The following article by Tracy Downey was posted on the Medium.com website May 15, 2017:
Hubris is the devil’s greatest aphrodisiac, and the ruin of an imprudent soul. It is of great mystery how an adulterating, thrice-married, bankrupted former casino owner, living inside of a tower made of gold became the savior of America’s Christian values. Our newly elected president swore to turn D.C. upside down with an acidic tongue, and a bombastic, mind numbing philosophy that whatever he believes is the Gospel according to Donald Trump. That includes Christianity.
Let that sink in.
Imagine Christian pastors inside their parishes and universities betokening charlatans marketing Trumpism as a religious phenomenon over Christ’s wisdoms. But that is in fact, what Liberty U. President Rev. Jerry Falwell Jr. did, inviting President Trump to give the keynote commencement speech of 2017. Liberty United Against Trump, made up of 2000 Liberty University out of 15000, were divided on the issue, and before the election, released a statement criticizing the university’s decision.
“We are Liberty students who are disappointed with President Falwell’s endorsement and are tired of being associated with one of the worst presidential candidates in American history. Donald Trump does not represent our values and we want nothing to do with him. Donald Trump is not just any politician. He has made his name by maligning others and bragging about his sins. Not only is Donald Trump a bad candidate for president, he is actively promoting the very things that we as Christians ought to oppose.”
Falwell called their response, false. “He knocked it out of the park,” Rev. Falwell said, with elation on Trump’s keynote. “He really, it was such an inspirational speech.” Let’s examine what Trump said. If you’re truly a practicing Christian, then the Books of Matthew, Exodus, and 2 Peter, will resonate with an honest heart and a struggling conscience. It appears that Heavenly Liberty University is descending down a rocky, hypocritical, and unscrupulous slide.
“For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, the elect.” — — Matthew 24:24
Yet, Falwell believes, no other person has done more for Christian values than Donald Trump.
Let that sink in.
Trump is a man who violates women, steals other peoples money, praises foreign enemies of the United States, persecutes human beings in 140 characters on social media, torments, harangues, doesn’t give alms for the poor, nor attends church, (he golfs). He doesn’t pray unless there’s an audience, or the cameras are rolling, and bears false witness to the American People on a daily basis. The Toronto Star’s Daniel Dale keeps a running list of every lie. The Lord our God sees every good, and every sin human beings commit on earth. How we act in public, and in secret. Words used like brickbats, carry consequences unforseen. For politicians, lobbyists, corporations, and moneychangers, they are deemed hypocrites in Scripture. Reverend Falwell and Liberty U believe Trump’s violations of moral law circumscribe Christian values. The Book of Matthew alone is the antithesis of Trumpism.
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.” — — Matthew 7:15
“And when you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you they have their reward in full.” — — Matthew 6:5
“You shall have no other gods before me.” — — Exodus 20:3
“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go down, because your people, whom you brought out of Egypt, have become corrupt.8 They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and have said, “These are your gods Israel, who brought you out of Egypt. I have seen these people,” The Lord said to Moses, “and they are a stiff-necked people.” Exodus 32:7–8
“The golden rule of negotiation. He who has the gold makes the rules.” — — Donald Trump. Twitter Feb 6, 2015
Donald Trump loves gold.
For many Americans, moral beliefs are an axiom of their spirit. Therefore, Falwell deceives parents entrusting Liberty U to chaperon their children’s decision-making, and fortify their moral character. Objectively, the university disregards the burning bush of Yahweh for an avid dissembler to bask in the afterglow of crowd sizes, receive an honorary doctorate of law, and praise while disgorging anti-Christian values, and trepidation to trusting students. The president of the United States fired the FBI director who in fact was investigating him for collusion with a foreign enemy. This is the man to lead all Christians out of the treacherous pits of Obama land? If the Christian community reckoned it necessary to peddle the Lord’s tutelages for thirty pieces of silver, all for the sake of overturning Roe V. Wade, then what does it say about America’s moral value system when a Christian university directly disobeys Scripture, but gives consent to Trump’s iniquitous hymn?
“It was geared towards the graduates. He was speaking directly toward them. He was inspiring them. He was giving them words of wisdom, exactly what we hoped he would do,” says Falwell Jr. Words of wisdom. Truthfully, a crowd size that reaches over fifty thousand in attendees doesn’t mean the orator’s message is Christ-like. In 2 Peter 2:1–3 the warning of leading children astray is unblemished.
“But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them, the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.” — -2 Peter 2:1–3
“I really believe he has done more for the Christian community in that that short, in four months time, than any other president in our lifetimes,” Falwell Jr. said. Even more so than America’s own founding fathers? Falwell’s glorifying of Trump shrieks with haughtiness, and deception. But then again, the intonation of Trumpism is falseness. There have been 44 commencement speakers at Liberty University. According to Falwell, none of them were as inspiring as Donald Trump. “Trump gave the best commencement speech Liberty has ever had.”
Oh, really?
“Remember, individually, we can change a life, collectively, we can change the world. Each of you can reject membership in a “ME” generation and prove that yours is the “WE” generation. You can show how the definition of a successful life must include serving others. Here at Liberty, you’ve shown how a thousand points of light’ can become a galaxy of people working to solve problems in their own backyard.” — — President HW. Bush. May 1990.
“When I enter all debits and all the credits of my life and my personal efforts, it doesn’t add up. It doesn’t add up until Almighty God is added. And by his grace, all accounts fall into balance.” — -Justice Clarence Thomas. May 1996.
“God calls us to invest our time — -our very lives — -primarily in people, not in projects or possessions. We are to behave like Jesus. He’s our example; He lived and died for others. Jesus told His disciples, “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” — — Reverend Billy Graham. May 1997.
And finally…
“In all we do we must be peacemakers, for ourselves and for our children, for our nation and for the world.” Governor Ronald Reagan. Oct. 1980
“Nothing is easier or more pathetic than being a critic. The future belongs to the people who follow their heart no matter what the critics say because they truly believe in their vision…Following your convictions means you must be willing to face criticism from those who lack the same courage to do what is right. And they know what is right, but they don’t have the courage or the guts or the stamina to take it and to do it…In America, we don’t worship government we worship God.” — — President Donald Trump. May 13, 2017.
In America, a third of Americans now worship Trumpism over God.
“I did try and f**k her. She was married…I moved on her like a bitch, but I couldn’t get there. And she was married. Then all of a sudden I see her, she’s now got big phony t*ts and everything…I’ve got to use some tic tacs, just in case I start kissing her. You know I’m automatically attracted to beautiful. I just start kissing them. It’s a magnet. Just kiss. I don’t even wait. And when you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything. Grab them by the p*ssy. You can do anything.” Donald Trump. Access Hollywood Tape, played Oct 8, 2016.
No man can serve two masters; either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” — — Matthew 6:24
“I really don’t think any other president has done more for evangelicals and the faith community in four months than President Trump has.” Reverend Jerry Falwell, Jr.
Let that sink in.
View the post here.