Prominent Evangelical leader Franklin Graham has taken a stand to bring California back from the brink of godlessness by calling on Christians to head to the polls and vote so-called progressives out of office.
In a recent radio interview announcing his Decision America California Tour he decried the secular and atheist direction the far-left has taken. Graham, the son of internationally acclaimed preacher Billy Graham, says that sanctuary cities are a “little picture of hell.”
The popular preacher organized 10 major rallies that included support from well-known Christian entertainers, videos and even a light show. Rallies were held in Pasadena, Escondido, Oxnard, Fresno, and Modesto among others to inspire Christians to vote.
Were Christian Gatherings Politically Slanted?
The intent of Graham’s revivals was to ignite Christian voters and call upon people of faith to look deep into their hearts and consider candidates that reflect their values. Although the message was not necessarily a political one, left-leaning media outlets such as the New York Times tried to convince people that this was solely a political tour.
“I haven’t talked to anybody in the parties,” Graham reportedly said to conservative icon Todd Starnes. “We are staying out of the politics part of it. But I do want Christians to vote and I want them to ask God before they vote, who they should vote. But, I don’t think the Christians should be silent. The Christian voice needs to be heard.”
“So, I am sure the New York Times thinks this is political,” he reportedly said. “They can think whatever they want to think. I want people to vote. That is so important that we do that and not just vote, but encourage Christians to run for office. We need Christian legislators. We need Christian mayors. We need Christians on the city council.”
Although the New York Times has taken up an anti-conservative and often anti-Christian position, it is still difficult to look at Graham’s message as non-partisan. The preacher has been an ardent and outspoken supporter of Pres. Donald J. Trump.
“We certainly don’t hold him up as the pastor of this nation and he is not,” Graham reportedly said. “But I appreciate the fact that the president does have a concern for Christian values, he does have a concern to protect Christians whether it’s here at home or around the world and I appreciate the fact that he protects religious liberty and freedom.”
That being said, Graham has made his opposition to abortion and same-sex marriage abundantly clear. These positions, of course, are rooted in the Bible and the teaching of Jesus Christ. That puts many West Coast Democrats at odds with Graham and evangelicals in general.
“Progressive?” Graham reportedly said, “That’s just another word for godless.”
Political Implications of Graham’s Tour
It would be difficult to argue The New York Times does not engage in the extreme political polarization that divides many Americans. So, it’s no surprise that the outlet frames Graham’s movement as entirely political.
But he is not necessarily a Democrat or Republican. He is a man of God and supports candidates that further the values expressed in the Gospel.
Research bears out the fact that conservatives are overwhelmingly more Christian than their liberal counterparts and those worldviews are generally reflected across party lines. Christian leaders such as Graham remain open to working with Democrats, Libertarians, Greens and others that share Christian values and would implement consistent policies. To liberal advocacy organizations such as The New York Times, it’s simply GOP vs DNC.
Despite early sighting of the “Blue Wave” that would have far-left Democrats regaining power, polls now show the mid-term elections are a toss-up. California may be ground zero for a political watershed that buoys Christian conservatives nationwide. The state is home to the largest number of mega-churches and one in five Californians are evangelicals, according to the Pew Research Center.
Many Christians and even secular voters have grown disgruntled with the state’s Democrat super-majority that claimed it was a “sanctuary state,” encourages abortion and recently dumped an unwelcome gas tax of 12 cents per gallon on residents. A minority of far-left Democrats are effectively controlling the direction of the state by imposing their mostly secular and atheist values. Christian voices have been shut out.
But if Graham and other inspirational leaders rally Christians to the polls, they could help the largely Christian GOP to protect religious rights. Should liberals suffer even a partial defeat in California, that message would likely press Democrats back to the center and re-embrace the values of everyday Americans.
In 2016, Graham hit the road in support of then-candidate Trump, urging voters to back a fellow Christian who promised to defend religious rights and nominate a Supreme Court justice who would hold legal sway. His efforts were surprisingly rewarded.
“The church just has to be wakened,” Graham said. “People say, what goes in California is the way the rest of the nation is going to go. So, if we want to see changes, it is going to have to be done here.”
~ Christian Patriot Daily
