Franklin Graham Not Trying to 'Lead an Exodus' Away from GOP

Outspoken Evangelical leader Franklin Graham says he didn't quit the GOP to lead "an exodus out of the Republican Party."

In a Facebook post Saturday, the son of famed preacher Billy Graham and leader of his foundation, as well as president of the global charity Samaritan's Purse, writes his reasons were spiritual – not political.

"Some fear I might be leading an exodus out of the Republican Party," he writes. "That's not my goal at all. I'm not here to hurt the Republican Party or the Democratic Party – I want to help our nation."

Graham writes his most important goal now is to lead a prayer initiative – the Decision America Tour – that will involve every state in the nation.

"I want to stand on capitol steps and lead this nation state by state in praying for America," he writes. "We'll be praying for our leaders and praying that God would give us politicians who will stand for Biblical values."

Neither is he shunning political involvement, but rather wants his followers to be as involved in the political process as possible.

"I want to challenge Christians to get involved in the Democratic Party, the Republican Party, and all others to make a difference; to get engaged at every level and to vote," he writes.

"The Bible calls us to be salt and light in this world – it's time we got off the sidelines and got involved in actively working and praying to stop the moral decline of this great nation."

In Graham's bombshell announcement last month that he was quitting the Republican Party, he cited the lack of a defunding rider in the passage of the nation's massive spending bill.

He later explained he wanted to remain independent during his prayer tour.

Related Stories:

• Phyllis Schlafly on Franklin Graham: 'We Need Him in the Republican Party'
  
• Franklin Graham: Obama's Policies 'Against Christ and His Teachings'