For a staunch conservative and ardent Christ follower who believes the only political persuasion to be is “staunch conservative,” that headline about Billy Graham’s granddaughter will get serious attention. If not for any other reason than it speaks Billy Graham’s name in the same vicinity as the current Vice President.
This is about Jerushah Duford, LPC, NCC, the late evangelical stalwart’s granddaughter.
Her announcement about Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign ruffles feathers and forces those aforementioned Christians to have their seats in an upright position. Duford shared that she joined “Evangelicals for Harris.” And if that wasn’t awe-striking enough, she discussed Christians “who continue to support Trump” are “putting people off from following Jesus’ teachings.”
Here’s the full video of Jerusha Duford (Billy Graham’s granddaughter) from the “Evangelicals For Harris” Zoom call.@JonBrownDC covered the message well (link in replies) but I figure many of you want to watch it for yourselves too pic.twitter.com/kPMX3qvjCE
— Woke Preacher Clips (@WokePreacherTV) August 16, 2024
Billy Graham’s Granddaughter Shocks the World
The only reason this is news is it is Billy Graham’s granddaughter who wants to vote for Kamala Harris. If it were any other person, this post would not exist. More importantly, Jerushah Duford’s decision would be looked at (by her friends and family) on its merit.
“But Kamala Harris believes this” and “The Vice President does that.” Doubt is normal. It should not be judged or mocked. It’s practically a rite of passage for Christ followers, but her reasoning should be the headline to help people of faith understand the impact of decisions moving into November.
As Duford shared in her video, “This is so much more than politics.”
“In 2016, when a man bragged about assaulting women, various leaders of my faith then propped up this man as a poster boy for godly manhood and leadership. This broke my heart as I have watched — quite frankly, for the last eight years — people who were curious about Jesus and his teachings [have] done a 180 and walked in the other direction from my faith.”
That’s her interpretation and perception. It’s what makes us human. We all have that ability to see something on TV, hear it on a streaming platform, or, you know, read it in a book. The Bible isn’t as much as what we read but how we filter the Holy Scriptures and apply God’s Word to our lives.
She Didn’t Shock Jesus
Duford’s mother is Virginia ‘Gigi’ Graham Tchividjian, Billy Graham’s oldest daughter. If that surname rings a bell, it should. The founding pastor of what was New City Church, and now part of the Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, is William Graham Tullian Tchividjian–her brother. After resigning from his role as senior pastor in 2015, following an admitted extramarital affair, Tchividjian founded a new church in 2019, The Sanctuary.
It’s that side of the austere Billy Graham legacy that has been most outspoken against Trump, not his politics but his behavior. That focus was on full display in Duford’s video.
“First, people professing the Lord made excuses for [Trump’s] lack of kindness, then for the name-calling. Soon it was making excuses for assault. Then it became making excuses for January 6, and now making excuses for convicted assault and 34 felonies,” Duford said. “The oak leaves don’t wither overnight. And I’m terrified to think of how far this turning our head the other way and making excuses will take our country—but more importantly, our witness to the world.”
Is she right or wrong? If you think objectively, neither.
Her interpretation of God’s Word is that one candidate should display more standards and fewer scruples. Does the other candidate have baggage? Definitely, and not just the carry-on type either. Of course, she–and he–does. They’re politicians.
This is a country divided, so it should make sense that even at the Graham Thanksgiving table, there will be some disagreement. And our head of the table knows that about everyone.
Yet, Jesus isn’t a “red state” Republican; he’s purple. The color denotes royalty. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. His focus is people. Do we need a better economy to enjoy the favor of God in some areas? Without question. Do people in challenging situations need better access to assistance? Most definitely.
Yet, those are two sides of the same coin. When red and blue are mixed (political code for “Republican” and “Democrat”), those two colors create purple. Odd, isn’t it? In Congress, there is only progress if we come together.
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