Senator Ted Cruz formally announced his presidential campaign on March 23rd, 2015 – at Liberty University in Virginia, a private, non-profit Christian university. Ten months later the president of Liberty University, Jerry Falwell, Jr., endorsed… drum-roll please … Donald J. Trump and his “two Corinthians.”

The Falwell endorsement came together over the course of several months (and quite possibly – as I’ve always suspected – over the course of several millions), with the school leader and Trump exchanging private phone calls, according to Republicans familiar with the relationship.
 
By late last year, Falwell was publicly encouraging Trump, even though he held off on an endorsement. “Trump reminds me so much of my father,” he said in a December interview with Fox News. ~ Source: Washington Post

I don’t know about Jerry’s earthly father. But he couldn’t possibly have meant our heavenly One.

Personally – at the risk of being labeled “judgemental” – I’m having a rather difficult time trying to square Mr. Trump’s life thus far with anything remotely resembling Christian ideals. Writing recently in the New York Times, Peter Wehner offered his take on The Theology of Donald Trump ~

(Trump) embodies a worldview that is incompatible with Christianity. If you trace that worldview to its source, Christ would not be anywhere in the vicinity.
 
Time and again Mr. Trump has shown contempt for those he perceives as weak and vulnerable — “losers,” in his vernacular. They include P.O.W.s, people with disabilities, those he deems physically unattractive and those he considers politically powerless.
 
He bullies and threatens people he believes are obstacles to his ambitions. He disdains compassion and empathy, to the point where his instinctive response to the largest mass shooting in American history was to congratulate himself: “Appreciate the congrats for being right.”
 
What Mr. Trump admires is strength. For him, a person’s intrinsic worth is tied to worldly success and above all to power. He never seems free of his obsession with it. In his comments to that (June 21st) gathering of evangelicals, Mr. Trump said this: “And I say to you folks, because you have such power, such influence. Unfortunately the government has weeded it away from you pretty strongly. But you’re going to get it back.” […]
 
In eight sentences Mr. Trump mentioned some variation of “power” six times, to a group of individuals who have professed their love and loyalty to Jesus, who in his most famous sermon declared, “Blessed are the poor in spirit” and “Blessed are the meek,” who said, “My strength is made perfect in weakness,” and who was humiliated and crucified by the powerful.

At Liberty University, accepting Falwell’s endorsement, Trump had this rather questionable advice for a bunch of young Christians ~
 

“I always say don’t let people take advantage – this goes for a country, too, by the way – don’t let people take advantage. Get even. And you know, if nothing else, others will see that and they’re going to say, ‘You know, I’m going to let Jim Smith or Sarah Malone, I’m going to let them alone because they’re tough customers,” Trump said in his remarks. ~ Source: ABCNews

While it’s unfortunate that the GOP has nominated such an unprincipled, socially liberal (libertine?) candidate, it’s distressing that his godless worldview appears to be rapidly infecting the entire party. Trump supporters are increasingly emulating their candidate; arrogant, obnoxious, intimidating.
 
At Free Republic, a site that used to be a big hangout for Tea Partiers, #NeverTrumpers are now persona non grata. Anyone who hasn’t enthusiastically jumped on the Trump Train is likely to be labeled “scum,” “brats” or “vermin.” I, a middle-aged, mild-mannered female have been called a “drama queen,” and a “fag” 😯 for daring to suggest that Trump brings out the worst in his supporters. Through their hostile new intolerance, “Freepers” are turning into the leftists they used to disparage.

 
And now, even though so many evangelicals have embraced Trump, it seems Christianity itself may be a bit too controversial for the RNC. CBN News reported this last week: Atheism will be advertised at the upcoming Republican National Convention, but a popular Christian film won’t be ~

Orange Barrel Media, a company spear-heading advertisement for the RNC, refused to approve a billboard for the film “God’s Not Dead 2.”
 
The advertising company called the 32 by 60 foot billboard “too political” and “way too incendiary.”
 
The billboard would have featured actress Melissa Joan Hart and the popular, “I’d rather stand with God and be judged by the world than stand with the world and be judged by God.”
 
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Orange Barrel Media told Pure Flix the quote and even the title of the film were problematic.

Non-problematic apparently are the Freedom From Religion Foundation’s billboards: “I’m an Atheist and I Vote” in addition to a billboard of former President Ronald Reagan saying “We establish no religion in this country.”.
I’m sure the atheists deliberately ignore Reagan’s much more famous – and relevant – quote: “If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under.”

As I’m writing this post the National Republican Convention is on in the background. One by one the various states are formally casting their votes for Donald J. Trump. Without meaning any irreverence, I’m reminded of Jesus’ words on the cross: “they know not what they’ve done.”

 
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Related:
5 Most Sickening Parts Of Trump’s Meeting With Evangelical Leaders ~

Donald Trump thinks religion is about temporal power. Apparently, leading evangelicals agree with him.