Jack Graham, pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, TX came out in support of Donald Trump’s acceptance of Vladimir Putin’s assurance that Russia didn’t meddle in the 2016 U.S. election. Trump said this in response to a question about who Trump believed: our intelligence community or Putin.
There are three kinds of leaders….Caretakers. Undertakers. Risk takers. @realDonaldTrump @POTUS is Risktaker. Thank you Mr President for seeking peace and prosperity for America and the world https://t.co/YB13KVTEXT
— Jack Graham (@jackngraham) July 16, 2018
Franklin Graham tweeted something similar earlier today.
In contrast, fellow Southern Baptist Russell Moore had this to say after the Helsinki press conference:
Vladimir Putin ruthlessly persecutes those who preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, holds orphans hostage from waiting families for his political purposes, murders dissidents and journalists, attacks democratic institutions and nations.
Morality is not relative.
— Russell Moore (@drmoore) July 16, 2018
Currently, Jack Graham is blocking followers who disagree with his tweet.
These tweets from the court evangelicals come from the White House talking points after today’s press conference.
WH sent out these talking points to surrogates. One line from the WH: “For over a year and half, the President has repeatedly said he believes the intelligence agencies when they said Russia interfered in American elections.” (Fact check: this is not believable after Helsinki) pic.twitter.com/qhMZSSacRa
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) July 17, 2018
UPDATE: Add Eric Metaxas to this list:
Eric Metaxas defends Trump at Helsinki on his radio show right now: "There is nothing there…it was only a stumble." #ericmetaxas @EricMetaxasShow #courtevangelicals
— John Fea (@JohnFea1) July 17, 2018
I just love how the “right” are using Russian propaganda of either we talk with Russia or we go to war with Russia as if that was the only alternatives.
Apparently, you can add James Robison to the list, too.
https://twitter.com/revjamesrobison/status/1018897690636283904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1018897690636283904&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.patheos.com%2Fblogs%2Ffriendlyatheist%2F2018%2F07%2F17%2Fthese-white-evangelical-leaders-praised-donald-trump-after-the-surrendersummit%2F
Was there ever any doubt?
U.S. White Evangelical James Robison appeals to two groups of people: 1) those who don’t know what Jesus taught, and 2) those who know but refuse to follow.
July 16, 2018 is now a special date for U.S. White Evangelicals still supporting Trump. They will not be raptured, but will spend the remainder of their days trying to justify their unjustifiable alliance with Trump’s self-centered gospel of lies, deception, and gross incompetence.
Moore conspicuously left the gays off his list of people persecuted by Putin. Presumably he’s ok with that. His own morality seems to be relative.
Not to mention that Putin is also anti-LGBT+, which might have something to do with the Court Evangelicals’s support.
But then Russell Moore is also an anti-LGBT+ activist, which his phony “religious liberty” campaign and “Nashville Statement” hate mongering amply illustrates, yet even he has recognize Trump for what he is and isn’t.
Alvin McEwen goes into the anti-Gay angle in greater depth..
Praising Russia’s persecution of its LGBTQ community backfires on Franklin Graham
https://holybulliesandheadlessmonsters.blogspot.com/2018/07/praising-russias-persecution-of-its.html#.W01h49JKiUl
Reading Moore’s tweet again: Vladimir Putin ruthlessly persecutes those who preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, holds orphans hostage from waiting families for his political purposes, murders dissidents and journalists, attacks democratic institutions and nations.
Trump dishonestly panders to the first group and he threatens to prosecute and incarcerate journalists and dissidents (lock her up!) instead of murdering them, but the spirit and tone of the message applies to Trump as well as Putin.
I believe Putin is quite supportive of the Russian Orthodox Church (and vice versa). Though it is pretty clear who is in charge, both benefit.
Yes, and I admit to some amusement thinking about the Russian Orthodox Church being the authority over the likes of Frankie Graham.
Just like Frank Burns, these Court Evangelicals are: “Emotionally exhausted and morally bankrupt.”
I saw no mention of a Frank Burns in the article and the only Frank Burns that comes to mind is the oafish clownfish surgeon from the TV series M.A.S.H. But I’m not sure he totally fits your description?
A reference to the notation on the toe tag his tent mates put on him.
Yes! I was just taking “A Closer Look” and found the episode. Thank you!