Evangelical Christians must hear what Stormy Daniels has to say about Donald Trump
Hypocritical Evangelicals and Trump are still confounding.
Daniels testified in detail about her alleged one-night stand (Trump denies the affair) with Trump in a hotel room in 2006, just months after Trump’s wife, Melania, gave birth to their son. It’s just one of Trump’s reported infidelities. In a separate case last year, Trump was found liable for sexually abusing a woman.
Trump infamously claimed in the Access Hollywood video that “when you’re a star, you can do anything” [to women]. Grab them by the p----.”
Another Evangelical, Shelley Buhrow, told NPR, “Have you read the Bible? Many people in the Bible were married multiple times and they didn’t always do the perfect thing.”
This attitude is a dramatic shift from a few short years ago. Republicans, conservatives and Evangelicals were critical of Bill Clinton because he had an affair with Monica Lewinsky and lied about it. Back then, character mattered.
James Dobson, one of the leaders of the Christian right, said at the time, that he was “alarmed [at] the willingness of my fellow citizens to rationalize the President’s behavior even after they suspect, and later knew, that he was lying. You can’t run a family, let alone a country, without character.”
Evangelist Franklin Graham, in an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal following the Clinton-Lewinsky affair, wrote, “If he [Clinton] will lie to or mislead his wife and daughter, those to whom he is most intimate, what will prevent him from doing the same to the American people?”
But that feels like such a long time ago now.
James Dobson, one of the leaders of the Christian right, said at the time that he was “alarmed [at] the willingness of my fellow citizens to rationalize the President’s perverse behaviors, even after they suspect, and later knew, that he was lying. You can’t run a family, let alone a country, without character.”
Evangelist Franklin Graham, in an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal following the Clinton-Lewinsky affair, wrote, “If he [Clinton] will lie to or mislead his wife and daughter, those to whom he is most intimate, what will prevent him from doing the same to the American people?” But that feels like such a long time ago now.
Perhaps, Evangelicals see Trump as the modern-day version of King David, who united the tribes of Israel. He had many wives and concubines. He sent Uriah, one of his generals, to die in battle so he could have his way with Bathsheba.
Nevertheless, David did eventually confess, repent and was humbled. Maybe that is what Evangelicals are waiting for from Trump. 😳😢If Trump's past irrevent behavior is any indication, I wouldn’t count on it💢💥❗
Echo opinion published in the Charleston Gazette-Maine in West Virginia by Hoppy Kercheval:
In fact, the testimony by former porn actress Stormy Daniels in the Donald Trump hush money trial (in Manhattan) got me thinking for the umpteenth time 😠about Evangelical Christians and Trump, given Trump’s perverse behavior.
Hypocritical Republicans preach about their Christian values but ignore Donald Trump's philandering behavior. Speaker Mike Johnson alert! |
Trump infamously claimed in the Access Hollywood video that “when you’re a star, you can do anything” [to women]. Grab them by the p----.”
Earlier this year, he started hocking Bibles to raise money. Michael Cohen, Trump’s former fixer, wrote in his book that Trump, after meeting with prominent evangelicals in 2016, said, “Can you believe that bulls---? Can you believe people believe that bulls---?”
Yet, even after those instances and more, most Evangelicals stand with the former president.
A Pew Research Poll released in March found that 67% of white Evangelical Protestants have a favorable view of Trump. That must hold true in West Virginia, where at least 40% of residents say they are Evangelicals and Trump won by 40 (wrongminded❗) points in the past two elections.
How is it that deeply religious people can support someone whose actions are so antithetical to their beliefs?
Tim Alberta, a journalist, author of the book “The Kingdom, the Power and the Glory,” son of an Evangelical preacher and a practicing Christian himself, says many Evangelicals who support Trump see him as a mercenary. (❓- say more❗😧)
A Pew Research Poll released in March found that 67% of white Evangelical Protestants have a favorable view of Trump. That must hold true in West Virginia, where at least 40% of residents say they are Evangelicals and Trump won by 40 (wrongminded❗) points in the past two elections.
How is it that deeply religious people can support someone whose actions are so antithetical to their beliefs?
Tim Alberta, a journalist, author of the book “The Kingdom, the Power and the Glory,” son of an Evangelical preacher and a practicing Christian himself, says many Evangelicals who support Trump see him as a mercenary. (❓- say more❗😧)
“[Christians believe] they are under siege, that Christianity is under attack in this country, in the culture [from] the Godless left,” he said, in an interview with CNN. “Desperate times call for desperate measures. If you believe the barbarians are at the gate, you might just be willing to turn to a barbarian to do your fighting for you.”
Brad Sherman, an Evangelical Republican state legislator in Iowa, said of Trump in an NPR (National Public Radio) interview back before the Iowa Caucus, “He’s brash; he’s a fighter. That’s who we need right now in the political arena, in the environment that exists. You gotta be tough.” (Maine Writer- Ahhhh❓ 😦Whatever happened to... "Blessed are the peacemakers for they will inherit the kingdom of heaven. Matt. 5:9)
Another Evangelical, Shelley Buhrow, told NPR, “Have you read the Bible? Many people in the Bible were married multiple times and they didn’t always do the perfect thing.”
This attitude is a dramatic shift from a few short years ago. Republicans, conservatives and Evangelicals were critical of Bill Clinton because he had an affair with Monica Lewinsky and lied about it. Back then, character mattered.
James Dobson, one of the leaders of the Christian right, said at the time, that he was “alarmed [at] the willingness of my fellow citizens to rationalize the President’s behavior even after they suspect, and later knew, that he was lying. You can’t run a family, let alone a country, without character.”
Evangelist Franklin Graham, in an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal following the Clinton-Lewinsky affair, wrote, “If he [Clinton] will lie to or mislead his wife and daughter, those to whom he is most intimate, what will prevent him from doing the same to the American people?”
But that feels like such a long time ago now.
James Dobson, one of the leaders of the Christian right, said at the time that he was “alarmed [at] the willingness of my fellow citizens to rationalize the President’s perverse behaviors, even after they suspect, and later knew, that he was lying. You can’t run a family, let alone a country, without character.”
Evangelist Franklin Graham, in an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal following the Clinton-Lewinsky affair, wrote, “If he [Clinton] will lie to or mislead his wife and daughter, those to whom he is most intimate, what will prevent him from doing the same to the American people?” But that feels like such a long time ago now.
Perhaps, Evangelicals see Trump as the modern-day version of King David, who united the tribes of Israel. He had many wives and concubines. He sent Uriah, one of his generals, to die in battle so he could have his way with Bathsheba.
Nevertheless, David did eventually confess, repent and was humbled. Maybe that is what Evangelicals are waiting for from Trump. 😳😢If Trump's past irrevent behavior is any indication, I wouldn’t count on it💢💥❗
Labels: Bible, Charleston Gazette Mail, Hoppy Kercheval
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