Christianity Today was founded by the late Reverend Billy Graham, the leading figure in evangelical Christianity. Its publication is Christianity Today. CT published an editorial today saying that it was time for Trump to leave. it received national attention.
The editorial was signed by its editor-in-chief Mark Galli:
Let’s grant this to the president: The Democrats have had it out for him from day one, and therefore nearly everything they do is under a cloud of partisan suspicion. This has led many to suspect not only motives but facts in these recent impeachment hearings. And, no, Mr. Trump did not have a serious opportunity to offer his side of the story in the House hearings on impeachment.
But the facts in this instance are unambiguous: The president of the United States attempted to use his political power to coerce a foreign leader to harass and discredit one of the president’s political opponents. That is not only a violation of the Constitution; more importantly, it is profoundly immoral.
The reason many are not shocked about this is that this president has dumbed down the idea of morality in his administration. He has hired and fired a number of people who are now convicted criminals. He himself has admitted to immoral actions in business and his relationship with women, about which he remains proud. His Twitter feed alone—with its habitual string of mischaracterizations, lies, and slanders—is a near perfect example of a human being who is morally lost and confused.
Trump’s evangelical supporters have pointed to his Supreme Court nominees, his defense of religious liberty, and his stewardship of the economy, among other things, as achievements that justify their support of the president. We believe the impeachment hearings have made it absolutely clear, in a way the Mueller investigation did not, that President Trump has abused his authority for personal gain and betrayed his constitutional oath. The impeachment hearings have illuminated the president’s moral deficiencies for all to see. This damages the institution of the presidency, damages the reputation of our country, and damages both the spirit and the future of our people. None of the president’s positives can balance the moral and political danger we face under a leader of such grossly immoral character….
To the many evangelicals who continue to support Mr. Trump in spite of his blackened moral record, we might say this: Remember who you are and whom you serve. Consider how your justification of Mr. Trump influences your witness to your Lord and Savior. Consider what an unbelieving world will say if you continue to brush off Mr. Trump’s immoral words and behavior in the cause of political expediency. If we don’t reverse course now, will anyone take anything we say about justice and righteousness with any seriousness for decades to come? Can we say with a straight face that abortion is a great evil that cannot be tolerated and, with the same straight face, say that the bent and broken character of our nation’s leader doesn’t really matter in the end?

This article is totally RIGHT ON!!!! I sincerely hope that all evangelicals read and head what was written very straight forward item. The truth has been written. It is time for Trump to go.
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Unfortunately, Billy Graham’s son Franklin Graham, who has taken over his father’s ministry, is still a strong Trump supporter.
https://www.foxnews.com/media/trump-graham-christianity-today-remove-billy-franklin-impeach
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Franklin Graham will stay quiet about this, whichever way he feels about Trump. Franklin Graham is in some deep doo-doo with Liberty U right now and can’t afford to run at the mouth.
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I wish that was the case, but his public comment above seems to suggest otherwise.
Pushing an “end of times” narrative, Franklin Graham is the one pushing evangelicals to see Trump as their imperfect messenger, like King David.
Earlier this year Franklin Graham was given his flock the idea that the country could unravel (hinting that they should unravel the country) if Trump is actually impeached.
https://religionnews.com/2019/10/02/franklin-graham-on-impeachment-our-country-could-begin-to-unravel/
Now that impeachment has actually occurred it will be telling how he leads his followers to react. Let’s hope that you’re right.
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About TIME!
Thanks for the article, Diane, and thank you for your blog.
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I wish I could be more openminded but… I have had it.
“If we don’t reverse course now, will anyone take anything we say about justice and righteousness with any seriousness for decades to come?”
It is hard to see this plea to “reverse course” suddenly matters NOW when this organization and many others professing to represent some true faith have had three years of offensive language and cruel, really cruel policies from Trump. Add the loud-mouthed approval of Trump by his base, and the studied silence of most elected officials who identify as Republicans. Consider also the staying power of VP Pence and Betsy DeVos who are proud to claim status as Christians and all too eager to defend Trump’s policies.
I grew up several miles from the Florida Bible Institute (affectionally called FBI) where Billy Graham got his start. I was Sunday-schooled in evangelical messages before I came of age and began to understand fully the hypocrisy of particular Bible teachers in evangelical churches, not as loud mouthed and crude as Trump, but corrupt to the core.
Thank goodness I have had other teachers, multiple faith traditions (and none) who have provided whatever moral compass I now have.
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You are right to be skeptical.
The editors of Christianity Today can see the writing on the wall that says ” Trump supporting Evangelicals are immoral, opportunistic Bible thumping quacks” and are now desperately trying to erase it.
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“And no, Mr. Trump did not have a serious opportunity to offer his side of the story in the House hearings on impeachment.“
An excellent editorial except for this. What am I missing? The Dems gave every opportunity to donald and team to appear. This seeming falsehood makes me question the rest of the editorial. You know the saying. “ one error in a spreadsheet makes the whole spreadsheet wrong.” While a very welcome crack in the facade, I still wonder why the whole piece couldn’t have been truthful
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I thought that was a bizarre line. Trump was invited to present a defense, and he forbade everyone in his government to testify.
His senior officials were invited to testify and they refused.
This is nonsense.
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Six states that went for Obama in 2012 and then for Trump in 2016, Florida -21% Catholic, Ohio -18% Catholic, Pennsylvania -24% Catholic. (These three states have seen a large increase in Catholic Republican political activity in the past few years), Iowa, Wisc.- 25% Catholic, Mich. -18% Catholic.
My opinion- Hillary’s campaign assumed the Catholic vote would go to Dems. because Northeastern states, with high percentages in the Catholic faith vote Dem.
More data would confirm or lead to rejection of the premise.
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At this point, Protestant Evangelicals already have a lot to answer for when it comes to the moral blindness of their fealty to this disgraceful “president.”
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Sixty percent of white Catholics voted for Trump. Udi Greenberg’s article in Journal of the History of Ideas, “Catholics, Protestants and the Tortured Path to Religious Liberty” (2018) is enlightening.
In 2008, 47% of white Catholics voted for Obama and 52% voted for McCain. 8% is a large change in less than a decade.
It may be explained by the alliance of evangelicals, the Koch network and Catholics during that time period.
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Amen to this.
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Saw a story this morning that the author of this piece will be retiring on Jan. 3. Another example of courage as they walk out the door.
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On the Trump era, critics of Trump retire. Dictatorship stifles dissent.
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Interesting, Greg.
If Trump shoots the editorialist on 5th Avenue, the MAGA base and GOP politicians will be o.k. with it.
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