My opinion on the President's Evangelical Counsel

Beware of 0 prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles? - Matthew 7:15

After Donald Trump's rhetoric on the Charlottesville Unite the Right rally in which KKK/White Supremacists and Nazis marched, and one of the Nazis ran over a counter protester, a number of people who were in committees to offer counsel and advice to Donald Trump resigned. So many people were resigning from a couple of the business councils that Trump jumped in and disbanded them, probably before he looked any worse. Surprisingly, of all councils that didn't follow suit, with an act of conscience, the Evangelical Advisory Board did NOT have any members that resigned, until yesterday when A R Bernard did so. He said

"In a social and political climate such as ours, it often takes a gathering of unlikely individuals to shape the future of our nation on issues of faith and inner city initiatives. I was willing to be one of those unlikely individuals and that is why I agreed to serve on the President's Evangelical Advisory Board. However, it became obvious that there was a deepening conflict in values between myself and the administration. I quietly stepped away from my involvement with the Board several months ago and submitted my letter of formal resignation as of Tuesday Aug 15, 2017. I am always grateful and honored by any opportunity to serve my country".

Not Jack Graham, pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church, who is also on the Evangelical Advisory Board. What he did say was this. 

• Jack Graham, pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church, shared and affirmed a message from a fellow Prestonwood pastor, who told their congregation, “Our hearts go out to the victims in Charlottesville, Virginia, and I think it’s important on a day like this that we stand together as a church … to say in the strongest terms possible that we condemn any sort of racial bigotry, white supremacy, prejudice, and intolerance.”

The *strongest terms possible" apparently mean that it's still okay to consort with Donald Trump, who showed his 1 colors when he said that "many sides" were to blame and that there were "very fine people on both sides". So, for Trump, and apparently for Graham, too, the people who support the KKK, Nazis, and were ACTUAL NAZIS are *very fine people*. It's the same principle, isn't it, if anyone wants to excuse a white supremacist who somehow accidentally travelled down to the rally in Charlottesville in order to associate with and march with Nazis, as someone who wants to also associate with the man who excuses and minimizes the evil of Nazis by saying there were *very fine people* involved? Disgusting and shows that it's more important for Jack Graham to be able to say he's on a counsel with Trump.

Not surprising that Jack Graham is on the side of appeasing Nazis. Look at Prestonwood Baptist Church history, where the original founder of it, Bill Weber, was screwing around with at least 4 different women before he was found out for his adultery.   Under Jack Graham's *watch, there were other sleazy under pastors caught in adultery and sexual abuse. 

Also nor surprising because Jack Graham apparently wants to be part of the world, and part of the political process, as evidenced by the policial forum he held at Prestonwood Baptist Church in 2015.  And he wanted to use his position at the church to endorse (wink wink) certain candidates. After all, he's one of the attention seeking televangelists that previously rushed up lay hands on Trump. Graham compared the meeting to a football rally. Right. 

Graham and other evangelical leaders were at the White House last week  for a meeting with the Office of Public Liaison. The Plano pastor told Fox and Friends that the faith leaders were greeted first by Trump's son-in-law and adviser, Jared Kushner, and then by Pence, who invited them to the Oval Office. 

That morning, Trump blasted Congress on Twitter for delaying action on the health care bill that's supposed to replace his predecessor's Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. Questions later hit the White House about Donald Trump Jr.'s meeting with a Russian who promised damaging information on Hillary Clinton during the 2016 campaign.

There is a difference between giving counsel when asked, and rushing to DC to be part of a *football rally*photo op.

At this point, and this was before Trump's bizarre "both sides" dismissal of murder by a Nazi, it was clear to Americans that Trump is an immoral bully. For me, Trump is certainly no one I'd want to emulate nor pointed out to my children as a hero. 

As for Graham, more than this, honest people should be horrified at hearing mere words coming from anyone's mouth, that are not accompanied by deeds. Jack Graham wants to be able to make statements about how white supremacy is bad but still stand by and associate with Donald Trump, who clearly wants to pander to Nazis. I thought this was the one thing American citizens could agree on, Nazis Bad, and it's shocking that someone that purports to be a man of god would consort with Trump, apparently for notoriety and power. 

And, what does this way about the members who attend Prestonwood Baptist Church? By associating with a pastor who tacitly winks at Nazis, they become complicit themselves. Or maybe Nazis just don't bother them, nor the fact that a Nazi committed an act of murder in Charlottesville. 

Bravo to A R Bernard and Shame on Jack Graham.