A respected theologian is responding to an evangelical colleague who says he won't vote for either major party candidate for president on November 3.
Pastors in Southern states have joined together to denounce racism and affirm racial harmony but a talk radio host, who has tracked that same effort for years now, says it is past time to move on.'Traumatized' children need to be in a classroom
The back and forth continues over whether schools need to be open amid concerns about COVID-19.
The public debate over the 2020 vote between colleagues and longtime friends Dr. John Piper and Dr. Wayne Grudem could actually determine the outcome of what many describe as the most important election in America's history. Both seminary professors are influential in the evangelical community – a voting bloc that could make or break President Donald Trump's chances at a second term in the White House.
Both theologians have written lengthy columns outlining their respective cases (see links below) – Piper arguing that Trump's character issues rule him out as a choice; Grudem saying the president's policies matter more.
Grudem
"There's a difference between the personality and character of a president and the laws that are passed," Grudem shared Thursday on American Family Radio. "If a president is boastful or sexually immoral, people can ignore the example – but you can't ignore a law."
Grudem says despite the president's problematic tweets and apparent pride and boastfulness, he has a better opinion of Trump's character than do the president's critics.
"He's been an unusually successful problem-solver in business. He's raised remarkable children. I've heard many stories of his kindness and generosity. He's shown remarkable courage of his convictions," he lists.
Piper argues that in the Old Testament, God judged Israel based on the character of its kings, and that God will judge America by the same standard. But Grudem points out that it was the wickedness the nation fell into under certain kings that drew God's wrath. Without the evangelical vote, he says, America is on that same path.
Old Testament saints were stuck with generations of kings who may or may not have followed God – but Grudem says "we have a greater privilege here in the United States now. We can choose our leaders ourselves through voting – and I think that's what we have a responsibility to do."
Read column by Dr. John Piper:
Policies, Persons, and Paths to Ruin: Pondering the Implications of the 2020 Election
Read column by Dr. Wayne Grudem:
A respectful response to my friend John Piper about voting for Trump
The back and forth continues over whether schools need to be open amid concerns about COVID-19.
News stories each weekday from reporters you can trust without the liberal bias found in much of "mainstream" media.
News stories each weekday from reporters you can trust without the liberal bias found in much of "mainstream" media.