Fox News reports that yesterday (10/27/2024), Vice President Kamala Harris spoke before the Church of Christian Compassion in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, using traditionally pastoral vocal inflections. Many took to social media commenting about her new ‘pastor’ accent – comparing the tenor to that of the late Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.
During her comments, she made reference to Psalm 30:5, stating that “weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. The path may seem hard; the work may seem heavy; but, joy cometh in the morning, and church, morning is on its way [emphasis mine].”
The Fox News video clip of Harris’ scripture reference may be viewed HERE.
The Fox News article may be read HERE.
My brothers and sisters, I must confess that upon seeing the video yesterday, it struck my spirit very strongly. FGGAM does not report on this for political purposes (as we focus our reporting from the perspective of a Biblical Worldview), but this situation is a great example of what FGGAM Co-Founder and Pastor Dewey Moede has been stating for years – ‘politics is the playground of the devil.’
Harris’ contrived accent was undeniable. In-and-of-itself, that’s just how politics works in certain circles today and is not earth shattering. What was so incredibly upsetting to this writer, however, was Harris’ addendum to the words of scripture in which she stated “and church, morning is on its way.”
I suppose one could attribute the reference to God bringing His love, goodness, strength and a fresh start each morning (as the scripture intends), but to this listener, as a major political candidate for the presidency of the United States, and only days from the General Election, the intent of Harris’ comment seemed to imply that she (or a Harris administration) would be the ‘bringer of joy’ to the nation. The glory always goes to God!
This, from a presidential candidate relishing the sometimes-attributed view that she is ‘joyful’ and would bring joy to the White House, seems to be the intentional misalignment of scripture to put focus on the candidate, not the goodness of God. God forgive me if I have this wrong, but this is exactly how it seemed to my spiritual ears.
Now, to be clear, I am thankful to see political candidates attend and even speak in church, as the founding fathers did not establish the government of the United States apart from the Christian faith. They understood that the freedoms inherent in our federal government would depend upon its citizens having strong moral values sufficient to maintain the freedom and integrity inherent in our form of government – a Republic or ‘representative democracy’.
However, one thing is certain. We are to NEVER attribute the goodness or power of God to ourselves:
Isaiah 42:8 (NKJV)
“I am the Lord, that is My name; [a]nd My glory I will not give to another…”.
God reigns supreme. His thoughts are incomprehensively higher than our thoughts:
Isaiah 55:8-9 (NKJV)
“‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, [n]or are your ways My ways,’ says the Lord. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, [s]o are My ways higher than your ways, [a]nd My thoughts than your thoughts.’”
Praise God that as believers, we have been given the word of God (Logos), the Holy Spirit, and the mind of Christ, so that we have the ability to discern truth from evil:
Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV)
“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
John 15:26 (NKJV)
The Holy Spirit Proceeds from the Father and Testifies of Jesus
“But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me [Jesus].”
1 Corinthians 2:16 (Amplified Bible)
“For who has known the mind and purposes of the Lord, so as to instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ [to be guided by His thoughts and purposes].”
Here is the beautiful and hope-filled scripture referenced by Vice President Harris yesterday:
Psalm 30:5 (KJV)
“For [H]is anger endureth but a moment; in [H]is favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”