Jerry Falwell Jr. Compares Trump to Bible's King David, 'a Man After God's Own Heart;' Russell Moore Responds

“He offered us food, … so he brought out Wendy’s cheeseburgers. He ate cheeseburgers, and we ate cheeseburgers. Then he put on a concert….. Falwell continued that he believes those criticizing Trump are career politicians scared of change.”

Discussion

Trump wined and dined us and we ate cheap fast food together and so he’s David and those who criticize him are just career politicians afraid of change.

OK, I’m won over.

Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.

This kind of statement calls for a thoughtful, nuanced and theologically sound reply. It must get the point across, but it must also show the way forward. Here is my worthy effort:

Clearly, Falwell is a complete idiot.

Tyler is a pastor in Olympia, WA and works in State government.

I shudder at the thought of “President Trump” (and I’d be astounded should it actually happen). It it were to occur however, how would his election fit with this passage?:

“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.” (Romans 13:1-5 ESV)

You committed the ad hominem logical fallacy when you said this about Trump:

“Clearly, Falwell is a complete idiot.”

We can’t have that kind of irresponsible talk on this fine forum. We should only talk using Bert approved logic. You need to repent in sackcloth and ashes my friend.

Note to Bert: Was that good for you?

So how much did those cheeseburgers cost? I’m going to guess about 30 pieces of silver.

Normal rules of logic don’t apply to humor!

All joking aside, it is disgraceful that a University President would model such ridiculous and muddled thinking. Wendy’s cheeseburgers and big-screen televisions? The old “Pastor-in-Chief” line? Is this really the kind of application of Biblical principles a mature and thoughtful Christian man (let alone the President of the largest Christian university on God’s green earth) should demonstrate? He actually compared King David to Donald Trump. This is theological lunacy. Perhaps Falwell hasn’t quite left the more baser instincts from his fundamentalist background behind …

Tyler is a pastor in Olympia, WA and works in State government.

We’re all idiots sometimes.
It’s fair to say that Falwell’s reasoning capacity is currently underutilized.

Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.

Proverbs 23:1-3 When you sit down to eat with a ruler, observe carefully what is before you, and put a knife to your throat if you are given to appetite. Do not desire his delicacies, for they are deceptive food.

Proverbs 14:16 A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.

Tyler is a pastor in Olympia, WA and works in State government.

Idiot in this case is a fairly mild word for how I’d describe someone who describes Mr. Drumpf as if he were some kind of man after God’s own heart. Either that, or “guy who has been visited by the Mob.”

Aspiring to be a stick in the mud.

This is the guy that evangelicalism has significantly committed the training of the next generation of preachers, religious instructors, and Christian business leaders to. Wow! Just wow!

Lee

I know where you got “Drumpf” from …

Tyler is a pastor in Olympia, WA and works in State government.

Please tell us where Bert got “Drumpf” from. I do know myself…

Drumpf is his original family name, but I suggest Bert is using it in a derogatory way. Is that proper Bert? Do we really need that at this forum? I mean, you are the one seeking totally virtuous and logic based responses. I think Trump is all you need to say. I suggest you skip the insults.