Your Disgust for Roy Moore’s Evangelicals May Say More about You than the Actual Data

By Ed Stetzer - Posted at Christianity Today:

"But the fact that a handful of obscure pastors endorsed Moore, and some people in a poll said they were more likely to support him now, simply does not say what some would like it to say about evangelicals. They are not eager to vote for child molesters. They don’t want their 16-year-olds to date 32-year-olds. And all of their pastors are not endorsing controversial figures accused of child molesting."

The accusations against Roy Moore are credible and Moore should step down. If he continues to maintain his innocence, he should still step down so he can fight to clear his name, for the good of his state, for the success of his party, and to end the embarrassment he is causing evangelicals.

Now, what Moore is credibly accused of is horrific. Christians need to avoid even the appearance of ambivalence towards sexual assault and child molestation. The world is watching and the gospel demands us take a stand against such sin and to stand with the victims.

That should be, and has been for me and many others, our primary focus.

Yet, in addition, as an evangelical and a researcher, that damage to evangelical reputation also needs some fair-minded discussion.

Read more here.

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See also:

• Sexual Misconduct Allegations Against Roy Moore Divide Evangelicals (NPR Interview with Ed Stetzer - approx. 4 minute)

• Evangelicals: This Is What It Looks Like When You Sell Your Soul For A Bowl Of Trump (Ed Stetzer - Christianity Today)