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Ray Orlund Deletes Social Media Post After Backlash
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Ray Orlund Deletes Social Media Post After Backlash

Ray Ortlund, a well-known pastor and Christian author, found himself at the center of controversy after a social media post that sparked significant conservative backlash. On Monday, Ortlund posted on Threads, “Never Trump. This time Harris. Always Jesus,” a statement that appeared to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris in the upcoming election. Ortlund, the founder of Immanuel Church in Nashville and president of Renewal Ministries, has long been an influential figure in Christian circles, which made his apparent political stance all the more surprising to his audience.

The backlash from conservative Christians was swift, and Ortlund soon deleted the post. In a follow-up message, he explained, “I have deleted a post from earlier today because it was being misinterpreted. I should have foreseen it. My fault.”

This effort to clarify, however, did little to quell the storm, especially after the original post had already drawn praise from some like New York Times columnist David French, who has been vocal in the "Never Trump" camp. French commented, “This is the way,” supporting Ortlund’s anti-Trump stance.

But not everyone saw it that way. Megan Basham, a reporter for The Daily Wire and author of the bestselling book Shepherds for Sale, criticized Ortlund for backing Harris, suggesting that this was part of a broader trend of Evangelical leaders being co-opted by left-leaning political interests. Basham highlighted Ortlund’s involvement in “The After Party,” a Bible study curriculum with political undertones, as further evidence of his alignment with more progressive Christian thought.

The criticism also extended beyond public figures. Under Ortlund’s original post, a social media user questioned how a Christian leader could vote for a candidate like Harris, given her stance on issues such as abortion.

The user posed the pointed question, “Do you think that killing babies is something Jesus would support? Put your personal views on the person aside and vote for the party that is going to support your morals and religious beliefs.” Ortlund responded by condemning abortion but argued that the opposing side also posed dangers to the foundational rule of law in the country. He maintained that his vote for Harris was based on long-term thinking, aiming for a national renewal.

Despite attempts to explain his reasoning, Ortlund remained hesitant to delve deeper into the conversation. When pressed further, he said, “I’m sorry. But answering your question could risk reversing my decision to delete.” This cryptic response left many wondering whether Ortlund’s initial stance was a moment of clarity or confusion.

While Ortlund’s stance has drawn significant attention, he’s not alone. A growing number of Evangelical leaders have voiced support for Harris and the Democratic ticket in the 2024 election. Some have even formed a group called “Evangelicals for Harris,” advocating that it’s time for Evangelicals to reflect Christian values more authentically by supporting candidates like Harris.

Written by Arthur Higgens - October 2, 2024