My intent in yesterday’s Ewellogy on Jimmy Carter was to point out the fallacy of conflating our politics with our theology. Just because some Christians didn’t like his politics is no grounds for declaring he’s not a Christian. I’m not alone. Russell Moore, editor-in-chief at Christianity Today wrote a long article: Jimmy Carter at the Judgment Seat. It’s worth the read in its entirety. He concludes:

The sort of world that defines one’s politics as the whole of one’s identity is bad for a country, bad for a person. But the sort of world that defines one’s gospel by such things is infinitely worse.

If Jesus is right about the gospel, Jimmy Carter is in heaven. – Russell Moore

I wholeheartedly agree. Not only was Jimmy Carter’s hope of eternal salvation based solely on Jesus Christ dying for his sins, he lived out the gospel’s mandate to take care of the poor as few of us do. (See Matthew 25.31 – 46.) Hence Russell Moore’s conclusion, “If Jesus is right about the gospel, Jimmy Carter is in heaven.”

Moving on, I found Jimmy Carter’s state funeral in the National Cathedral inspiring. A grandson read Romans 8.1 – 18, 38, 39 which opens:

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8.1 – 4, NKJV)

Great words to be read to an international television audience!

I was particularly moved by a eulogy written by former president Gerald Ford and read by his son Stephen Ford. Ford and Carter bonded on the flight back to the US after Anwar Sadat’s funeral in 1981 and remained close friends. In a phone conversation, each agreed to do a eulogy at the other’s funeral! Jimmy Carter delivered his eulogy in person when Ford passed in 2006.

In Ford’s written eulogy of Carter, he observed, “Jimmy Carter reminded us that Christ had been a carpenter. He worked around the world building houses and eradicating diseases.” Ford closed with:

I’m looking forward to our reunion. We have a lot to catch up on. Welcome home, old friend. – Gerald Ford’s eulogy of Jimmy Carter

Here are excerpts from another grandson’s eulogy (from my notes):

They were regular folks. He lived four years in the governor’s mansion and four years in the White House. The other 92 years, they lived in their home in Plains. It looked like any other house.

There was no difference between his public face and private one. That’s my definition of integrity.

He lived out Micah 6.8

He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God? [This verse was also quoted by President Biden in his eulogy.]

The Carter Center has 3300 employees, but only 200 in the US. They are around the world making a difference.

The grandson talked about Guinea worm disease. He said something like:

It’s a disease of poverty. It has existed from the beginning of time…until Jimmy Carter. At one time there were 3.3 million cases. Today there are 14. It wasn’t eradicated by medicine but by people talking to one another about clean water… Not pity but partnership.

Another grandson read Matthew 5.1 – 16.

All in all a fitting ceremony for a great man.

Well done, good and faithful servant…Enter into the joy of your lord. (Matthew 25.21, NKJV)