Russell Moore on 'an altar call' for Evangelical America

In an interview with NPR, Russell Moore reflects on his journey from being a prominent Southern Baptist leader to his current role as an outside critic, driven largely by his opposition to Donald Trump and the Southern Baptist Convention’s handling of various issues. Moore describes how his public criticism of Trump and the Convention’s response to sexual abuse led to his ostracism from the denomination. Despite the personal and professional challenges, Moore finds that his faith has strengthened, and he aims to address the crisis in American Christianity through his new book, Losing Our Religion: An Altar Call For Evangelical America. He emphasizes that the core problem is not just political but a broader issue of cultural and existential disconnection.

Moore argues that genuine reform in evangelicalism cannot be achieved through top-down efforts or political battles but must start at the grassroots level. He states, “When the teachings of Jesus himself are seen as subversive to us, then we’re in a crisis,” highlighting the extent to which fundamental Christian teachings have been overshadowed by cultural and political conflicts. Moore also reflects on his personal exile from evangelical circles, noting, “I am not someone who thinks of myself as a dissenter… but one of the things I’ve noticed is that since I’ve gone through that, I’ve talked to thousands of people who have experienced a very similar thing.” This perspective underscores his belief in the necessity of revisiting and realigning with the original, transformative vision of the church.