Losing the Evangelicals

When David Platt concluded his sermon during an afternoon service at McLean Bible Church in Northern Virginia on Sunday, the pastor thought he would have a few minutes to himself for quiet reflection.

Instead, he was whisked backstage and given a message: “The president of the United States was on his way to the church, would be there in a matter of minutes, and would like for us to pray for him."

[...]

Trump caught Platt, churchgoers and reporters by surprise when he made the unscheduled 15-minute stop on his way back to the White House after spending the morning at Trump National Golf Course in Sterling.

  WaPo

What are we going to do about Frank Graham's "pray for Trump day"? That's today, guys." "Quick, Siri, what's the nearest church?  Evangelical church, Siri.  Evangelical."

Unlike other pastors who have fiercely supported President Trump, Platt, known for his nonpartisan approach to preaching, found himself facing a tough decision. After ultimately choosing to bring Trump onstage and fulfill the president’s request, Platt felt he owed his congregation a lengthy explanation for his reasoning, even acknowledging that “some within our church . . . are hurt that I made this decision.”

In a detailed letter posted on the nondenominational megachurch’s website Sunday evening and shared by Platt to social media on Monday, the pastor wrote, “My aim was in no way to endorse the president, his policies, or his party, but to obey God’s command to pray for our president and other leaders."

[...]

“Sometimes we find ourselves in situations that we didn’t see coming, and we’re faced with a decision in a moment when we don’t have the liberty of deliberation, so we do our best to glorify God,” Platt wrote in the letter.

[...]

For anyone familiar with Platt’s history, seeing him standing next to Trump onstage Sunday was an unusual sight. Platt, who has been a pastor at McLean Bible Church for two years, is best known for authoring the New York Times best-selling book, “Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream,” in which he calls out materialism. According to the Christian Post, Platt has also preached that churches shouldn’t promote nationalism. Before coming to the Washington-area church, Platt served as the president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s International Mission Board.

[...]

Video of Sunday’s service showed Platt reemerging in front of his congregation followed by a casually dressed Trump, who appeared to still be wearing his golf shoes.

Unfuckingbelievable.

White House spokesman Judd Deere said in a statement Sunday that Trump went to the church to “visit with the Pastor and pray for the victims and community of Virginia Beach.”

Just another White House spokesman lie. According to a pool report, he was there for about 15 minutes.

During the roughly five minutes that Trump was onstage at the church and in Platt’s letter, there was no mention of the shooting or its victims.

[...]

Platt [...] walked over to a smiling Trump and placed a hand on the president’s back.

“I want to ask us to bow our heads together now and pray for our president,” he said.

For the next several minutes, Platt delivered a lengthy prayer in which he asked God to bestow grace, mercy and wisdom on Trump. Platt also included prayers for other national and state leaders, including those in Congress and the courts.

He's on Trump's shit list now.

Platt wrote that knowing some people were unhappy with his decision to publicly pray for Trump “weighs heavy on my heart.” “I love every member of this church, and I only want to lead us with God’s Word in a way that transcends political party and position, heals the hurts of racial division and injustice, and honors every man and woman made in the image of God,” he wrote. “I don’t want to purposely ever do anything that undermines the unity we have in Christ.”

Too bad, you got Trumped.

When Platt finished speaking, people in attendance broke out in loud cheers. Trump did not make any comments, but shook hands with Platt and mouthed “Thank you . . . I really appreciate it.” As the president walked offstage, he paused several times to wave at the crowd and thank them as well.

Jesus wept.

P.S. The video of Platt's prayer is included at this link. Trump gave a thumb's up during it. Twice.

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.