Key Takeaways:
– Pastor Wm. Dwight McKissic Sr. of Cornerstone Baptist Church has announced that he will not vote Republican in the next elections.
– The steadfast GOP supporter cites recent ideological shifts within the party as reasons behind his decision.
– McKissic criticizes the GOP’s departure from strongly pro-life standpoints and traditional marriage values.
– He strongly disapproves of Donald Trump for numerous reasons, including Trump’s inconsistent stance on reproductive rights, alleged felonies, controversial and misleading rhetoric.
Switching Lanes For Morality
Known for traditionally supporting the Republican Party, Wm. Dwight McKissic Sr., pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas, broke his norm for the first time. The pastor cited a biblical verse from Matthew chapter 7 saying that just as a tree not bearing good fruit should be hewn down and cast into the fire, so should today’s Republican Party be in the eyes of evangelicals.
A Shifted Stand and A Lost Recognition
McKissic recalled and hailed the strong pro-life advocacy of the GOP making them a favored choice amongst many religious leaders. The pastor found comfort in the party’s adamant stance against abortion, labeling it as one of the key reasons behind his support. However, in recent years, he’s found himself unable to recognize the party he once knew and championed.
In a peculiar turn of events, he implied that the GOP seems, to have walked away from their fundamental stances, straying far from the paths of their enduring pillars. Their newly-adopted platform appears to no longer support a nationwide ban on abortion. Furthermore, they have omitted the traditional stance that marriage is between a man and a woman, a bedrock for any free society.
An Unhealthy Sampling of Character Flaws
It wasn’t just the party’s ideological shift that pushed the pastor away from the GOP in the upcoming 2024 elections. The controversial figure of Donald Trump, their nominee, too played a significant role in McKissic’s decision to opt-out of supporting the party he loved.
The conservative preacher detailed a list of grievances against Trump. He pointed out Trump’s multiple alleged adulterous relationships, his possibly unlawful convictions, his race-baiting tendencies, his aggressive talks, his alleged constant falsities, and his seemingly non-Christianlike behavior. Despite such grievances, he mused over the fact that the evangelical leaders who condemned former President Bill Clinton for his illicit affair and lies, surprisingly overlooked Trump’s supposed numerous scandals and proven liability for abusively harassing a woman.
Voting for Character and Competence
Utilizing the fierce assertion that character and competence should be the determining factors for any candidate, McKissic made clear his intentions to switch his loyalty. He affirmed that he would vote for a candidate who maintains a higher regard for every individual, respecting their creation in the image of God.
McKissic did not hesitate to state that such virtues are glaringly lacking in Donald Trump. Presenting a comparison, he upheld Democratic candidate Kamala Harris as a more favorable option. According to the pastor, Harris demonstrates a stronger character, impressive competence, and a far-greater capacity to respect and honor the dignity of every individual.