Blurring the Lines

The Federal Advisory Committee Act, passed in 1972, says Congress and the public “should be kept informed with respect to the number, purpose, membership, activities, and cost of advisory committees.”

I think President Trump’s Evangelical Advisory Committee meetings, dinners, and as one participant described it, “unprecedented access,” should be open to public scrutiny. Expenses related to this “unprecedented access” should be open for review and audit. Closed meetings with groups like this should not be allowed unless the press is sitting at the table.

Judging from the menu tweeted by one of the attendees, this little State House dinner was a pretty pricey affair, but you have to go all out to impress a bunch of rich religious leaders.

Representing 100 or so evangelical leaders, prosperity gospel pastor, Paula White, read the following inscription on a Bible before presenting it to the Donald Trump:

First Lady and President, you are in our prayers always.  Thank you for your courageous and bold stand for religious liberty, and for your timeless service to all Americans.  We appreciate the price that you have paid to walk in the high calling.  History will record the greatness that you have brought for generations.

It might be a good idea to pray for the leader of our nation, but the remainder of the inscription doesn’t seem appropriate to the one receiving this gift. I don’t think the last line of the inscription on this Bible is prophetic. History might record whatever this president brings, but it probably won’t be described as “greatness.”

Evangelicals seem pretty eager to garner political influence under the guise of expanding religious liberty. Some leaders want to blur the lines between religion and politics when they should be committed to maintaining a separation. Cozying up with politicians is more detrimental than helpful, and reduces the credibility of the message that evangelicals claim to espouse. ~Kindly Curmudgeon 

To read more, go to Bob Allen’s August 30th article.