Trump's evangelical adviser: God's OK with U.S. bombing North Korea
Charles VenturaTexas pastor Robert Jeffress, one of President Trump's evangelical advisers, said that God has given the president "full control" to take out North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
In a statement to CBN News Tuesday, the First Baptist Dallas pastor wrote that a biblical passage in the book of Romans endowed "rulers full power to use whatever means necessary — including war — to stop evil."
"In the case of North Korea, God has given Trump authority to take out Kim Jong-Un," Jeffress told CBN News. "I’m heartened to see that our president — contrary to what we’ve seen with past administrations who have taken, at best, a sheepish stance toward dictators and oppressors — will not tolerate any threat against the American people."
Jeffress' comments were made public the same day Trump promised "fire and fury" on the reclusive nation and its leader if it didn't abandon its nuclear program. North Korea responded to Trump's aggressive stance with a threat to strike the U.S. territory of Guam.
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Citing Romans 13, Jeffress told The Washington Post Wednesday that the passage "gives the government … the authority to do whatever, whether it’s assassination, capital punishment or evil punishment to quell the actions of evildoers like Kim Jong Un.”
Jeffress, who is no stranger to controversy, has drawn criticism over the years for his views on religion, Muslims and homosexuality. He delivered a morning sermon on Trump's inauguration, comparing the president to biblical figure Nehemiah.
"The first step of rebuilding the nation was the building of a great wall," Jeffress said in the January sermon at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Washington, according to The Post. "God instructed Nehemiah to build a wall around Jerusalem to protect its citizens from enemy attack. You see, God is NOT against building walls!"