Evangelical Leader on Trump's Speech: 'Politics Driving the Gospel'

Evangelical Christian leader Russell Moore unleashed a twitter storm during GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump's speech at Liberty University Monday, calling it "politics driving the gospel rather than the other way around."

Politics driving the gospel rather than the other way around is the third temptation of Christ. He overcame it. Will we?

— Russell Moore (@drmoore) January 18, 2016

Moore, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, the moral and public policy agency of the nation's largest Protestant denomination, even lobbed a Twitter burn at Liberty's leader, Jerry Falwell Jr.

Absolutely unbelievable. https://t.co/fDTD5LBWNt

— Russell Moore (@drmoore) January 18, 2016

The speech to a record 13,000 people assembled at the university, according to Trump, was carried live on Newsmax TV.

Moore, who wrote "Onward: Engaging the Culture Without Losing the Gospel," sub-tweeted the approximate 45-minute event.

Trading in the gospel of Jesus Christ for political power is not liberty but slavery.

— Russell Moore (@drmoore) January 18, 2016

He slammed the speech as:

This would be hilarious if it weren't so counter to the mission of the gospel of Jesus Christ. #TrumpatLiberty

— Russell Moore (@drmoore) January 18, 2016

And warned evangelicals:

Evangelicals can love a golden calf, as long as Aaron promises to make Mexico pay for it.

— Russell Moore (@drmoore) January 18, 2016

He also bashed Trump for his front-running bragging:

Winning at politics while losing the gospel is not a win.

— Russell Moore (@drmoore) January 18, 2016

As well as his multiple marriages.

Being faithful to the wife of one's youth is succeeding in real life.

— Russell Moore (@drmoore) January 18, 2016

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