Pastor Blasts Jerry Falwell Jr. For Putting Trump Above Christian Values: It's How 'Hitler Rose to Power'

A Southern Baptist pastor "vigorously critiqued" Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr. over a recent interview he gave to the Washington Post, where the evangelical leader stated he would always support President Donald Trump regardless of what he decides to do.

After the interview was published on Tuesday, Southern Baptist minister Alan Cross from Montgomery, Alabama, took to Twitter to rebuke Falwell Jr.'s bizarre statements.

"This interview. Wow. Most Evangelical 'leaders' won't say a word about this. But, Falwell's clearly articulated 'Two Kingdoms' theology needs heavy critique. It's the SAME approach German Lutherans took as Hitler rose to power," Cross tweeted, alongside a link to the article titled "Jerry Falwell Jr. can't imagine Trump 'doing anything that's not good for the country.'"

"If you want to know how the German Lutheran church comprising 80-90% of all Germans collapsed into subversion to tyranny, Falwell lays it out the blueprint perfectly," Cross continued. "Hitler advocated for "positive Christianity" rather than a prophetic Christianity. Support the state as it advances its own interests and the state will leave you alone. Except, the state demands loyalty. Falwell's position is disaster for the church in a democratic republic."

The pastor concluded: "None of this is to say that Trump is Hitler or Falwell is promoting Nazi ideology. Not at all. Rather, this is about how history teaches us about the way subversion happens. Falwell lays the groundwork for church capitulation to the state. He should be vigorously critiqued."

During Falwell Jr.'s interview with the Post's Joe Helm, the conservative figure argued that all Christians should support the president and suggested they "may be immoral" if they didn't.

"It may be immoral for them not to support him because he's got African American employment to record highs, Hispanic employment to record highs," the lawyer and university administrator said. "They need to look at what the president did for the poor."

Falwell Jr. also confirmed Trump couldn't do anything to lose his support and urged evangelists to look past the president's breaches of Christian values — including his lying, adultery and advocating of violence — to focus on his policies alone.

"When Jesus said we're all sinners, he really meant all of us, everybody. I don't think you can choose a president based on their personal behavior because even if you choose the one that you think is the most decent," he said. "You choose a president based on what their policies are. That's why I don't think it's hypocritical."

Falwell's Jr.'s comments were not unusual. He has often defended and expressed public support for the president throughout his presidency. Last September, the president of the Christian conservative university stated he may end Liberty University's ties with Nike over the Colin Kaepernick Just Do It campaign after the president said the company is "sending a terrible message."