How Could a Serious Man of Faith Endorse Trump?

The Context

Jerry Falwell, Jr., president of Liberty University, endorsed Donald Trump for president on Tuesday. The endorsement came as a huge disappointment to Glenn, who deeply respects Mr. Falwell: "I really like Jerry Falwell. He's a good man. Liberty University is a great university. I can't say anything bad about Jerry Falwell or the University. He's a great man."

Men of Faith and the Trump Factor

Jerry Falwell isn't the only evangelical leader singing Trump's praises. Robert Jeffress, who leads First Baptist Dallas and is a Fox News contributor, has been introducing Trump on the stump. As a pastor, Jeffress cannot officially endorse any candidate and maintain his church’s tax-exempt status, but he's made his choice very clear: “I want you to know I would not be here this morning if I were not absolutely convinced that Donald Trump would make a great President of the United States.”

Trumping Morality

In a brilliant essay, Dr Everett Piper, president of Oklahoma Wesleyan University (yes, that Dr. Everett who wrote This Is Not a Daycare, It's a University), perfectly expressed how principles and character matter: "Party affiliation and political positions do not matter. Personal conduct, public statements, theological integrity and moral consistency do."

Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council agreed with the sentiment when he endorsed Ted Cruz on Tuesday: "Ted is a constitutional conservative who will fight for faith, family and freedom. He will defend our right to believe and live according to those beliefs. Our families will be protected and freedom will once again mean something in America."

Common Sense Bottom Line

Dr. Everett summed it up best: "I believe in morality more than I do in money. I hold to principles more than I yearn for power. I trust my Creator more than I do human character. I’d like to think that all this, and more, makes me an informed and thoughtful citizen and voter. I’ve read, I’ve listened and I’ve studied and there is NOTHING, absolutely nothing, in this man’s track record that makes Donald Trump 'on my side.' I refuse to let my desire to win 'trump' my moral compass. I will not sell my soul or my university’s to a political process that values victory more than virtue."

Enjoy this complimentary clip from The Glenn Beck Program:

Below is a rush transcript of this segment, it might contain errors:

GLENN: So you're talking about Jerry Falwell.

PAT: Yeah. For one. But there's others.

GLENN: Yeah, I really, really like him. I really like Jerry Falwell. He's a good man. Liberty University is a great university. I can't say anything bad about Jerry Falwell or the University. He's a great man.

PAT: Just a surprising endorsement.

GLENN: I think what you have to understand -- and, Pat, we've had -- you know this. We've had one very big evangelical leader. Huge. Uge. Who said to me when I said, "Come on. Really. What is going on here? You know better than this. What is going on?" You know. Two Corinthians, you know better than this.

Quote, Glenn, I'm just going to leave it at this. You know all the work we're doing and all the service we're doing and all the things we're doing all around the world.

Yes.

Just leave it at this, he's a very generous man. He's a very generous man.

And as I said to that individual, "That I believe would be in the Bible under bribery. You can call it what you want, but that's bribery."

STU: You're not accusing Jerry Falwell --

GLENN: No, no, no.

STU: This is not that person at all, to be clear.

GLENN: I have no idea. I take Jerry Falwell at his word. I have nothing bad to say about Jerry Falwell at all or Liberty University. He is a good man. This is somebody else that has said this to me, what? Two months ago. And it's shocking. It's shocking. But you just have to -- you just have to look at -- I mean, remember, Donald Trump is a deal-maker. You come to the table, you're either for him or against him.

You know, the Democrats didn't like it when the George Bush said to the Islamists, "You're either for us or against us." Those are people that were crucifying people. This president, the one we have currently right now, has that same policy, where if you're against him, you're dead. It just doesn't matter. You're just nonexistent. And he will send his people out to get you. They will do everything they can to hurt your business.

All you have to do is kiss the ring. All you have to do is just bow. Genuflect. The only reason why Donald Trump is coming after me is because I won't give him what he demands. My silence. That's it.

That's it. I'm just saying what he has said -- we're playing on the air what he has said. He can't take anyone disagreeing with him. You have to be a loser, a has-been, a crazy person, a drunk, a whatever. Whatever.

PAT: Uh-huh.

GLENN: If you don't agree with him, you're over. He's a very dangerous man. And I don't know if, you know, anybody at this point is even listening to me, who, you know, is thinking about voting for Donald Trump. And, you know, I doubt it. Just seeing the vitriol. I don't know how to reach those people, and I wish I did.

And I really -- it makes me sad because we have been together for so long and you have stood with me for so long and you have been right with me when we learned about the progressives, when we learned about history, and I showed you all of this. I showed you all of this. I warned about this very thing happening. And it's happening. It's why I preached loved and tolerance. You can't be angry. You can't be -- it wasn't because of Donald Trump. I knew this Donald Trump-like character would appear because they always do.

Father Coughlin is a very great example. When you have economic security and physical security challenged and people feel insecure on those two things, a demagogue always approaches and says, "I will fix it all." And that's why you cannot -- you have to know what your principles are.

And that's why it's disappointing to see people like Jerry Falwell, who, again, I love and adore the man, I just disagree with him on this. But here's a man who should know better. Because the people are crying out for a king right now, and that never ends well.

The reason why I've said it in the past that I would send my kids to Liberty University -- I'm Mormon. I'd send my kids to Liberty University. Because I'm not afraid of my kids learning about different theology and everything else. They'll make their own mind up. They'll know. They'll find the truth. I encourage them: Seek on your own. Find the truth. So I'd send them to Liberty University because Liberty University teaches the fundamental principles.

How Jerry Falwell who can have in his -- one of the best law schools in the country, great law school, has a mock Supreme Court there on campus, how he can think that Donald Trump is going to be the guy who is going to pick four Supreme Court justices that will protect religion is beyond me. It's not in him. It's not in him. But to each his own.

Featured Image: Liberty University President Jerry Falwell, Jr. (R) presents Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump with a sports jersey after he delivered the convocation in the Vines Center at the university January 18, 2016 in Lynchburg, Virginia. Although Falwell said the university does not endorse a particular candidate, he left no question as to who he is supporting in the 2016 presidential race. Highlighting Trump's conservative credentials, charity and politically incorrect speech, Falwell said, 'I see a lot of parallels between my father and Donald Trump.' (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

6 things every voter needs to know heading into the 2024 election

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Election season is coming up and every vote matters. Over the last four years, our country has experienced some of the lowest lows it has seen in a long time. From horrors at the southern border to government overspending, it is clear: our country is in trouble. Everybody needs to get out and vote.

When you look at the numbers, there are some noticeable trends in who actually votes... and who doesn't. According to Pew Research, the more mature crowd (30 and up) gets out there and does their civic duty, while the younger crowd (18 to 29) just doesn't make it out to the polls. If you are a young or first-time voter, the process can seem daunting. You have to jump through some bureaucratic red tape before you can head to the polls, which can be frustrating and discouraging for someone who has never done it before.

If this describes you or someone you know, you're in luck. We compiled everything you need to know to get ready to hit the polls this election season in a convenient guide below.

Get an I.D.

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The first thing you'll need is a valid state I.D. These can take a while to acquire, so if you don't yet have one, it's time to get on it. Not all states require I.D., and every state has different requirements. You can check to see if your state requires an I.D. to vote here.

Register to vote

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Every state, except North Dakota, requires prospective voters to register, so it is important to make sure you are registered in the state and county you reside in. Every state has a different registration process. You can find your state's registration website here.

Confirm date of election day

You want to make sure you arrive at the polls at the right date and time. Most states have a set election day, and often there are even a few days or weeks of early voting that lead up to it. Check out this list of election dates to find out your election day and mark it in your calendar.

Find your polling location

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You can find polling locations on your state's voter information website, which can be found here. Keep in mind that you will likely have to find a location within the county where you reside. These locations often include public schools, public libraries, city halls, and other public buildings.

Research candidates on the ballot

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Before you vote, it is important to be educated in what you are voting for. Find out who will be on the ballot (and don't be surprised when it's not just the presidential nominees), and do a little digging. Don't assume that because a candidate has a little "R" next to their name they share your values. You can visit this website to find out who will be on the ballot in your local area.

Actually go vote

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There is nothing else to to but get out there and vote! Go out there and make your voice heard!

What do clay pots have to do with to preserving American history?

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Editor's note: This article was originally published on TheBlaze.com.

Why should we preserve our nation’s history? If you listen to my radio program and podcast, or read my columns and books, you know I’ve dedicated a large part of my life and finances to sourcing and preserving priceless artifacts that tell America’s story. I’ve tried to make these artifacts as available as possible through the American Journey Experience Museum, just across from the studios where I do my daily radio broadcast. Thousands of you have come through the museum and have been able to see and experience these artifacts that are a part of your legacy as an American.

The destruction of American texts has already begun.

But why should people like you and me be concerned about preserving these things from our nation's history? Isn’t that what the “big guys” like the National Archives are for?

I first felt a prompting to preserve our nation's history back in 2008, and it all started with clay pots and the Dead Sea Scrolls. In 1946, a Bedouin shepherd in what is now the West Bank threw a rock into a cave nestled into the side of a cliff near the Dead Sea. Instead of hearing an echo, he heard the curious sound of a clay pot shattering. He discovered more than 15,000 Masoretic texts from the third century B.C. to the first century A.D.

These texts weren’t just a priceless historical discovery. They were virtually perfect copies of the same Jewish texts that continue to be translated today. Consider the significance of that discovery. Since the third century B.C. when these texts were first written, the Jewish people have endured a continued onslaught of diasporas, persecutions, pressures to conform to their occupying power, the destruction of their temple, and so much more. They had to fight for their identity as a people for centuries, and finally, a year after the end of the Holocaust and a year before the founding of the nation of Israel, these texts were discovered, confirming the preservation and endurance of their heritage since ancient times — all due to someone putting these clay pots in a desert cave more than 2,000 years ago.

I first felt a prompting to preserve our nation's history back in 2008, and it all started with clay pots and the Dead Sea Scrolls.

So, what do these clay pots have to do with the calling to preserve American history? I didn’t understand that prompting myself until the horrible thought dawned on me that the people we are fighting against may very well take our sacred American scriptures, our Declaration of Independence, and our Bill of Rights. What if they are successful, and 1,000 years from now, we have no texts preserved to confirm our national identity? What kind of new history would be written over the truth?

The destruction of American texts has already begun. The National Archives has labeled some of our critical documents, like our Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights, as “triggering” or “containing harmful language.” In a public statement, the National Archives said that the labels help prepare readers to view potentially distressing content:

The Catalog and web pages contain some content that may be harmful or difficult to view. NARA’s records span the history of the United States, and it is our charge to preserve and make available these historical records. As a result, some of the materials presented here may reflect outdated, biased, offensive, and possibly violent views and opinions. In addition, some of the materials may relate to violent or graphic events and are preserved for their historical significance.

According to this statement, our founding documents are either “outdated, biased, offensive,” “possibly violent,” or a combination of these scathing descriptions. I’m sorry, the Declaration of Independence is not “triggering.” Our Constitution is not “outdated and biased,” and our Bill of Rights certainly is not “offensive and possibly violent.” They are glorious documents. They should be celebrated, not qualified by such derogatory, absurd language. Shame on them.

These are only the beginning stages of rewriting our history. What if they start banning these “triggering” documents from public view because they might offend somebody? Haven’t we torn down “triggering” statues before? What if we are no longer able to see, read, and study the actual words of our nation's founding documents because they are “harmful” or “possibly violent”? A thousand years from now, will there be any remnant to piece together the true spirit behind the nation that our founders envisioned?

The Declaration of Independence is not “triggering.”

That is why in 2008, I was prompted to preserve what I could. Now, the American Journey Experience Museum includes more than 160,000 artifacts, from founding-era documents to the original Roe v. Wade court papers. We need to preserve the totality of our nation’s heritage, the good, the bad, and the ugly. We need to preserve our history in our own clay pots.

I ask you to join with me on this mission. Start buying books that are important to preserve. Buy some acid-free paper and start printing some of the founding documents, the reports that go against the mainstream narrative, the studies that prove what is true as we are continually being fed lies. Start preserving our daily history as well as our history because it is being rewritten and digitized.

Somebody must have a copy of what is happening now and what has happened in the past. I hope things don’t get really bad. But if they do, we need to preserve our heritage. Perhaps, someone 1,000 years from now will discover our clay pots and, Lord willing, be able to have a glimpse of America as it truly was.

Top 10 WORST items in the new $1.2 TRILLION spending bill

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Biden just signed the newest spending bill into law, and Glenn is furious.

Under Speaker Johnson's leadership, the whopping $1.2 TRILLION package will use your taxpayer dollars to fund the government through September. Of course, the bill is loaded with earmarks and pork that diverts money to fund all sorts of absurd side projects.

Here is the list of the ten WORST uses of taxpayer money in the recently passed spending bill:

Funding venues to host drag shows, including ones that target children

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Money for transgender underwear for kids

Funding for proms for 12 to 18 year old kids

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Border security funding... for Jordan and Egypt

Another $300 million for Ukraine

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$3.5 million for Detroit's annual Thanksgiving Day parade

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$2.5 million for a new kayaking facility in Franklin, New Hampshire

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$2.7 million for a bike park in White Sulfur Springs, West Virginia, a town with a population of less than 2,300 people

$5 million for a new trail at Coastal Carolina University

$4 million the "Alaska King Crab Enhancement Project" (whatever that means)

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There is no doubt about it—we are entering dark times.

The November presidential election is only a few months away, and following the chaos of the 2020 election, the American people are bracing for what is likely to be another tumultuous election year. The left's anti-Trump rhetoric is reaching an all-time high with the most recent "Bloodbath" debacle proving how far the media will go to smear the former president. That's not to mention the Democrats' nearly four-year-long authoritarian attempt to jail President Trump or stop his re-election by any means necessary, even if it flies in the face of the Constitution.

Meanwhile, Biden is doing worse than ever. He reportedly threw a tantrum recently after being informed that his polls have reached an all-time low. After Special Counsel Robert Hur's report expressed concerns over Biden's obviously failing mental agility, it's getting harder for the Democrats to defend him. Yet he is still the Democratic nominee for November, promising another 4 years of catastrophic policies, from the border to heavy-handed taxation, should he be reelected.

The rest of the world isn't doing much better. The war in Ukraine has no clear end in sight, drawing NATO and Russia closer and closer to conflict. The war in Gaza is showing no sign of slowing down, and as Glenn revealed recently, its continuation may be a sign that the end times are near.

One thing is clear: we are living in uncertain times. If you and your family haven't prepared for the worst, now is the time. You can start by downloading "Glenn's Ultimate Guide to Getting Prepared." Be sure to print off a copy or two. If the recent cell outage proved anything, it's that technology is unreliable in survival situations. You can check your list of supplies against our "Ultimate Prepper Checklist for Beginners," which you can find below:

Food

  • Canned food/non-perishable foods
  • Food preparation tools
  • Go to the next level: garden/livestock/food production

Water

  • Non-perishable water store
  • Water purification
  • Independent water source

Shelter

  • Fireplace with a wood supply
  • Tent
  • Generator with fuel supply
  • Go to the next level: fallout shelter

Money

  • Emergency cash savings
  • Precious metals

Medicine

  • Extra blankets
  • Basic first aid
  • Extra prescriptions
  • Extra glasses
  • Toiletries store
  • Trauma kit
  • Antibiotics
  • Basic surgery supplies
  • Potassium Iodate tablets

Transportation

  • Bicycle
  • Car
  • Extra fuel

Information

  • Birth certificates
  • Insurance cards
  • Marriage license
  • Immunization records
  • Mortgage paperwork
  • Car title and registration
  • House keys, car keys
  • Passports
  • Family emergency plan
  • Prepping/survival/repair manuals
  • Go to the next level: copy of the Bible, the U.S. Constitution, and other important books/sources

Skills

  • Cooking
  • Gardening
  • Sewing
  • First Aid
  • Basic maintenance skills
  • Go to the next level: farming/ranching
  • Self-defense training

Communication

  • Family contact information and addresses
  • HAM radio

Miscellaneous

  • Flashlights and batteries
  • Lamps and fuel
  • Hardware (tools, nails, lumber, etc)
  • Extra clothes
  • Extreme weather clothes and gear
  • Gas masks and filters
  • Spare parts for any machinery/equipment