October 23, 2024
Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for President of the United States was speaking at a rally last week at the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse. In her speech, she was focusing her remarks on the economy and other salient points frequently highlighted in the 2024 campaign cycle.
Then she began to laud the reproductive rights of women and criticized the Republican nominee, Donald J. Trump for nominating three Supreme Court Justices who were instrumental in overturning the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion on demand.
Harris then declared, “When Congress passes a bill to restore reproductive freedom nationwide, as the President of the United States, I will proudly sign it into law.”
Two students, Grant Beth and Luke Polaske, who were within earshot of the Vice President, protested her comments about reproductive rights, spoke out for the unborn, and declared, “Jesus is Lord.”
Harris responded, “Oh, you guys are at the wrong rally. I think you meant to go to the smaller one down the street.”
Beth told Fox and Friends, “We did God’s work, and we were there for the right reasons, and God was watching us in (that) moment.”
In response to Harris’ remarks on abortion Polaske yelled out to the crowd, “Abortion is the sacrament of Satan.”
Crosswalk.com reported that no more than ten seconds had passed until many in the crowd were saying, “Christ is Lord and Jesus is King.” Others present mocked the two students and those who held to the Lordship of Christ.
Crosswalk also explained that Polaske said, “We believe that Jesus is Lord and that He has the final say in everything we do, and it’s something we center our lives around…. We wanted her to know that.”
We have longed to see our high school and college students love the Lord and unashamedly broadcast His sovereignty and majesty. To think that anyone would decry the faith and fervor of our students is heartbreaking.
Interestingly, Kamala Harris’ rally in Wisconsin was followed by a stop at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in metro Atlanta where she was introduced by pastor Jamal Bryant as “an American hero, the voice of the future” and “our fearless leader.”
She stood in the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church pulpit and spoke of the Good Samaritan, stating, “It is not enough to preach the values of compassion and respect. We must live them.”
While Harris was speaking in Atlanta, J. D. Vance was addressing a large gathering at a rally in Wisconsin when he was interrupted by an attendee who shouted, “Jesus is King.”
Vance responded, “Yes, that is right. Jesus is King.” In a move that seemed to be antithetical to that of Harris, Vance seemed to welcome those who gave a shoutout to Jesus.
In the Wisconsin rally as in most of her rallies, Kamala Harris is an unashamed champion of abortion. The infallible Word of God emphatically advocates the protection and rights of children. (See Exodus 20:13, Proverbs 6:16-17, Luke 17: 1-2).
I cannot understand how a professed Christian could vote for a rabid abortion advocate like Kamala Harris. Mr. Trump’s stand on the issue is not what I prefer, because he wants to pass the buck by giving states the right to make their choice about abortion. While some states may limit abortions to some degree, other states may take a far more liberal stand on the issue.
Today there is not nearly enough concern for the rights of the unborn child. So, Trump’s position on abortion is not what I would prefer. On the other hand, it seems that Harris wants to give carte blanche to the abortion industry.
Harris’ reaction to the cry of those who declared, “Christ is Lord and Jesus is king” provokes a deep concern that she may not have a great passion for religious liberty. In fact, in 2018, when she was California’s senator, she introduced and sponsored the “Do No Harm Act,” a bill aimed at gutting the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). The act was adopted in 1993 and remains as one of the most important federal safeguards for religious Americans.
In contrast to the way Harris handled the Christians who voiced their allegiance to Jesus, in a rally in Detroit she handled a group of Palestinian protesters in a much different way. Halfway through her remarks a half dozen protesters began to chant, “Kamala, Kamala you can’t hide! We won’t vote for genocide.”
She responded by affirming the demonstrators right to voice their opinions, stating, “I’m here because we believe in democracy. Everyone’s voice matters, but I am speaking now.”
And on Thursday, Oct. 17, Vice President Harris publicly agreed with a protestor who interrupted her to accuse Israel of committing genocide. As the interruption began Harris was heard saying, “I am so invested in you all, in every way.”
It is quite remarkable that Harris would be amenable to Palestinian protesters and those who would demean Israel for protecting their citizens and yet dismiss zealous, convictional Christians without a second thought.
Is her true allegiance showing? Does she not realize that by trying to shuffle a few believers down the road to another rally she may be alienating a vast number of Christians in America? A recent Gallup poll indicates that 68 percent of Americans identify as Christians. Have her words brought encouragement and hope to Christians that she will be a proponent of religious liberty and an advocate for our faith?
Does she not know that the day is coming when every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father? If Kamala Harris desires to shuffle down the road those who proclaim His lordship now, what will she do to God-loving people during her administration if she is elected president?
A variety of people hold different views regarding the Christian faith and the kind of relationship one needs to have with Christ. Hopefully, Kamala Harris is a sold-out, Bible- believing Christian and her rebuke of Grant Beth and Luke Polaske was no more than an inappropriate comment in the heat of a hotly contested presidential campaign. However, is that a risk we want to take?
___
J. Gerald Harris is a retired pastor and journalist who served as editor of The Christian Index for nearly two decades. You can reach him at gharris@loveliftedmehigher.org.
