It’s probably not surprising that Robert Jeffress, downtown Dallas’ loudest pastor, chose to zero in on the Book of Nehemiah for now-President Donald Trump’s pre-inauguration sermon this morning. The book is written in first person, essentially a memoir describing how this builder, chosen by God, would go about erecting a wall to protect Jerusalem from its enemies.
Jeffress, the First Baptist Church senior pastor who has tossed off Trump’s recorded comments about sexually assaulting women, also peppers that sermon with digs at the press (Nehemiah’s “chief antagonists” were “the mainstream media of their day” who “continued to hound and heckle Nehemiah and spread false rumors” during the building of said wall) and links the book’s namesake’s ability to shrug off criticism to his new president’s: “I’m doing a great work,” he quotes Nehemiah as saying while Building That Wall, “why should I stop the work and come down to you?”
The Washington Post published the full sermon Friday afternoon, which includes references to Wendy’s hamburgers, jet trips above Iowa, Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton, and Ronald Reagan. Major takeaway is in the story’s headline: “God is not against building walls!” It should be noted that Jeffress is a member of Trump’s faith advisory council, has laid hands on the man in Trump Tower more than a year ago, has titled a sermon “Why Gay is Not OK,” and has declared Islam and Mormon teachings as heresies coming “from the pit of hell.”
And if you’re wondering, the marquee outside of First Baptist on Friday reads “Finishing Well.”
