Trumping Morality

[Machiavelli]

Dr. Everett Piper
Oklahoma Wesleyan University
January 2016

On January 18, Jerry Falwell, Jr. welcomed Donald Trump to Liberty University to speak in the school's chapel. As the college president who wrote the "this is not a daycare" article that received so much national attention recently, I have been asked by the media if I would be next: Will I be inviting Mr. Trump to Oklahoma Wesleyan University to speak in our chapel service? My answer has been simple and brief. No, I will not.

In selecting speakers for Oklahoma Wesleyan, party affiliation and political positions do not matter. Personal conduct, public statements, theological integrity and moral consistency do ...

Anyone who is pro-abortion is not on my side. Anyone who calls women "pigs," "ugly," "fat" and "pieces of a-" is not on my side. Anyone who mocks the handicapped is not on my side. Anyone who has argued the merits of a government takeover of banks, student loans, the auto industry and healthcare is not on my side ...

Full article

[EdinVA]

So, the media tells them what to think and if you disagree with the media, then you are on the outs.... I am ok with that....

[jmyrlefuller]

So, the media tells them what to think and if you disagree with the media, then you are on the outs.... I am ok with that....

Ugh. I see the Trump campaign now has a scapegoat for any criticism of Their Guy: it's all supposedly a media conspiracy and anyone who is against Their Guy must be taking their talking points from The Media, just like anybody who was against Their Guy must have been supporting Jeb a few months ago. This is getting absurd. Why are there so many people unwilling to see through, and even participating in, this charade?! It makes me wonder if I'm even human...

 

[HonestJohn]

Ugh. I see the Trump campaign now has a scapegoat for any criticism of Their Guy: it's all supposedly a media conspiracy and anyone who is against Their Guy must be taking their talking points from The Media, just like anybody who was against Their Guy must have been supporting Jeb a few months ago. This is getting absurd. Why are there so many people unwilling to see through, and even participating in, this charade?! It makes me wonder if I'm even human...

 

It's the vast right-wing conspiracy...

Wait a minute.  I meant that as snark, but... that actually fits the current blogging found with those that favor Trump.  Just look at the "Fox is left-wing" nuttery floating around.

[jmyrlefuller]

It's the vast right-wing conspiracy...

Wait a minute.  I meant that as snark, but... that actually fits the current blogging found with those that favor Trump.  Just look at the "Fox is left-wing" nuttery floating around.

They didn't have a problem with Fox until Megyn Kelly dared challenge Trump. In fact, ten years ago they were the ones singing the praises of Fox News for not being like the rest of the media. (If they had bothered to watch last night's debate, they would've quickly learned that it was never personal.) The same goes for National Review: before, respected member of the conservative media; after, left-wing rag. Their view of the world is solely on how the world treats Their Guy.

[mountaineer]

Viewpoint of a Presbyterian pastor (thought not of the same Presbyterian denomination to which Trump says he belongs):

Why Evangelicals Should Oppose Donald Trump
I am perplexed by the support that Mr. Trump is getting from many evangelical Christians.
Written by Christopher A. Hutchinson | Saturday, January 30, 2016

I belong to a religious tradition which forbids the Church from speaking officially to political matters, “except by way of humble petition in cases extraordinary.”  In that spirit, as a minister within this tradition, I have never spoken publicly about any ongoing political race.  However, I believe the current successful candidacy of Donald Trump for the Republican nomination for president has now reached the threshold of becoming an extraordinary case which requires a response from thoughtful, conservative Christians.

I am as conservative as they come in terms of theology; a classical Protestant within the evangelical sub-culture of American Christianity.  I believe in the inerrancy of Scripture, that Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation, and in traditional Biblical morality.  I also love our country and served in the US Army, including a brief combat tour during Desert Storm.

And as such, I am perplexed by the support that Mr. Trump is getting from many evangelical Christians.  Polls in Iowa and elsewhere bear this out.  Jerry Falwell, Jr. gave a warm introduction to Trump when he spoke recently at Liberty University, and has since personally endorsed him.  Mr. Falwell called Trump a man who imitated Jesus well in his love and care for others.  Having observed Trump’s career and life for years, and having heard many of his unwise and uncharitable comments during this campaign, I find this baffling to say the least.   As a Christian leader, Falwell should know better than to evaluate a man’s character by the size of the checks he is able to cut for charity.  As I recall, Jesus had a thing or two to say about this regarding a certain Widow’s Mite.

And so because of my love for this country and my fellow Christians, I feel compelled to speak out, asking them to reconsider such a worldly alliance.  And of course, it should go without saying this reflects my own opinion as a private citizen, not the official position of any church.

As Christians, we are faced with a vexing problem in this political season.  One major party has defied natural law and Biblical morality by its wholesale endorsement of same sex marriage and abortion (on the latter, even removing the desire that it be “rare” in their 2012 party platform).  And now large segments of the other party are getting behind the most materialistic, bombastic, self-focused and downright rude candidate we have seen in modern times.  Trump’s moral compass seems to be guided by just one principle: winning.   Is that really the one, overriding principle that faithful Christians should rally around?  Have we forgotten the Cross?

Consider just this one statement Mr. Trump made late last year, one that by itself disqualifies him as a candidate for any major office, much less the presidency.  On December 2, Trump told Fox News that the United States should “take out the families” of terrorists.  In other words, commit the war crime of purposely targeting non-combatant civilians.  And when called out on this statement by Senator Rand Paul at the following Republican debate, Trump doubled down.  Until Mr. Trump recants of this statement, no Christian – nor anyone who believes in the rule of law – should consider Trump eligible for the presidency.  Some might choose to overlook Mr. Trump’s many chauvinistic, xenophobic and insulting comments as somehow “refreshing,” but how can they overlook this blatantly murderous comment and still remain true to Biblical ethics?

Moreover, we are told that we should not consider a man’s past; that we are all sinners in need of forgiveness.  That is true when it comes to matters of salvation, which is by grace through faith in Christ alone.  Yet we are not interviewing a man for church membership, but to be the leader of the most powerful nation on earth.  I am not opposed to considering a candidate with a checkered past, as long as he or she has repented of it. President Bush no longer abuses alcohol, and President Obama no longer uses cocaine.  But where has Trump repented of his adultery, his casino and beauty pageant ownership, or his unmitigated worship of money?   Do people know or even care that he once introduced Hugh Hefner as a “great man” on his TV show, “The Apprentice?”   Or does any of this matter anymore to conservative Christians?  ...

Entire article at The Aquila Report

[aligncare]

I'm voting for the commander-in-chief, not the preacher-in-chief.

[katzenjammer]

Some more commentary from Falwell, Jr. on the topic:

I have spent my entire adult life trying to make Liberty University the world-class Christian university that was envisioned at its founding. Many of those early years were very tough, when Liberty was struggling to survive financially.

My father and I spent many weekends begging and borrowing from donors and lenders to cover the paychecks that had been issued the previous Friday. That’s how stressful and precarious those days were.

We hired the best lawyers, accountants and financial management we could find without regard to whether they shared our faith, just like a parent would search for the best doctor for their desperately sick child.

Experts say that if our debt climbs from $18 trillion or $20 trillion to $24 trillion, we will reach a tipping point from which our nation cannot recover. At this stage in our history, I believe we need an experienced and successful businessman who has fixed broken companies — because I saw firsthand as a young lawyer the tough measures that were required to save Liberty University.

I admit my view of the world is colored by my legal and business experiences at Liberty. I respect the opinions of those who believe that it is now more important to elect a career politician who shares their constitutional views or someone who shares their faith instead of a business professional, but I cannot agree.

In my opinion, this nation needs a citizen legislator who is a tough negotiator, one who has gone head to head with the best business minds in the world and won, a businessman who has built companies from the ground up, and who will use those experiences to be tough with China, ISIS and nations that are taking advantage of the United States by stealing our jobs.

In short, we need someone to bring this country back from the brink and make America great again in the same way that the right team of professionals helped make Liberty great again between 1987 and today.

I do believe Trump is a good father, is generous to those in need, and is an ethical and honest businessman. I have gotten to know him well over the last few years and have come to admire him for those traits.

I do not believe, however, that when Jesus said “render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s” that he meant we should elect only someone who would make a good Sunday School teacher or pastor. When we step into our role as citizens, we need to elect the most experienced and capable leaders.

As I said, Jimmy Carter is a great Sunday School teacher but the divorced and remarried Hollywood actor Ronald Reagan saved this nation when it was in nearly the same condition as it is today.

Jesus said “Judge not, lest ye be judged.” Let’s stop trying to choose the political leaders who we believe are the most godly because, in reality, only God knows people’s hearts. You and I don’t, and we are all sinners.

Jerry Falwell Jr: Here’s the backstory of why I endorsed Donald Trump

[HAPPY2BME]

I'm voting for the commander-in-chief, not the preacher-in-chief.

=============================================

The single-most plagiarized voting block in this country are Christians.

Sadly, they have being duped over the past generation into believing their votes for a Republican actually meant defending their faith in Jesus Christ, only to find out time and again they were voting for the Devil.


plagiarize

    : to use the words or ideas of another person as if they were your own words or ideas

    : to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own :  use (another's production) without crediting the source

[Jazzhead]

Anyone who is pro-abortion is not on my side. Anyone who calls women “pigs,” “ugly,” “fat” and “pieces of a–” is not on my side. Anyone who mocks the handicapped is not on my side. Anyone who has argued the merits of a government takeover of banks, student loans, the auto industry and healthcare is not on my side. Anyone who has been on the cover of Playboy and proud of it, who brags of his sexual history with multiple women and who owns strip clubs in his casinos is not on my side. Anyone who believes the government can wrest control of the definition of marriage from the church is not on my side. Anyone who ignores the separation of powers and boasts of making the executive branch even more imperial is not on my side.

I’m a conservative. I believe in conserving the dignity of life. I believe in conserving respect for women. I believe in conserving the Constitution. I believe in conserving private property, religious liberty and human freedom. I believe in morality more than I do in money. I hold to principles more than I yearn for power. I trust my Creator more than I do human character. I’d like to think that all this, and more, makes me an informed and thoughtful citizen and voter. I’ve read, I’ve listened and I’ve studied and there is NOTHING, absolutely nothing, in this man’s track record that makes Donald Trump “on my side.”

I refuse to let my desire to win “trump” my moral compass. I will not sell my soul or my university’s to a political process that values victory more than virtue.

In the end, folks, it's all about moral fortitude and integrity, not the ends-justify-the-means garbage of Trumpism.   This opinion piece represents the perspective of a true Christian conservative,  not that of a charlatan preacher like Jerry Falwell, Jr. or a charlatan "leader" like Donald Trump.

[Jazzhead]

=============================================

The single-most plagiarized voting block in this country are Christians.

Sadly, they have being duped over the past generation into believing their votes for a Republican actually meant defending their faith in Jesus Christ, only to find out time and again they were voting for the Devil.

Voting for Trump is voting for the devil.  Look into your heart - you know it to be true.

[HAPPY2BME]

Voting for Trump is voting for the devil.  Look into your heart - you know it to be true.

======================================

Jesus Christ:

And Jesus said to them, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." And they were amazed at Him.

[mountaineer]

Related (excerpted, read entire article at link):

Just Because Trump Is ‘Anti-PC’ Doesn’t Mean We Should Celebrate His Vulgarity
Jonah Goldberg

Dear Reader (including those of you who feel entitled to a jocular parenthetical statement every frick’n week), Let me just say I’m in a foul mood. I know, I know, Trump supporters will declare, “Your tears are delicious!” But that’s not right. First, I’m not weeping — that, I suspect, may come later — and my dyspepsia is only partly driven by Trump mania. Save for the joy my daughter and my dogs took from the massive snowstorm, this last week has been an unyielding ass ache. (By the way, when I am czar, I will make “assache” an acceptable one-word compound noun.)  ...

...  Apophasis came up on Twitter the other day because Donald Trump tweeted: “I refuse to call Megyn Kelly a bimbo, because that would not be politically correct. Instead I will only call her a lightweight reporter!”

I was mildly surprised by the number of people who thought Trump’s tweet was clever. But I was truly stunned by the number of idiots who thought he wasn’t calling Megyn Kelly a bimbo. His whole shtick is that he’s a warrior against political correctness. He wasn’t invoking political correctness as a legitimate thing, he was sarcastically hiding behind it. People not enthralled with Trump recognize this as smarmy cowardice. Indeed, they would see it plainly if I were to tweet, “I’m not going to call Donald Trump an adulterous cad. That would be politically incorrect. So I’ll just say he’s a moral lightweight!”

The difference of course is that there’s no evidence that Kelly is a bimbo. There’s ample evidence that Trump cheated on his wife and slept with many married women. What’s the evidence? His own, boastful (!) testimony for starters. ...

Look, I’m no absolutist in this regard. Not two minutes ago, I made a joke about a former president of the United States buggering a goat. There are any number of gray areas and subjective fine lines to be drawn. I hold writers — particularly of “news”letters like this one — to a different standard than presidential candidates. Comedians follow a different set of rules than pastors. I have different expectations for Boy Scout leaders than for pimps. That so many people think such boorishness can be justified just because it’s an alleged knock against PC is just another sign of the metastasizing corruption of conservatism.

[Bigun]

Anne Frank's Stepsister Says Donald Trump Is 'Acting Like Another Hitler'

http://www.americanews.com/story/society/2016/01/28/anne-franks-stepsister-and-holocaust-survivor-says-donald-trump-acting?fb=an

[jmyrlefuller]

======================================

Jesus Christ:

Also from the same Jesus Christ:

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves. By their fruits you will know them. Every good tree produces good fruit; but the corrupt tree produces evil fruit. A good tree can't produce evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree produce good fruit. Every tree that doesn't grow good fruit is cut down, and thrown into the fire.

Furthermore, Jesus Christ did not live in a republic. Governors and kings were chosen for them by the emperor in Rome.

To call oneself a Christian and knowingly endorse a false prophet is to defy Jesus's own warnings.

Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man, who built his house on a rock. The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it didn't fall, for it was founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of mine, and doesn't do them will be like a foolish man, who built his house on the sand. The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.

(quoted from Matthew 7)

[HAPPY2BME]

Also from the same Jesus Christ:

Furthermore, Jesus Christ did not live in a republic. Governors and kings were chosen for them by the emperor in Rome.

To call oneself a Christian and knowingly endorse a false prophet is to defy Jesus's own warnings.

(quoted from Matthew 7)

========================================

Been there, done that.

But tell me this:  Is Donald Trump the antichrist?

[musiclady]

I'm voting for the commander-in-chief, not the preacher-in-chief.

As has been said many, many, many times, being a person of integrity is not even remotely the same as being a "preacher."

We expect our bosses to have integrity, we expect our family to have integrity, we expect ourselves to have integrity, we expect our teachers, friends, colleagues to have integrity.

All we are doing is asking our President to have integrity.

And Trump doesn't.

[HAPPY2BME]

As has been said many, many, many times, being a person of integrity is not even remotely the same as being a "preacher."

We expect our bosses to have integrity, we expect our family to have integrity, we expect ourselves to have integrity, we expect our teachers, friends, colleagues to have integrity.

All we are doing is asking our President to have integrity.

And Trump doesn't.

=================================

Isn't there just the tiniest trace of self-righteousness in there somewhere?

[jmyrlefuller]

========================================

Been there, done that.

But tell me this:  Is Donald Trump the antichrist?

One of many.

[musiclady]

=================================

Isn't there just the tiniest trace of self-righteousness in there somewhere?

Your feelings against me have absolutely nothing to do with the substance of what I said.

Until you post something that makes even a modicum of sense, I will not reply to you further.

I'm talking about Trump.  You're talking about me.

We're not supposed to do that here.......... haven't you heard?

(But the answer to your question is NO.  There is no self-righteousness in asking that a president have integrity).

[Mod1]

Food for thought, folks:

"Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people."

(Regardless of what you may think of Eleanor Roosevelt, she makes a good point.)

Let's keep it on the candidates and the issues, please.

[mountaineer]

=================================

Isn't there just the tiniest trace of self-righteousness in there somewhere?

No.
Would you prefer a man (or woman) of integrity in office? Or would you prefer a scoundrel? How is it self-righteous to say yes to the former?

Actually, you could (or should) say that of any person you deal with, from your car mechanic to your dentist. Integrity is a good thing, no matter who you are.

[musiclady]

No.
Would you prefer a man (or woman) of integrity in office? Or would you prefer a scoundrel? How is it self-righteous to say yes to the former?

Actually, you could (or should) say that of any person you deal with, from your car mechanic to your dentist. Integrity is a good thing, no matter who you are.

The point I was trying to make.  How can looking for integrity in those you deal with be a bad thing?  And how can it be 'self-righteous' to ask that others have integrity?

Truthfully, atheists can have integrity.  People who don't practice any religion can have integrity.  (And people claiming to be Christians can be entirely lacking it).

Asking for character in a President is not even remotely the same as asking for a "preacher."

[alicewonders]

In the end, folks, it's all about moral fortitude and integrity, not the ends-justify-the-means garbage of Trumpism.   This opinion piece represents the perspective of a true Christian conservative,  not that of a charlatan preacher like Jerry Falwell, Jr. or a charlatan "leader" like Donald Trump.

Just to correct something I keep seeing repeated, Jerry Falwell Jr. is not a preacher.  His father was a preacher, but he is a lawyer.  I heard him say that on the radio.  He administrates the University, but he is not a preacher. 

[sneakypete]

Ugh. I see the Trump campaign now has a scapegoat for any criticism of Their Guy: it's all supposedly a media conspiracy and anyone who is against Their Guy must be taking their talking points from The Media, just like anybody who was against Their Guy must have been supporting Jeb a few months ago. This is getting absurd. Why are there so many people unwilling to see through, and even participating in, this charade?! It makes me wonder if I'm even human...

 

Well,we know none of it can be the fault of The Anointed One. He is perfect in every way. Don't you know he was smart enough to be born as a Trust Fund Child into a wealthy family?