This letter is written at a time when it appears that Dr. Carson may be Donald Trump's choice for running mate as vice president.
In Defense of Virtue: An Open Letter To Dr. Ben CarsonDave Westbrook
March 25 2016
Dear Dr. Carson,
I’m writing to you as a fellow Christian and father of a child who’s life you saved many years ago.
Our family will always be grateful for those gifted hands that God used to spare little Allison’s life after an unfortunate birth injury. By the way, she’s doing well. In fact, she just turned 18 and has committed her life to following Christ, for which we are very thankful.
I mention this so you’ll understand that I have a lot of love in my heart for you. I’m not writing out of hostility or with some political agenda in mind. This is from my heart to yours, and I hope you’ll receive it in that light.
When you started your campaign for president, you embarked on a new and different path – one founded on Christian principles. You upheld honesty as of paramount importance to you, as well as being circumspect and polite in all of your interactions.
This was not only refreshing, it was amazingly different, and millions of Americans (and fellow Seventh-day Adventists) rallied behind you. It was remarkable to see you unapologetically state your commitment to Christian values, and even more impressive to see you actually exemplify those values in your interactions – even in the face of withering attacks.
Certainly for many of us, the most painful of those attacks came when Donald Trump verbally bludgeoned you – day after day – questioning your honesty, stating that you had fabricated your life story, mocking your personal conversion experience, and even comparing you to a pedophile.
In the wake of these attacks, we sadly watched your poll numbers fall. But more than that, we were disheartened to watch the demise of your influence and legacy.
But Dr. Carson, nothing could have prepared me for the ache in the pit of my stomach I’ve had for several weeks now since you’ve taken a whole new and surprising turn.
In endorsing Donald Trump, you have assured us that all of those malicious attacks and lies against you were merely political – nothing more than “the politics of personal destruction”, and that we should simply overlook all of that and follow you on a new and different path “for the good of our nation”.
You have told us that in reality there are two Donald Trumps – the one we all see on stage, and another one who is more noble.
You have encouraged us to dismiss the vulgarity, profanity, disparaging women for their looks, lying to assassinate the character of people who oppose him, referring to people he doesn’t like as “dumb”, “stupid”, “bimbos”, etc., boasting about the size of his genitalia, not to mention the notion of rewarding the “school bully” and the message that sends our kids. Apparently, all of this is irrelevant to your endorsement and promotion of the man.
Yet the Bible asks, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” Amos 3:3
My point here is about Christian character as it relates to who and what we endorse and promote.
This is about virtue.
If you voluntarily publicly endorse and promote another man – you are unavoidably connecting yourself to his values or lack thereof.
On your Facebook page, you are being likened to Daniel or Joseph. But we have no record that either Daniel or Joseph ever willingly campaigned, promoted or endorsed the heathen men they served under as foreign captives.
What troubles me most Dr. Carson, is what I hear you saying now.
Just this week on “The View” you stated:
“When you’re very nice, you’re very respectful, you talk about the real issues…where does it get you? It gets you where it got me – no where.”
When asked about endorsing a candidate and campaign characterized by lies, you responded:
“Tell me a politician who doesn’t tell lies…”
When one of the hosts shared her concern about possible racist views held by the candidate and campaign you are endorsing, you’re response was:
“What’s the alternative?”
As you said, “We have to work with what we’ve got…”
This is the ultimate example of: “If you can’t beat em, join em!”
Dr. Carson, I know you want to save America. You and I both know what the Bible predicts for this country’s future, and yet I can appreciate your desire to stem the tide and “hold back” the winds for the saving of souls. But there’s no saving America without virtue.
If it’s not about integrity and honesty, if it’s not about virtue – there’s no point. These values are at your core. By shrugging off the importance of these values now – you’re ignoring principles that were at the core of our nation in it’s founding. Our forefathers made clear that virtue is essential to the success of our government.
It was hard to watch others destroy you by their vicious attacks. It’s much harder now to watch you destroy yourself by abandoning the principles you stood for in the beginning. Please stop!
Dr. Carson, have the courage to stand again – for yourself and for the right.
We don’t need yet another voice telling us that we simply have to accept low morals – because after all that’s just the way politics works.
We don’t need reminders that all politicians lie.
We need you to call us to a higher standard of truth and integrity.
We need you to remind us that even though being kind and respectful and talking about the real issues didn’t get you the nomination – it’s still the only correct path for the true Christian.
We need you to demonstrate that you don’t have to lower yourself to endorsing values that are at cross purposes with Godly principles in order to have a positive influence in this world.
We need you to point us to a better way, a higher path. Point us to that which counts for eternity – the path of virtue.
“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” Mark 8:36
It’s not too late to rescind your endorsement. It will take courage, but it will be worth it.
It will send a clarion call, and bring courage to many to look upward and follow the path of virtue.
Millions are watching…
This is your moment…
Will you take a stand?
Your Friend,
Dave Westbrook