Presumptive Republican candidate Donald Trump told nearly 1,000 Christian leaders they needed to “spiritize” the nation.
“There’s no spirit in these inner cities,” Trump said. “There’s no hope from these people. … We’ve got to spiritize this country. And I’m not only talking about the inner cities. I’m talking about everywhere.”
According to a Dallas Morning News blog, attendees included Robert Jeffress, Franklin Graham, Jack Graham, Ronnie Floyd and Penny Nance, among others.
“It’s hard to be confident when these seem to be recent feelings and beliefs. The positive is that he is expressing those beliefs that concur with what we believe about pro-life justices and religious liberty. Am I comfortable? I’m encouraged,” said Trey Graham, pastor at First Melissa Baptist Church.
The meeting, dubbed “A Conversation About America’s Future,” was moderated by former Trump competitor Ben Carson.
“This moment is perhaps the most critical in the history of our nation, and people of faith can make a crucial difference for our children and grandchildren by exercising their civic duty to cast an informed vote based on a biblical worldview,” Carson said. “The goal is that coming out of this meaningful ‘conversation,’ the faith leaders and Mr. Trump will be more informed about each other and would know one another better, and that he would see their unity in seeking God’s direction for the future of America.”
The meeting was not categorized as a political rally. Rather, United in Purpose and My Faith Votes presented the conversation to introduce Trump to most of the who’s who of American Christian Leaders.
“Our priorities for this meeting are to strengthen relationships and build unity, with an objective to simply have a conversation about the prospects of our nation and the continuing influence of Christian believers and their biblical worldview,” said Sealy Yates, chairman of My Faith Votes. “We wish to talk with specificity to Donald Trump about issues of faith and the role of faith in the civic arena. And we wish to assure him of our prayers for his family and him. This will be a friendly meeting of people of faith who are genuinely, prayerfully concerned about the future of America.”
Cultural commentator Larry Tomczak attended the event, as well. He offered these tidbits:
George Barna set the tone for the event by giving us a statistical analysis of our nation today. He is “the most quoted Christian today” according to Christian Today.
George outlined a very convincing “transformational shift” taking place before our very eyes! Apart from the military and medical profession, we are seeing rapidly declining trust and confidence in church, government, politicians, pastors and institutions. “80 percent of Christians now base their morality on feelings!” People don’t know where to look so they’ll just look within and go on emotion
Retired neurosurgeon and former presidential candidate Ben Carson received strong applause when he asked, “Is this the nation of the people, by the people and for the people or is it one of the Government? We must change course!”
One of the points emphasized by Trump that resounded with the audience was his promise to remove President Johnson’s legislation silencing pastors from speaking on political issues in church. He said “pastors are petrified about losing their tax-exempt status and we are going to get rid of this!”
I asked a Millennial before coming if she could ask Donald Trump any question what would it be? “Leadership is all about trust. Why should I trust you?”
This echoes my passion for the presumptive Republican nominee that he not only avoid political correctness and speak forthrightly but he will work tirelessly to establish trust with various groups that he’s not going to “blow smoke” to win the election but make a commitment to be compassionate, yet uncompromising to do what he says he’ll do.
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