It baffles me how anyone who claims to know or and believe the tennents of Christianity can support Donald J. Trump. It has bothered me for the entire time this poser has been seeking the presidency. Here is a man who has broken every one of the Ten Commandments except “thou shalt not kill” but even jokes that if he DID kill somebody on 5th Avenue he wouldn’t lose his base of supporters.
And it’s not just the fact they support him, they deify him claiming he is chosen by God to be the President. Apparently, however, God does not participate in ALL presidential elections just this one.
In an opinion piece from the Carroll County Times, a guy named Sparkle (yes Sparkle), claims God stepped in this time because:
We needed someone who could pick up the pieces after eight years of Barack Obama and his program to “fundamentally change America.” https://www.carrollcountytimes.com/opinion/columnists/cc-op-other-voices-041019-story.html
Hey Sparkle, the only fundamental change Barack Obama made to America was to break the color wall of the Presidency. But I get your point. God obviously did not help elect a black man to the Presidency. But let’s leave the racism out of this discussion.
How can Christian people support a leader who is so unlike Jesus and so much like their concept of the Devil? For several years now it has vexed me as I try to see the appeal of Trump to these otherwise pious people. Trump’s obvious lying, cheating, disloyal, insulting, bullying, name calling, ignorant vanity is in direct opposition to anything that Jesus lived for or taught. In fact to quote the Bible itself, it seems like John was making a statement on Trump.
John 8:44
“Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”
I have even entertained the idea that Trump is a demon who has used his evil power to hypnotize the faithful into believing in his own anointing. That line of reasoning falls apart when I realize that even a demon would be more intelligent than Trump. So what is it? It seems that no matter what he does his evangelical support seems to be steady if not increasing.
Today as I was searching the news, two items came together in a way that turned a light on for me. As Oprah would say it was an “Ah Ha” moment.
Here is the first article that caught my eye:
Mr. Trump retweeted a statement by Jerry Falwell, Jr. that because of the “witch hunt” that has been going on for two years, Trump should get a two year extension on his term. It dawned on me how similar Falwell, Jr. and Trump are. Two sons who inherited a large fortune from their Dads, who grew up with privilege and power taking over their Dads business.
Now, If you do not see televangelism as a very lucrative business, then read no further. We will never see eye to eye. I will not argue that these ministries don’t do some good. Some more than others. However, the lucrative business of pharmaceuticals also does some “good” while bringing in billions of dollars.
On the heels of that article I also came across this one.
https://www.insideedition.com/investigation-shows-televangelists-living-lavish-lifestyles-52662
It is an Inside Edition piece on the lucrative life style of some high profile televangelists, Jesse Duplantis and Kenneth Copeland on their multi-million dollar love of private aircraft. In one instance Duplantis actually said, “God told me he wanted me to have this airplane.” (God evidently prefers $85 million dollar luxury jets). Copeland is quoted as saying, he couldn’t fly commercial air because “it is a long metal tube filled with demons.” Along with Joel Olsteen these mega preachers hold rallies in arenas and live in mansions spread out all over the country. They are not shy about their wealth but flaunt it as proof that God loves them,maybe just a little bit more than you. All the time preaching that money given to their tax free cause will bring ten fold blessings to the “flock” in return. Give me my private jet so I can flaunt my wealth to masses all over the world, in the name of Jesus.
I finally realize why so many evangelicals blindly support Trump. The Trump lifestyle is exactly like that of the televangelist they listen to on television. He is wealthy. He has expensive multiple homes, flys on his own private jet, and holds rally’s in arenas. He touts his own accomplishments but is lining his own pocket first. Trump is the poster boy for what the self righteous “Duplantis’s” of this world spout as the rewards of Christianity. Add to this similarity in style and opulence, an aberrant election that seemed to be impossible (in fact even losing the popular vote by millions) to win. It was such an anomalous political election that surely God intervened, certainly not the Godless Russians. So there you have it, Trump is Rich, Famous and now President.... all the “things to come” promised by Jesus. After all aren’t the streets of heaven paved in Gold? Just like Trump Tower toilets.
Trump is the result of many years of riches and greed taking over high profile religions. Luke 20:24: When asked about wealth and paying taxes Jesus wanted to see a coin and asked who’s picture was on the coin. The disciple said, “Caesar’s”. Jesus answer is forgotten by some of the wealthiest, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s”. If it was not clear from that statement that Jesus separated wealth from spirituality he also said in Luke 18:25. “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.” Fortunately for the Luxury Jet Salesmen the televangelists pay nothing to Caesar because they are tax exempt.
I certainly have no solution to this ethical, moral and spiritual detour of Evangelicals. However there is an admonition in the Bible Mark 13:6 “See to it that no one deceives you. Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am He” and will deceive many.”
I’m spinning my wheels here because there are Bible scholars who can quote scripture that will contradict my research and thesis. I’m not trying to convert anyone nor discredit faithfulness. However, for what it is worth, I spoke with God this morning. He and Jesus said they had no collusion with the Trump campaign. I believe them. Unlike this President, God doesn’t lie.
Dunno what to say. It baffles me, too.
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