An evangelical explains what people get wrong about her faith

When President Donald Trump’s era concludes, one certainty remains: evangelical Christians in the United States will continue to overwhelmingly support him. Despite his popularity plummeting, evangelical support remains steadfast. This has given rise to the perception in popular media and non-evangelical circles that the evangelical movement is rife with bigotry, blind Trump loyalty, and hypocrisy.

However, Bonnie Kristian, a deputy editor at Christianity Today and fellow at Defense Priorities, argues that this portrayal is misleading. It is a simplistic caricature that conflates the passionate, vocal white evangelical voting bloc with the entire evangelical faith tradition. Kristian contends that this "monstering" of ordinary people who hold sincere beliefs about their personal relationship with Jesus Christ, the importance of the Bible, and spreading the gospel, distorts the reality of American evangelicalism.

She emphasizes that this vocal, politically active group should not be mistaken for the broader evangelical community. Kristian draws on research indicating that when Southern evangelicals leave the church, they become more cynical and individualistic, raising concerns about the future of democracy. In her recent book, "In Defense of Evangelicalism," she rebuts five common criticisms of the evangelical movement: insincerity, advancing evil, hypocrisy, imposing itself on others, and seeking political control.

Through her work, she aims to shed light on the true nature of evangelicalism and provide a clearer understanding of its place in contemporary society.