Dallas megachurch pastor and Christian nationalist Robert Jeffress, a fervent supporter of President Donald Trump, spoke at the Republican midterm convention this week, where he told the crowd that they are in a war against “unseen forces of wickedness.”
“Ladies and gentlemen, we are in a war,” he said, slamming the Democratic Party as advocates for sin:
"There’s a difference between falling into sin and being an advocate for sin, an advocate for evil. And ladies and gentlemen, the Democrat Party are advocates for evil. They are advocates for sin. And we need to call it that way."
Jeffress demonstrated religious-right leaders’ intolerance for Christians who don’t interpret the Bible the same way they do, demeaning the outspoken Christian faith of Democratic senatorial candidate James Talarico.
“James Talarico believes that Jesus was little more than a wimpy, woke rabbi who roamed the hillside saying sweet things to people,” Jeffress said. He claimed that no “true Christian” could hold Talarico’s views on gender and other topics, saying, “The beliefs of James Talarico are blasphemous. They are evil. And they are not beliefs that any true Christian could support ever.”
In contrast, Jeffress portrayed the corrupt authoritarian Trump as carrying out a mission given to him by God, saying, “We know that deep down, God has given every leader, including our great President Donald Trump—he’s given Donald Trump not just the right, but the responsibility, to protect our nation from evildoers, whether they come from without or within our own country.”
Jeffress essentially told voters that God would punish America if Republicans don’t maintain their hold on power in this year’s midterm elections:
"God is never on the side of evil. And if we want God’s continued blessings on our United States of America, it is imperative that on November the 3rd, we vote for God’s side."
