Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr. got into a bit of a heated back-and-forth on Twitter recently after being called out for a picture he posted of himself, his wife, and presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. Why? The picture featured a framed Playboy magazine in the background.
Honored to introduce @realDonaldTrump at religious leader summit in NYC today! He did incredible job! @beckifalwell pic.twitter.com/e2eBSbQwb0
— J L Falwell (@JerryFalwellJr) June 21, 2016
As is to be expected, a slew of people pointed out the hypocrisy and lack of morality that his picture (and Trump endorsement more largely) symbolized.
@JerryJrFalwell @realDonaldTrump @beckifalwell Nice Playboy cover in the shot! Really brings out colours of the hypocrisy on display.
— JordanHeath-Rawlings (@TheGameSheet) June 21, 2016
@JerryJrFalwell @realDonaldTrump This is shameful, Mr. Falwell. I say this as an evangelical Christian pastor. I’m praying you repent
— DJ Jenkins (@DJJenkins) June 21, 2016
But then Falwell responded with an aggressive tweet that made the situation worse:
https://twitter.com/JerryJrFalwell/status/745443179080495105
Christians were quick to point out the flawed theology in Falwell’s defensive tweet. For example, the fact that Jesus didn’t endorse the sinners he spent time with to run the country, nor did he allow them to sit in their unrepentant sin.
But Falwell had a response locked and loaded that he returned to when the skeptics fired off tweets about Trump’s concerning lack of repentance and fruit bearing:
https://twitter.com/JerryJrFalwell/status/745475890465800192
https://twitter.com/JerryJrFalwell/status/745474842246287361
https://twitter.com/JerryJrFalwell/status/745474971858677760
Maybe someone should advise Jerry that it would be best to step away from the Twitterverse for a bit…just step away.