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Evangelical Pastor in Texas says he's voting for Harris, and tells why.
https://signalpress.blogspot.com/2024/11/longtime-texas-evangelical-pastor.htmlI'm voting for character and competence and and for the candidate who has the capacity and the bandwidth to demonstrate respect and high regard for everybody made in the image of God. Republican Donald Trump doesn't have Harris' character, her competence, or her capacity." Dr. Dwight McKissic, Pastor, Cornerstone Baptist Church, Arlington, Texas
As Dr. McKissic notes, the Republican party has abandoned its long standing call for a national abortion ban, and has removed the language that says marriage is between a man and a woman. That's because they were told to do so by Donald Trump, because he sees these two issues as political liabilities. There is no conviction there on either of those issues. Trump sees these things as hindrances to getting votes, and he also thinks his Evangelical constituency cares more about their loyalty to him than they do about anything else, and that they will sit still for this, and abandon their convictions because he wants it that way.
Dr. McKissic is one of just a few Evangelical voices raised in protest to this abandonment of the main reasons for their political involvement with the GOP. They are more interested in gaining political power that potentially comes with a second Trump Presidency than they are in the convictions and spiritual power of their own faith, at least, most of them are. And so they are following a man whose actions can be described by a passage of scripture found in Paul's epistle to the Christians in Galatia, 5:19 as "the works of the flesh." It's hard to claim to preach truth, and then give personal support, through the ballot box, to a man whose character is described as licentious, but who openly rejects the very truth that these preachers claim to be preaching.
As is the case in politics, which this particular pastor appears to recognize, character and conviction are far more important than planks in a political platform when it comes to the ability of the church to minister, win converts and thrive in an atmosphere of religious liberty and freedom of conscience. The fact that the Democrats support a more secular position when it comes to both abortion rights and gay marriage doesn't prevent Dr. McKissic or his congregation from practicing their convictions regarding either of these two issues, and it does not impose any kind of requirement on them in any tyrannical way.
Dr. McKissic is one of just a few Evangelical voices raised in protest to this abandonment of the main reasons for their political involvement with the GOP. They are more interested in gaining political power that potentially comes with a second Trump Presidency than they are in the convictions and spiritual power of their own faith, at least, most of them are. And so they are following a man whose actions can be described by a passage of scripture found in Paul's epistle to the Christians in Galatia, 5:19 as "the works of the flesh." It's hard to claim to preach truth, and then give personal support, through the ballot box, to a man whose character is described as licentious, but who openly rejects the very truth that these preachers claim to be preaching.
As is the case in politics, which this particular pastor appears to recognize, character and conviction are far more important than planks in a political platform when it comes to the ability of the church to minister, win converts and thrive in an atmosphere of religious liberty and freedom of conscience. The fact that the Democrats support a more secular position when it comes to both abortion rights and gay marriage doesn't prevent Dr. McKissic or his congregation from practicing their convictions regarding either of these two issues, and it does not impose any kind of requirement on them in any tyrannical way.
And let me tell you what I know about Cornerstone Church when it comes to these two issues. They do not condemn in hatred, they minister in love, and people who are struggling with all kinds of things in their life do not see this church as a place to avoid, but as a place to run to for help that they need. Yes, they have convictions they believe are informed by their faith when it comes to abortion and to human sexuality, but they also make a priority out of loving God and loving their neighbor, and not condemning in judgement but ministering in forgiveness and compassion. And they understand the commission given to them by Jesus, recorded in Matthew 28-18-20 in the New Testament. People will not be condemned at Cornerstone, they will be loved and helped and cherished and restored.