“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord'” (Luke 2:10-11, NASB).
On Dec. 20, Mark Galli, the editor-in-chief of Christianity Today magazine who is scheduled to retire on Jan. 3, 2020, dropped a bombshell into the evangelical community. He published an editorial titled, “Trump Should Be Removed From Office.” His reasoning was that, in his judgment, while the president has apparently committed no crimes, he is morally unfit to lead. Subsequently, I have received inquiries from a wide variety of people interested in my comments on the editorial. God seems to have put a burden on my heart to respond.
My father, Billy Graham, was the founder of Christianity Today. My grandfather, L. Nelson Bell, was the first editor. If I were sitting tonight at the kitchen table in my father’s house and this controversy came up, I know exactly what both men would say: Mark Galli and Christianity Today have gone off-message.
Just before Christmas—and every day of the year, for that matter—the message of evangelicals is one I read this morning from the Gospel of Luke (1:78-79), that because of God’s tender mercy, the sunrise has come—the promise of a new day—and His name is Jesus. He is the light of the world who has come to shine upon those who sit in the darkness of despair, suffering, hopelessness, hate, fear and loneliness, to guide our feet into the way of peace. Peace with God and peace with each other. He has come to give us life. And love. And hope. It’s the same message the angels announced at the very first Christmas in Bethlehem, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased” (Luke 2:14). {eoa}
Anne Graham Lotz, second child of Billy and Ruth Graham, is the founder of AnGeL Ministries and former chairman for the National Day of Prayer Task Force. She has authored 15 books, including her new release, Jesus in Me: Experiencing the Holy Spirit as a Constant Companion.
This article originally appeared at annegrahamlotz.org.
