“Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, tweeted, ‘The reports of the conditions for migrant children at the border should shock all of our consciences. Those created in the image of God should be treated with dignity and compassion, especially those seeking refuge from violence back home. We can do better than this.’
He posted the comments with a news report saying the government had moved hundreds of children from a Texas border facility after being detained in perilous conditions.
Jerry Falwell Jr., president of Liberty University and an influential evangelical voice, replied: ‘Who are you @drmoore? Have you ever made a payroll? Have you ever built an organization of any type from scratch? What gives you authority to speak on any issue? I’m being serious. You’re nothing but an employee – a bureaucrat.’”
The Washington Post
A little background:
Russell Moore is an evangelical theologian, ethicist and preacher. Moore has spoken out against the display of the Confederate flag, he has called on evangelicals to support refugees, and he’s a leading Trump critic. In short, as a prophet of God he speaks truth to power and has compassion and love for the “least of these.”
Jerry Falwell Jr. is a lawyer, businessman and president of Liberty University. He’s never built an organization of any type from scratch, he inherited his fame, power and prestige from his dad, Jerry Falwell, best known as the founder of the Moral Majority. Junior is the most famous evangelical Trump sycophant, and instead of condemning Trump’s racism, profanity and amorality, he twists scripture to justify the president’s evil policies.
True to his calling Moore spoke out against the inhumane way asylum seekers are being treated, and pleaded for them to be treated with dignity and compassion.
Falwell in turn attacked Moore, arguing that he had no authority to speak on the matter because he wasn’t a wealthy entrepreneur. What kind of twisted logic is that, especially coming from an evangelical leader? By his reasoning Jesus Christ, who didn’t have a place to lay his head, was unqualified to be a public speaker.
I live on a fixed income and I’m not a theologian, but as a citizen of the United States and as a follower of the teachings of Christ I have every right to condemn the immorality and corruption of the Trump administration.
Falwell is an embarrassment to the Christian faith, and he’s unworthy to shine the shoes of a true man of God like Russell Moore.
Every true Christian should be condemning the cruelty and inhumanity of Donald Trump, and speaking out on the behalf of refugees and immigrants who come to our country to escape poverty and violence and to taste liberty and freedom.