many in the pews maintain more conservative views.

Over the past decade, a clear political divide has emerged within American evangelical Christianity. Institutional leaders have increasingly aligned their organizations with the leftist ruling class, while many in the pews maintain more conservative views and resist these shifts. Trump’s recent victory has intensified this balancing act for leaders and further deepened the divide within the movement.

Signaling approval for the left’s cultural dominance while maintaining Religious Right credentials has never been easy. In the 2010s, the strategy was to expand the definition of pro-life to include issues such as racial justice and left-leaning immigration policies. To pick one example among many: McLean Bible Church Pastor David Platt wrote positively, in his 2020 book Before You Vote, about a Christian who cared about the life issue but would not vote for a Republican pro-life candidate. This is the same D.C. beltway pastor who shut down his church for Covid-19 and marched and spoke at a Black Lives Matter-style protest that same year. Platt, along with many evangelical leaders, gave the impression that Christians were expected to push the needle left on a range of issues while pushing right was, at the very least, optional.

Platt’s signaling against Trump — when he essentially apologized to his congregation for the “hurt” he may have caused related to issues like “racial division and injustice” after praying for Trump — was only possible as long as theoretical lip service was paid to pro-life and pro-family issues. This allowed evangelical elites to project an image of transcending the political divide, when they were in fact choosing a side.

Luke-Warm Christian Intellectuals

In 2024, white evangelicals once again voted for the president-elect in large numbers. Yet many individuals who see themselves as the evangelical intellectual vanguard are unable to see why evangelicals would vote for Trump and are reviving the narrative that he poses a threat to Christian values.

Russell Moore, the editor-in-chief of Christianity Today, chalked Trump’s victory up to an infatuation Americans have with entertainment. Evangelical New York Times columnist David French encouraged Christians to stand courageous in the face of MAGA’s cruelty. Like he had in 2020, Pastor John Piper of Desiring God once again insinuated a moral equivalency existed between Trump and his Democrat opponent when he tweeted that the results showed God had “delivered us from one evil” but “now tests us with another.”

In a recent Gospel Coalition article shared by former Vice President Mike Pence, McLean Bible Church Associate Pastor Joe Carter makes the case that Trump’s nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to run the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) signals “that the GOP has fully shifted from the pro-life party to one that’s unapologetically pro-choice.” Carter went on to chastise the pro-life establishment for its lack of principle and encourage them to “reject any temptation to trade moral clarity for political favor.”

Yet, two years ago when President Joe Biden issued an executive order to protect abortion through the HHS, Carter told Christians that the order would not “have much effect on the [abortion]” since the Dobb’s decision had kicked the issue back to legislatures. Carter also said that on abortion, “aside from nominating Supreme Court justices, most of what [presidents] can do is purely symbolic.”

Apparently, the pro-life movement has more to fear from a Trump HHS than they did from a Biden HHS. And this despite the fact that RFK Jr. is open to appointing an “anti-abortion stalwart to a senior position in HHS” and restoring “anti-abortion policies from the first Trump administration.”

This is how many evangelical elites operate — some have referred to it as “punch right, nuance left.”

Evangelical Publications Mislead their Flock

In the world of the evangelical elite, people such as Carter are able to pour cold water on Trump’s core demographic from the inside. Organizations such as The Gospel Coalition, Christianity Today, and the Southern Baptist’s public policy arm — the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) — must retain some pro-life and pro-family positions, but they subversively bend public opinion toward the left in every other available avenue, whether on red flag laws or comprehensive immigration reform. According to the Gospel Coalition, an evangelical opinion-shaping outlet, the religious right joined the Republican Party because of their “self-centered framework” and the Biden administration’s transgender normalization push in schools is “flawed” but Trump’s policies will lead to the “same place.”

Southern Baptist Leaders Moderating

Yet it is important to note there may be a few leaders adjusting their political approach as they realize Christian public opinion has not supported their positions. This is especially visible in the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC).

J.D. Greear, who served as the president of the SBC from 2018 to 2021, insinuated numerous times that Trump was somehow racist and his policies incompatible with Christianity. For him, central elements of the black lives matter movement, including taking “a deep look at our police systems and structures,” was a “gospel issue,” and promoting “diversity, equity, and inclusion” in the church was “an essential part of discipleship and the responsibility of every follower of Jesus.” Yet, he was able to say there was “much to be hopeful for” in the wake of Trump’s win.

Pastor Dean Inserra of City Church in Tallahassee, Florida, who some SBC insiders say will likely run for president of the denomination, opposed supporting Trump in 2016 on the basis that he had marriage issues and made “derogatory statements toward women and toward ethnic minority groups.” Yet, he surprisingly expressed that Christians in America should line up more with the Republican Party after 2024 election.

One of the most telling post-election Southern Baptist statements came from Nathan Finn, a professor at North Greenville University and ERLC fellow. During Trump’s first term, Finn had put his name on left-leaning statements related to Trump and the Charlottesville rally. Yet in the aftermath of Trump’s 2024 victory, he maintained a positivity about Trump’s more racially diverse coalition. Finn said that “demographics [were] not destiny,” socioeconomic factors determined outcomes more, and churches needed to be welcoming to members of different economic and, by implication, political groups. The interesting part of this strategy is that the goal of making congregations politically diverse, and thus appealing to Democrats, is still present. What’s missing is the diversity language that used to accompany such calls. It is possible that Southern Baptists may be backing off some of their more overt racialized language.

A Lasting Solution

Evangelical leaders, denominations, and organizations will have to navigate the next four years with the understanding that their base of support is a central part of Trump’s coalition. My advice to rank-and-file evangelicals is to consider who attempted to steer their futures toward disaster and respond accordingly. Some leaders will remain steadfast in their leftward direction, others will moderate just enough to placate their base, while some may genuinely return to their Religious Right roots.

Unfortunately, it takes time to discern whether good changes are sincere. Pew sitters should think twice before allowing leaders who compromised on government Covid-related overreach, Critical Race Theory, and other left-leaning movements to continue leading their organizations. Jesus himself said, “He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much.”

Christians should also consider raising new leaders from uncompromised up-and-coming organizations such as the Center for Baptist Leadership, Truthscript, and American Reformer. Fresh faces who are loyal both to God and their congregations will close the growing political divide within evangelicalism faster than any attempt to reform the current leadership class. This will also strengthen communities in red areas dominated by Christian conservatives, since a healthy church has historically held the state accountable. More than just the future of evangelical Christianity hangs in the balance.

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Jon Harris is an author, producer, and cultural commentator. He hosts the "Conversations That Matter" podcast.

[Responsibility2nd]

Where’s the “Aw Jeez” guy?

Leftists used this lame effort before the election in an attempt to divide Christians. It didn’t work. So why are they still hung up about it?

[Carry_Okie]

Over the past decade, a clear political divide has emerged within American evangelical Christianity.

Divinity schools are full of delusional academics, and have been since the inception of the German university system.

[sauropod]

I would say this is true.

During the BLM mess, our lead pastor went in a woke-ward direction. I almost left the church because of it.

[ansel12]

The national reaction to Bud Light type corporate decisions, the national reaction to Hollywood’s decisions, and then the clincher of this national election underlining all the backlash trends, has shown that the perception the left had won and that the smart thing was to align with them, was a mistake.

[MNDude]

David Platt is a real POS.

He wrote a VERY judgmental book saying Americans are as sinful as slave owners since they own $200k homes while there’s poverty in the world.

Guess what! This “make a sacrifice” pastor bought a 1.1 million dollar house for himself.

[Tell It Right]

See tagline. The context is when someone tells you that he has prophetic revelation from God on what to teach you. I apply it to anyone teaching me anything.

[mn-bush-man]

So many mainstream fork-tongued manipulators have found their way to the lucrative pulpit... it’s a well designed left-leaning, truth hating, money loving network of shysters. There’s really no difference between Platt and Benny Hinn. They’re all connected and serving the same god.

[ifinnegan]

“See tagline. The context is when someone tells you that he has prophetic revelation from God on what to teach you. I apply it to anyone teaching me anything.”

Of course.

But what does that have to do with this article.

[cyclotic]

I attend a small church led by a team of elders. There are three who we believe have been co-opted by the left and we have lost all trust with. The remaining four seem to be OK.

It’s sickening.

[Tell It Right]

But what does that have to do with this article.

Maybe I should have been more clear. Don't trust anyone in some kind of teaching authority to be telling you the truth. Even if that is coming from a professed Christian leader (including the evangelical leaders this article is about).

[ifinnegan]

Yes.

Your post was talking about prophecy so it was confusing.

This liberal social gospel, political manipulation is probably more harmful than the overt charlatans.

[Tell It Right]

Your post was talking about prophecy so it was confusing.

Perhaps you didn't see this part of my original post: "I apply it to anyone teaching me anything." Meaning, the teacher doesn't have to say he's a prophet for me to do my own research before applying his teaching to my life.

And I apply it to any other subject matter, religion or otherwise. Want to change my mind about politics? I'll sit with anyone as long as he gives me information that I can later research and verify. Otherwise he has nothing. The same with science. The same the argument over origin of life. The same with just about any topic.

Of course, after decades of doing this it's pretty hard to change my mind. It's rare someone comes up with something I haven't researched and thought out. But I still respect people enough to listen to them to see if they say something I haven't heard of before.

[nwrep]

The Daystar pastors maligned by Protestia are better than this crew above.

[sarge83]

Our small Southern Baptist Church has rejected woke and leftist ideology thus far. The pastor, assistant pastor and deacons will not tolerate it’s entrance into the church.

We have had some members get mad and quit as a result and the take is, that’s fine, will stick with the Bible and you do what you do, but we are not changing or accepting your woke views. We had a couple think we would suddenly accept gay marriage because SCOTUS said it was legal. The Sunday after the decision the church voted into our by-laws, marriage is between a man and a woman only and that is what this church will accept. The couple was furious and left. Sorry to see you leave but no, God’s rules count not yours or SCOTUS.

Our pastor was asked to go to a deacon ordination service by two of his nephews at a different church who were being ordained. He showed up and the church pastor asked him if he would do the honor of questioning/interrogation and he said I said sure and did my usual question. He read the qualifications for a deacon in Timothy and when he got to the part that said the husband of one wife he heard an audible gasp from the congregation followed by whispers of I can’t believe he would dare ask such a line of questions. All the candidates said they did follow that doctrine but, a few in the congregation were still aghast and his response was it’s in the Bible do you have a problem reading the Bible in your church? If you do take it up with God.

Big Eva is committing suicide like the rest of the protestant denominations, for $ and numbers and it’s an abomination and based on fraudulent teachings by pastors and leaders who either know better and don’t care or just don’t care what they are doing.

[John Leland 1789]

We have never been "evangelicals" by the definition of it generally accepted since 1960.

The term should merely refer to whether folks are evangelistic (soul-winning, practicing direct personal evangelism, carrying-on market-place evangelism, etc.), but it apparently has not meant that for a long time. Having been a child of God since I trusted the finished redemptive work of Christ alone as the only remedy for my sin and and only hope of everlasting life for 48 years, and after having been in the Christian ministry nearly all of that time, I have never witnessed evangelicals in any significant number being personally or publicly evangelistic. Certainly not in our Indiana county since we have owned a home here since 1997. Sentimentally religious, yes, but evangelistic, no.

"Evangelical", generally speaking, in the 19th century was tantamount to being called "fundamentalist" in the 20th century.

Especially after the 1920s it became necessary for very many who were called "evangelicals" to leave that term behind and to stress "fundamentalism", a strict adherence to the "fundamentals of the Christian faith." Too many of the denominational colleges and seminaries were becoming rationalistic, liberal and modernistic, theologically, and the anti-Biblical affect this was beginning to have on the local churches was very great. Many departed and were called, "fundamentalists."

We have been for many years among Christians who call ourselves "Bible-believers," and have all but stopped using the designation, "fundamentalist."

1. We are evangelistic to the chagrin of most professing Christians today because we are politely confrontational and fully intend to cause individuals to examine and and honestly evaluate whether their profession is genuine based on the New Testament itself.

2. We adhere to the fundamentals of the Christian faith, but we don't only adhere to the fundamentals, but to the Scriptures as a contiguous whole, and as it describes God's varied dealings with mankind in the various dispensations revealed in the Scriptures. We are Christians living and serving God specifically in the "dispensation of the grace of God" (as revealed in Ephesians chapter 3; &c.)

Frankly, I don't trust "evangelicals" today generally to be strong for truth. I don't believe that they will fight and die for truth or liberty.

We call "evangelicalism" "Christianity-lite." We have a hard time visualizing them really taking any stand for anything that might cost them something. If you call yourself an "evangelical" and you are something more in the field of standing out in public as a defender of BIBLE truth first, and then standing openly against the wickedness---the sins and unbelief of the current generation and the political and intellectual elite, then I THANK OUR SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST for you, dear friend. But I seriously wonder why you identify with the modern term, "evangelical."

[marron]

I never assume that an “evangelical leader” is a Christian. I don’t assume that a catholic Cardinal is a Christian.

[SaveFerris]

The seminaries have been cranking out liberal Leftist “social justice” people disguised as pastors and leaders

I ought to know - I worked with several of them

[ConservativeMind]

I did not realize such perverse thinking was coming from such leaders.

It goes to show that we all need to be wary of believing lies from the Media and government sources. It also shows seemingly intelligent, God-fearing people, can be easily misled.

Those willingly made blind have issues that run deep.

[metmom]

The enemy is always trying to sow division.