Nearly 200 evangelical leaders signed a letter to Christianity Today this week whining about the surprising editorial calling for President Donald Trump to be removed from office as a matter of moral justice in response to his impeachment.
The Billy Graham-founded publication published a scathing takedown of Trump last week in the wake of the historic vote by the House in which two articles of impeachment were passed, making Trump only the third president to be impeached in American history.
According to the publication:
“The facts in this instance are unambiguous: The president of the United States attempted to use his political power to coerce a foreign leader to harass and discredit one of the president’s political opponents. That is not only a violation of the Constitution; more importantly, it is profoundly immoral.”
We believe the impeachment hearings have made it absolutely clear, in a way the Mueller investigation did not, that President Trump has abused his authority for personal gain and betrayed his constitutional oath. The impeachment hearings have illuminated the president’s moral deficiencies for all to see. This damages the institution of the presidency, damages the reputation of our country, and damages both the spirit and the future of our people. None of the president’s positives can balance the moral and political danger we face under a leader of such grossly immoral character.
The editorial also asked evangelicals to strongly reconsider their support for Trump.
Remember who you are and whom you serve. Consider how your justification of Mr. Trump influences your witness to your Lord and Savior. Consider what an unbelieving world will say if you continue to brush off Mr. Trump’s immoral words and behavior in the cause of political expediency.
Well, most evangelical leaders apparently didn’t reconsider, nor did they remember.
Instead, 177 of them, including Jerry Falwell Jr. and Robert Jeffress, wrote a letter rejecting the Christianity Today editorial and continued to defend Trump.
“The editorial you published, without any meaningful and immediate regard for dissenting points of view, not only supported the entirely-partisan, legally-dubious, and politically-motivated impeachment, but went even further, calling for Donald Trump not to be elected again in 2020 when he certainly survives impeachment. Your editorial offensively questioned the spiritual integrity and Christian witness of tens-of-millions of believers who take seriously their civic and moral obligations.”
“We are not theocrats and we recognize that our imperfect political system is a reflection of the fallen world within which we live, reliant upon the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, which is freely given to sinner and saint, alike. We are proud to be numbered among those in history who, like Jesus, have been pretentiously accused of having too much grace for tax collectors and sinners, and we take deeply our personal responsibility to render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s — our public service.”
That’s rich coming from people who frequently attacked former President Barack Obama. They never had any grace for him despite him being a far more moral president and human being than Trump has ever been.
These evangelical leaders worship Trump and spit in the face of Jesus every chance they get. They are hypocrites, and hypocrites do not deserve to call themselves men of the cloth.
Read the full letter here:
Dr. Dalrymple,
We write collectively to express our dissatisfaction with the editorial Christianity Today published on Thursday, December 19, 2019 calling for the removal of our duly elected President, who was put into office at the behest of over sixty million voters.
It was astonishing to us that your editor-in-chief, Mark Galli, further offensively dismissed our point of view on CNN by saying, “Christianity Today is not read by the people – Christians on the far right, by evangelicals on the far right – so they’re going to be as dismissive of the magazine as President Trump has shown to be.” It also came to our attention, that Mr. Galli has written other statements about Americans who chose Donald Trump over Secretary Clinton in 2016, referring to them as “These other evangelicals [who] often haven’t finished college, and if they have jobs, and apparently most of them don’t, they are blue-collar jobs or entry level work” as he describes himself with pride as an “elite evangelical.”
Of course, it’s up to your publication to decide whether or not your magazine intends to be a voice of evangelicals like those represented by the signatories below, and it is up to us and those Evangelicals like us to decide if we should subscribe to, advertise in and read your publication online and in print, but historically, we have been your readers.
We are, in fact, not “far-right” evangelicals as characterized by the author.
Rather, we are Bible-believing Christians and patriotic Americans who are simply grateful that our President has sought our advice as his administration has advanced policies that protect the unborn, promote religious freedom, reform our criminal justice system, contribute to strong working families through paid family leave, protect the freedom of conscience, prioritize parental rights, and ensure that our foreign policy aligns with our values while making our world safer, including through our support of the State of Israel. We are not theocrats, and we recognize that our imperfect political system is a reflection of the fallen world within which we live, reliant upon the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, which is freely given to sinner and saint, alike.
We are proud to be numbered among those in history who, like Jesus, have been pretentiously accused of having too much grace for tax collectors and sinners, and we take deeply our personal responsibility to render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s — our public service.
The editorial you published, without any meaningful and immediate regard for dissenting points of view, not only supported the entirely-partisan, legally-dubious, and politically-motivated impeachment but went even further, calling for Donald Trump not to be elected again in 2020 when he certainly survives impeachment.
As one of our signatories said to the press, “I hope Christianity Today will now tell us who they will support for president among the 2020 Democrat field?”
Your editorial offensively questioned the spiritual integrity and Christian witness of tens-of-millions of believers who take seriously their civic and moral obligations.
It not only targeted our President; it also targeted those of us who support him, and have supported you.
Sincerely,
Lourdes Aguirre
President
United Marketing SolutionsStephen Alessi
Pastor
Metro Life ChurchChuck Allen
Pastor
Sugar Hill ChurchRev. Rick Amato
Dream Believe Institute
Wellington , FLDoug Anderson
Pastor
Rose Heights ChurchMichele Bachmann
US House of Representatives
Fmr. Member, MinnesotaMarty Baker
Pastor
Steven’s Creek ChurchRev. Wesley Baldwin, PhD
Lead Pastor
Aloma ChurchLuke Barnett
Pastor
Dream City ChurchTommy Barnett
Pastor
Dream City ChurchGary Bauer
President
American ValuesHenry Becarra
Pastor
City Church InternationalSteve Berger
Pastor
Grace Chapel – NashvilleGary W. Blackard
President & CEO
Adult & Teen Challenge USAPaul Blair
Fairview Baptist Church
Liberty Pastors NetworkJohn Blanchard
Pastor
Rock Church InternationalBill Bolin
Pastor
Floodgate ChurchRyan Bomberger
Co-Founder & Chief Creative Officer
The Radiance FoundationMario Bramnick
President
Latino Coalition for IsraelJosh Brown
Founder & CEO
SoulHeart.coDr. Daniel Caamaño
President
Alma Vision Radio and TelevisionPaula White Cain
Paula White Ministries
Pastor, City of DestinyChris Cambas
CEO Relationscape
Founder / Chairman of Board Full CircleAnita Christopher
President
West Michigan Prayer CenterBarry Clardy
Pastor
Princeton Pike Church of GodDr. Tim Clinton
President
American Association of Christian CounselorsBishop Kelvin L. Cobaris
Cobaris Ministries InternationalPaul Cole
Christian Men’s NetworkCynthia Collins
Founder, SpeakHope.net
Global Advisor, OperationOutcryJack Countryman
Vice President & Publisher Emeritus
Ministry Development
Harper CollinsDavid Aaron Crabb
Pastor
Restoring Hope ChurchBrad Dacus
Pacific Justice InstituteDr.Jimmy L. De La O DDiv.
Founding Senior Pastor
Iglesia Cristiana Nuevo PactoApostle Alberto Delgado
Senior Pastor
Alpha and OmegaRachel Dennis
Awaken The DawnDr. James Dobson
President
James Dobson Family InstituteDave Donaldson
Co-founder and Chairman
CityServe InternationalGreg Dumas
Pastor
The Crossing ChurchDr. Kirk Elliott
Founder
Veribella FoundationJenna Ellis
Constitutional Law AttorneyAl Elmore
Senior Pastor
Lima Baptist TempleJerry Falwell Jr.
President
Liberty UniversityJoey Fine
Pastor
Seasons ChurchDan Fisher
Pastor
Fairview Baptist ChurchJentezen Franklin
Senior Pastor
Free ChapelJim Franklin
Pastor
Cornerstone ChurchDr. Gary D. Frazier,
President
Discovery Missions InternationalDr. Day Gardner
President
National Black Pro-Life UnionBrian Gallardo
Pastor
LifeGate ChurchJim Garlow
Founder
Well VersedRosemary Schindler Garlow
Schindlers ArkDr. Nick Garza
NHCLC Board member
Sacramento, CAJames Gildwell
Pastor
Amazing Grace Baptist FellowshipBishop Anne Gimenez
Rock Ministerial FellowshipJack Graham
Senior Pastor
Prestonwood Baptist ChurchBrad Graves
Senior Pastor
Ada First Baptist ChurchDanny Gokey
Contemporary Christian ArtistPaul Marc Goulet
Pastor
International Church of Las VegasRev. Mark Gurley
Director
Michigan Oak InitiativeKen Gurley
Vice President/Director of Operations
National Apostolic Christian Leadership Conference.Jon & Jolene Hamill
President
Lamplighter MinistriesDr. Frank Harber, Ph.D., J.D.
President
The Institute for Christian DefenseLen Harper
Pastor
Overflow ChurchMike Hayes
Founder/President
Center for National RenewalSkip Heitzig
Pastor
Calvary Church of AlbuquerqueRandall Hekman
Director
Grand Awakening PrayerJim Henry
Pastor Emeritus FBC Orlando
Former SBC PresidentRobert Herber
Pastor
All Peoples ChurchJack Hibbs
Pastor
Calvary Chapel Chino HillsRev. Tim Hill
General Overseer
Church of GodMark Hoover
Lead Pastor
NewSpring ChurchWalter B. Hoye II
CEO
Issues4Life FoundationLori Hoye
CFO
Issues4Life FoundationMike Huckabee
Honorary National Chairman
My Faith VotesShane Idleman
Pastor
Westside Christian FellowshipBishop Harry Jackson
Pastor
Hope Christian ChurchBrian Jacobs
Pastor
Metroplex Family ChurchDr. Mike & Cindy Jacobs
Founders
Generals InternationalPhillip Jauregui
Judicial Action GroupDr. Thomas Jamieson
Senior Pastor
First Baptist Church of Mount Dora, FLObed Jauregui
Pastor, Betania Church
President of MBCSRobert Jeffress
Senior Pastor
First Baptist DallasBrian & Jenn Johnson
Bethel MusicTravis Johnson
Church of God Executive Council MemberDr. Brad Jurkovich
Senior Pastor
First Baptist Church Bossier City, LATroy Keaton
Pastor
EastLake Community ChurchBecky Keenan
Pastor
President of One With IsraelAlveda King
Pastoral Associate, Priests for Life
Director, Civil Rights for the UnbornGary Kirouac
Tent AmericaDavid Kubal
CEO/President
Intercessors for AmericaKelly Monroe Kullberg
Veritas ForumHank & Brenda Kunneman
Pastors
Lord of Hosts Church and One Voice MinistriesGreg Laurie
Senior Pastor
Harvest Christian FellowshipJerry Lawson
Pastor
Daystar ChurchTodd Lamphere
Pastor of Global Outreach
City of DestinyChris Leader
Ignite OutreachGreg Locke
Pastor
Global Vision Bible ChurchFrank López
Senior Pastor, Doral Church
VP of Hispanic Association of PastorsCissie Graham Lynch
Samaritans PurseApostle Guillermo Maldonado
President and Senior Pastor
King JESUS MinistriesTim Martin
Pastor
New Life ChristianVictor Marx
President & CEO
All Things Possible MinistriesGregg Matte
Senior Pastor
Houston’s First Baptist ChurchBishop Joseph Mattera
Christ Covenant CoalitionPastor Jurgen Matthesius
C3 Church San Diego
Overseer C3 Churches in the AmericasBob McEwen
US House of Representatives
Fmr. Member, OhioDr. David H. McKinley
Pastor-Teacher
Warren Baptist Church
Augusta GADr. Yolanda McCune
Director
HAPN Kingdom CultureRev. Dusty McLemore
Senior Pastor
Lindsay Lane Baptist ChurchBarry Meguiar
President Meguiar’s, Inc,
Founder, Revival Outside the WallsEric Metaxas
Author, Host
Eric Metaxas Radio ShowJonathan Miller
Pastor
New Beginnings ChurchMorgan Mitchell
Director
Grand Traverse House of PrayerPastor Sergio De La Mora
Cornerstone ChurchKent Morgan
President
Randall Bearings, Inc.Robert Morris
Senior Pastor
Gateway ChurchPastor Tom Mullins
Senior Pastor
Christ Fellowship FloridaPenny Nance
CEO and President
Concerned Women for AmericaRev. Dean Nelson
Chairman of the Board
Frederick Douglass FoundationDr. Malachi O’Brien
Former 2nd Vice President
Southern Baptist ConventionTim Oldfield
Pastor
Potters House ChurchDr. Rod Parsley
Founder and Lead Pastor
World Harvest Church
Founder and Chancellor Valor Christian CollegeRamiro A. Peña
Pastor
Christ the King ChurchTony Perkins
President
Family Research CouncilPaul Pickern
Executive Director
All Pro PastorsChonda Pierce
ComedianDr. Everett Piper
Best Selling Author
Former University PresidentDr. Anthony Ponceti
Director, South & Central America
All Pro Pastors InternationalRob Price
Associate Professor, Communication Arts
Southwestern Assemblies of God UniversityRalph Reed
President
Faith and Freedom CoalitionSteve Riggle
Pastor
Grace Church InternationalRev. Dennis Rivera
Assemblies of God
NHCLC executive committeeErnie Rivera
President
Las Americas Evangelistic AssociationMarilyn Rivera
Pastor
President of Hispanic Association of PastorsJuan Rivera
Executive Director
Hispanic Israel Leadership CoalitionJeremy Roberts
Pastor
Thomasville Road Baptist ChurchWayne Roberts
Pastor
Bethel Baptist ChurchGerald Rohn
Pastor
First Renaissance Community Church of Sterling MichiganDudley Rutherford
Pastor
Shepherd of the Hills ChurchMyles & Delana Rutherford
Pastors
Worship with Wonders ChurchDexter Sanders
Founder/President
Back 2 God MovementRick Scarborough
Recover America NowTom Schlueter
Texas Apostolic Prayer NetworkDarrell & Belinda Scott
Pastor
New Spirit Revival CenterTony Scott
Pastor
theChurch, MaumeeMark Seppo
Pastor
Vassar Victory CenterScott Sheppard
Pastor
Cornerstone ChurchDanny Silk
President
Loving on PurposeDavid Smith
Pastor
Oak Park ChurchRon Smith
Pastor
FBC At The VillagesTed Squires
CEO Squires GlobalDr. Jay Strack
Founder
Student Leadership UniversityMat Staver
Liberty CounselDarryl & Tracy Strawberry
Strawberry MinistriesPastor Tom Sterbens
New Hope ChurchTony Stewart
Pastor
Citylife ChurchRev. Tony Suarez
Executive Vice President
National Hispanic Christian Leadership ConferenceLanny Swaim
Worship ArtistMichael Tait
Christian Music ArtistZach Terry
Senior Pastor
Fernandina Beach, First Baptist ChurchClaude Thomas
Former Executive Director
GP3David Tipton
Vice President
National Apostolic Christian Leadership Conference.LaNell Babbage-Torres
National Diversity CoalitionCT Townsend
Pastor
Victory Baptist ChurchPasqual Urrabazo
Pastor
International Church of Las VegasAndre Van Mol, MD
Elder
Bethel ChurchKris Vallotton
Senior Associate Leader
Bethel ChurchDr. Gilberto Velez
Founder and Senior Pastor for Iglesia Cristiana Misericordia
Chairman of the Board for National Hispanic leadership Conference.Anthony Verdugo,
Founder and Executive Director
Christian Family Coalition (CFC)Wendell Vinson
Pastor
Canyon Hills ChurchJudy Wade
Uniting Our HeartsKevin Wallace
Pastor
Redemption to the Nations ChurchLance Wallnau
Lance Learning GroupRick Warzywak
Director
Michigan Capitol House of PrayerWendy Waterson
Pastor
Sanctuary MinistriesEdward Watts
Pastor
Gateway Hope CenterTom Winters
Winters & King AssociatesKen Whitten
Pastor
Idlewild Baptist ChurchGeorge Wood
Chairman
World Assemblies of God Fellowship
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