Billy Graham’s Grandson, Tullian Tchividjian, makes history at Coral Ridge Church.

Tullian Tchividjian, 36, has accepted the call to serve as senior pastor at South Florida's Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church after an exhaustive due diligence process and with the overwhelming support of church members and governing boards. However, many believe that he will move away from Rev. D. James Kennedy’s passion to reclaim America for Christ through social conservative political efforts.

Tchividjian said he will take it back to the basics of teaching the Bible instead of reigniting the culture wars.  He is expected to modernize the thinking of the church over which Kennedy presided for more than five decades.

According to a report from the Associated Press, Tchividjian has said he wants people to know what Christians are for as much as what they are against, and has rejected the idea that politics is the most important way to change the country. "I think that politics is one strategic area of cultural engagement," he told the AP on Sunday. "But I also think that the sphere of art and the sphere of education and the sphere of media and technology are also strategic."

The church of 650 people which Tchividjian founded 5 and a half years ago just outside of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. will merge with the 2,200-member Coral Ridge church founded in 1960.Tchividjian is only the second pastor in Coral Ridge's history. Its founder Rev. D. James Kennedy pastored Coral Ridge church for 47 years and died in September 2007 at the age of 76.

Yesterday Tchividjian preached to a full house at a combined worship service at Coral Ridge. Following the worship service, the members of Coral Ridge gathered for a congregational meeting and voted with 91 percent of the congregants accepting their Pulpit Nominating Committee's invitation for Tchividjian to serve.

There are several sort of “passing the torch” transitions in scripture. Some of which are vastly different from the ones we see today. For example, Elisha caught Elijah’s mantel and did twice more miracles and mighty deeds than his predecessor did. But what’s more he continued his leader’s vision in speaking into culture with the voice of God. Elijah was a spiritual father to Elisha. Elisha knew his heart and zeal for the Lord.

Many of our generals in the faith have passed and they left believers a great legacy to follow and complete. But will we? In this critical time where we see our Christian values eroding and secularism increasing, the Body of Christ needs strong leaders who refuse to compromise the truth of the Word of God.

"I am honored and deeply humbled by the support and prayers we have received from all over the world as well as this vote and the unanimous vote of over 30 elders from both churches last week. I look forward to our future together," Tchividjian told the AP.

"I consider it a great and high honor to follow such a giant in the faith. As different as some may think Dr. Kennedy and I are, our theological commitments are the same and our hearts beat with the same driving passion. Indeed, what he came to do in the 1950s--reach the people of south Florida with the Gospel and transform the world--is exactly what I have been seeking to do ever since I moved back home to start New City in 2003."

Should Coral Ridge, once known for its influence and passion for bringing America back to its roots, move away from the mission of its founder? Or is it time for a new message from the perennial Presbyterian congregation?

Christians should pray for this changing of the guards so that our spiritual walls are not left unprotected in the onslaught for moral decay in our nation.