Ignorant Secular Press Too Eager to Label Evangelicals HypocritesBY CP EDITORS
October 14, 2016|7:25 am
Many of America's main news sources failed to accurately describe the relationship of Evangelicals to Donald Trump this past weekend. For the sake of our shared profession and the country, we urge them to get this right.
Following the release of an 11-year-old videotape showing Trump bragging about sexually assaulting women, much (but not all) of the coverage oozed accusations of Evangelical hypocrisy.
"Evangelicals condemned Bill Clinton's sexual sins in the 1990s but now they are excusing Donald Trump's sexual sins," many story lines read.
Granted, a few Evangelical leaders provided ammunition for this narrative. We condemn those types of responses. What Trump said was abhorrent. ...
... Most Evangelical leaders, even those who have endorsed Trump or have said they will vote for Trump without endorsing him, condemned Trump's behavior unequivocally, and so do we.
...
The coverage of this past week often led to the impression that there are only two types of Evangelicals, 1) #nevertrumpers and 2) enthusiastic Trump supporters, with most being in the latter camp. This is not true. In relation to this year's election, there are at least four types of Evangelicals. ... there are (also) 3) Hillary Clinton supporters and 4) reluctant Trump voters.
The vast majority of Evangelicals are in category #4, but much of the recent media coverage failed to convey this fact.
There is nothing hypocritical in saying that you feel compelled to make an excruciating choice between two deplorable candidates, as the reluctant Trump voters continue to convey. If you disagree, if you think that is hypocrisy, then at least be consistent and label reluctant Clinton voters hypocrites as well, as even more evidence of her immoral, criminal and incompetent behavior surfaces daily. (Side note: It would be refreshing to hear Evangelical Clinton voters convey the same degree of consternation regarding their choice that most Evangelical Trump voters convey about their choice.)
The MSM speaking ignorantly - or lying about - Evangelical Christians? The MSM not caring to understand Evangelical Christians? What a
NON-shock.
That said, the paragraphs I bolded capture rather succinctly what I believe to be reality: many Christians, many Evangelicals among them, will vote Trump, but reluctantly. They (we) view HRC as far, far, worse, and Johnson and Stein as non-viable.
Since one of my first reaction to many articles by/about Christian "leaders" and leaders is, "Who is (s)he?" here are links to Christian Post's
About Us and
Leadership & Editorial Staff pages. CP is well within the mainstream of US Evangelicalism.
