An Open Letter to Jerry Falwell Jr.

Donald Trump is hardly the man to address America’s moral demise!

Proverbs 14:34 states, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” This is true for all peoples and all nations, and without addressing our deepest issues first, we will be guilty of repeating the error of Israel’s false prophets who superficially treated the fracture of their people (see Jer. 6:14; 8:11).

Looking at some of our most pressing moral issues, when it comes to same-sex “marriage,” Mr. Trump has stated that it’s the law of the land whether he likes it or not. In contrast, a number of the other Republican candidates have made clear that they will work against this unjust Supreme Court ruling.

Similarly, while we have a number of true, proven pro-life Republican candidates, Mr. Trump can hardly be viewed as a pro-life champion, despite his recent editorial touting his pro-life sympathies.

Our next president could appoint as many as four new Supreme Court justices, and those justices could potentially shape the nation for decades to come.

Will Mr. Trump cut a deal with his opponents when it comes to appointing justices, or will he appoint righteous justices who will help restore our country’s moral sanity? Can you really say you’re confident you know what he will do?

You stated that, “He cannot be bought, he’s not a puppet on a string like many other candidates … who have wealthy donors as their puppet masters.”

But here too you appear to have missed something of great importance.

Perhaps Mr. Trump is not beholden to his donors—at least, not at this early stage of the campaign—but he does seem beholden to the gods of money and fame, and he is as driven by material wealth and popularity as any candidate in memory (perhaps even more than any candidate in memory).

Do not these gods blind one’s eyes even more than gifts from wealthy donors? And do you have concrete proof that all the other candidates have strayed from their convictions in order to gain financial support? It would seem clear that some of them have done quite the opposite.

It is absolutely true that we are not electing a pastor or priest or Pope. But it is of the utmost importance that our president be a man of integrity, a man of strong moral character, a man who can address the most fundamental needs of our nation.

Nothing I have seen or heard in recent months has given me any indication that this describes Donald Trump.

Rush Limbaugh has pointed to the new divide between nationalism and conservatism, with Donald Trump being viewed as the nationalist/populist leader and Ted Cruz being viewed as the conservative leader.

For me, as an evangelical follower of Jesus, the contrast is between putting nationalism first or the kingdom of God first. From my vantage point, you and other evangelicals seem to have put nationalism first, and that is what deeply concerns me.

Accordingly, if we put the kingdom of God first (by which, of course, I do not mean trying to impose a theocracy but rather putting biblical values first), we can also rebuild the economy, address the immigration issue and strengthen our national defense.

But if we put nationalism first, the most pressing issues will be relegated to second place, and it will be a distant second place at that. And like Israel of old, we will look for a king to make us great rather than looking to the Lord.

I welcome your response to these questions and concerns however you choose to respond—in writing, on my radio show or in private—and I pray that regardless of our differences, God will use you to draw Mr. Trump to Jesus as his Savior and Lord.