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Ann Coulter Is Wrong About Russell Moore, Evangelicals, and America

Ann Coulter Is Wrong About Russell Moore, Evangelicals, and America

Last updated on: February 29, 2016 at 11:00 pm by Brandon Mark Showalter

Ann Coulter Is Wrong About Russell Moore, Evangelicals, and America 2016-02-29T23:00:49-04:00 Brandon Mark Showalter

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Ann Coulter has written some real doozies over the years and her latest column is no exception. Much like her left-wing friend Bill Maher, the conservative author and columnist has one acerbic tongue and it was on full display in her recent effusion denouncing the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (SBC) President Russell Moore. When Coulter wants to be she is a shrewd prognosticator, and–also like Bill Maher–a bold voice decrying political correctness. Yet she consistently manages to disembowel her strengths with her penchant for saying truly vile (not to mention ridiculous) things.

This is not the first time she has accused evangelicals of cowardice. In August of last year she wrote that medical missionaries serving in Ebola-stricken African nations lacked courage(!) for opting not to fight the culture wars here in the United States, arguing that such decisions to serve God overseas is “reason for annoyance at Christian narcissism.” Coulter says she is a Christian but one has to wonder if she has ever heard of something called a calling. It means God does not position everyone in Hollywood, where she said Dr. Kenneth Brantly–the humble missionary doctor who contracted the Ebola virus last year in Liberia–should have been serving. Some, like Dr. Brantly, are called by GOD to advance the Kingdom as physicians in troubled regions like West Africa. Brantly’s life is not an expression of cowardice but of radical sacrifice and obedience.

Back to Russell Moore. I myself am not a Baptist, but as a millennial evangelical I thank God for men like him. Finally, (FINALLY!) after years of nonstop cringing while watching high profile Christians make complete fools of themselves on the airwaves with their reactionary silliness and lack of prophetic vision, Moore represents a new breed of leader. Whether the subject is the sanctity of unborn life, caring for the poor, racial reconciliation, or marriage and sexual ethics, he speaks with an intelligent, thoughtful temperament and eloquently promotes a theologically sound, Kingdom-oriented worldview in the public square. I am among the many who appreciate his faithful witness and moral courage in these tumultuous times.

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But because Coulter disagrees with Moore on immigration and Donald Trump, she contends he is “desperate for liberal approval” and that his distaste for the Donald amounts to kissing up to New York Times.

Baloney.

In response to Moore’s wisdom about evangelicals compromising their convictions by supporting Trump, she opined that “actual evangelicals” understand that Trump’s multiple marriages and libertine ways are “entirely beside the point” given the current state of affairs and that all Moore and other Christians want is “proof that a candidate has memorized Bible verses.”

First of all, “actual evangelicals” are not so enthused with Donald Trump, that is, if you care to take a look. Dig a little deeper into the data and you will find that Mr. You’re Fired is actually the least favored candidate among them. Whatever salient points on immigration policy Coulter might be making about limousine liberals and the GOP donor class supporting amnesty because they want cheap labor, the idea of trusting a clownish, thrice-married, media manipulating entertainer to keep his promises is not “entirely beside the point.”It is fundamentally about a legitimate question of character and sincere differences regarding how to best approach the complex challenge of governing the flow of new immigrants coming to this country. Hyping ugly racial stereotypes and “Deport them all, build a wall!” might resonate with a few red-meat populists, but it is not a realistic nor serious approach.

By contrast, it is the New York Times, that newspaper Moore and “evangelical leadership” are supposedly so concerned about placating, that furthers the nonsensical idea that we Jesus enthusiasts are enthralled with Trump so they can engage in some good ole Christian-bashing, which they do quite routinely. Ann, you are the one being duped here. If Russell Moore wanted to come anywhere close to being in the Old Grey Lady’s good graces he would have to start a national campaign called Southern Baptists Standing with Planned Parenthood.

Yet most interesting (and ridiculous) was this line from Coulter’s wrongheaded article: “This is an election about saving the concept of America, the last hope for Christianity on the planet.”

More baloney.

The United States is not the last hope for Christianity on the planet because the United States is not God’s last hope. America may be a consequential nation at this moment in history but the advance of the Kingdom and the furtherance of the gospel of Jesus Christ has never been constrained by national borders or geopolitics. In that Kingdom, Christians are people who lose to win. It is upside down. Moreover, the Holy Spirit is moving all over the earth (including here in the USA) and the Lord is raising up people in unlikely margins of the world to proclaim the good news even though you may never hear about it on CNN. While I certainly lament the rebellion and rejection of God in our land, we need not fear. The gates of hell have still not managed to prevail against the Church, and they never, ever will.

There will be trouble, but Jesus has already overcome the world. Even if the United States was to disappear tomorrow, God still has a holy prescription. And I happen to believe He even has one for America because of the increase of his government and of peace, there will be no end (Isaiah 9:7).

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Photo Credit: Freeimages.com

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