As the Stormy Daniels news ramps up in Trump world, it’s no surprise that the president’s defenders are looking for ways to excuse the things they wouldn’t excuse Bill Clinton or any other Democrat for.

American Pravda – Fox News for those still under the illusion that they’re “fair and balanced” – decided to put their spin on the issue by trotting out a “pastor” to explain why adulteries and other vile failures of character are no longer a problem for Christians.

Yeah, it’s anything goes, now.

“Evangelicals know they’re not compromising their beliefs in order to support this great president,” Pastor Robert Jeffress said on Fox News Thursday. “And let’s be clear, evangelicals still believe in the commandment ‘thou shalt not have sex with a porn star.’”

Way to distort the Word of God, Jeffress.

1 Corinthians 5:11-13 NLT tells us otherwise. “¹¹ I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don’t even eat with such people.

¹² It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. ¹³ God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, “You must remove the evil person from among you.”

And how “great” he is debatable. He just signed off on tariffs that are going to wreck our nation’s economy, and he’s been embroiled in turmoil and scandal since he took office.

I think Jeffress’ definition of “great” is skewed.

“However, whether this president violated that commandment or not is totally irrelevant to our support of him,” he continued.

It shouldn’t be. Character matters.

Jeffress went on to use the tired line of reasoning that Trump supporters weren’t voting for an altar boy.

No, they voted for their flesh above what the Bible teaches. That’s kind of the problem, Jeffress. Even a make-believe pastor should be able to figure that one out.

“We are all sinners, we all need forgiveness, [and] that forgiveness is available through Christ for anyone who asks,” he said. “And whether the president needs that forgiveness for this particular allegation, whether he’s asked for it, is between him, his family and his god.”

We already know he hasn’t, based on his own public admission of not bringing God into his life.

What is most shocking/disturbing/depressing is that Jeffress sits on Trump’s evangelical panel. He’s got Trump’s ear, but he seems completely unconcerned with whether Trump is redeemed or not.

And to be fair, this isn’t even a problem with Trump. It’s a problem with false teachers like Jeffress distorting God’s Word and leading weaker brothers and sisters astray, by giving men like Trump a pass.

It’s Jeffress’ own power-drunk ambitions that allow for this. It’s not that Trump is anywhere close to what Jeffress portrays him to be. It’s that Trump gives him access.

It’s a relationship akin to two parasites feeding off of each other.

Jeffress gets to say he’s close to power and Trump gets a charlatan to go out and draw in votes from among marginal Christians, or those who just “identify” as evangelical. Supporting Trump becomes an act of worship for them.

Jeffress has been a staunch defender of Trump in the past. Last month he issued a statement defending Trump for reportedly referring to Haiti and some African nations as “sh*thole countries,” saying the remark was “right on target.”

And any “pastor” that can defend that comment has a desperately warped view of God and how He sees His creation.

Maybe somebody needs to remind Jeffress that whatever access to power he has now, it’s temporary, and he’ll have to answer for it all, one day.