Once upon a time long, long ago, I identified as an evangelical Christian. The term “evangelical” has evolved over time, however, evangelicals can probably be found in every branch of Protestant Christianity. Wherever you find them, they emphasize the authority/ inerrancy of the Bible, a “born-again” experience into the Kingdom of God, and a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Generally, evangelicals are socially conservative and rarely does their thinking go beyond the borders of their insulated theology.
It comes as no surprise to me that many (most?) evangelicals embrace Trump with a fervor akin to their enthusiasm for Jesus. Trump supporters, especially those who identify with the Religious Right may love Jesus, but Jesus is not the Messiah they yearn for.
As is the case with many evangelicals, I grew up fearful of what my community called the “world.” The world and everything in it is polluted and “we” needed to protect ourselves from its influence. My missionary parents taught their children “…we are all as an unclean thing and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags…” (Isaiah 64:6). There was nothing to be done about that except “believe in Jesus” if we wanted to avoid God’s wrath coming down on us at the “end of time” when Jesus returns triumphant to this corrupt world, gathering all the “saved” souls together while the unsaved writhe in Hell for eternity. Best to avoid everything this evil and temporary world offers since the world will ultimately destroy you.
Most evangelicals see themselves as a beleaguered minority that the world doesn’t love nor understand. They often feel condescended to and ridiculed by people who don’t think like they do. They believe they are on God’s side so, therefore, they are right. Enter Donald Trump. He offers to go to bat for them and rid the country of “new-fangled ideas” and get back to a pristine yesteryear. No federally-protected abortion services. Put gay and trans people back in the box. Immigrants—go back to where you came from!
Trump’s demeanor is pugnacious and confrontational. It’s us versus them. If “we” don’t win this November, he threatens the country with a “bloodbath.” I’ve heard church pastors excitedly speak about Armageddon, the final battle of good versus evil that brings an end to the evil world in a bloodbath. Revelation 14: 19-20 says, “So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs.”
Evangelicals easily see the likeness between Trump’s agenda for the “world” and God’s death plan in a bloody war that ushers in the end of time. These evangelicals, full of lustful fury, root for Messiah Trump to emerge victorious. So unlike Jesus who told his disciples, “My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight…” (John 18:36). Jesus condemned violence on His behalf, saying that His kingdom was spiritual, not material. As I see it, Jesus was disappointed in some of His disciples for not “getting” Him, thinking salvation is about Jesus overthrowing the oppressive Roman government.
Unbelievable as it may seem, Trump is a Messiah-like figure to many evangelicals. A Messiah is somebody who comes to save the people from problems they find overwhelming and unsolvable. A Messiah makes all things “right” by putting the “evil” world out of commission—a world that is out to get them.
Click here to see a podcast where Robert P. Jones, president and founder of Public Religion Research Institute, speaks with Steve Inskeep from NPR about Trump, the Messiah figure. (The podcast was made before Nikki Haley dropped out of the Republican presidential race.)
This is an important and excellent excerpt from the podcast:
ROBERT JONES: “[I want to explain] why white, evangelical Protestants have been one of the most stalwart supporters of a candidate and president such as Donald Trump. We see this presentation of Trump as a kind of messiah figure, but it’s notable that it’s not really Jesus that we’re getting the comparison to but, you know, the one you hear in evangelical circles more often is a comparison to, like, the Persian king Cyrus from the Book of Isaiah in the Hebrew Bible. And that’s important because there, Cyrus is presented as an ungodly king who nonetheless frees a group of Jews who are held captive in Babylon. So by comparison, Trump here is the powerful, strong, authoritarian liberator, someone who by definition and maybe even by necessity is even above the law and who alone is capable of liberating conservative, white Christians from their oppressors.”
The “love affair” many evangelicals have with Trump is nothing new. Religious zealots have mixed with political opportunists throughout human history. Within Islam, the loudest voices heard today are based on the religio-political alliance between Ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhab and a local leader, Muhammad bin Saud in the Arabian Peninsula (1744). Al-Wahhab held an extremely conservative, literal, and “fixed” understanding of the Qur’an. Muhammad bin Saud promised to “endorse al-Wahhab’s austere form of Islam.” In return, the House of Saud would get political legitimacy and regular tithes from al-Wahhab’s followers. (Wikipedia). In other words, power!
Unfortunately, many Westerners only know Islam through the popular lens of Wahhabism—a gruesome form of austere Islam that endorses honor killing, chopping off hands, public stoning, and hangings. Doesn’t Trump long to wield this kind of power? His alliance with the Religious Right sector has the potential to bring that about were he to get elected President in November.
Rousas Rushdoony, an Armenian-American (1916-2001), was an influential pastor and author who wanted to reconstruct society “under the lordship of Jesus” (Wikipedia). He thought certain Biblical laws such as stoning disobedient children should be heeded.
Trump leans heavily in that direction.
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Never! However if we humbly submit, then comes God’s will, knowingly or subliminally. Many of us are thankful that we are witnessing these times, the biblical prophetic events and the people who are emerging and those that are falling.
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I am distressed to be witnessing the extremes of a warming climate brought on by all humans that are participating in this breakdown willingly or unwillingly – biblical prophets fit in where????
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I agree that warming climates are being brought on by man. In fact, all of the climate abnormalities, I believe are due to man’s current, collective temperaments towards God.
Prophets? Revelation 11:3-12. Acts 2:17-18
Blessings!
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In our present scenario all will suffer not just some – climate warming spares no one.
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doesn’t count – one man’s voice
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Oh well..
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Excellent analogy Esther – to choose to follow such a twisted ‘leader’ (bully) says mountains about the followers…hatred, fear and bigotry have a massive appeal in today’s world. That and the compulsive need for revenge…I have already pulled away from the outcome of this election recognizing that what will be, will be. Entering that arena feeds that monster regardless – he doesn’t care about whether he’s seen as positive or negative, all he cares about is being front and center – and the more we talk about him the more power we give him. Frightening. If we silenced him we might have a chance.
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Hi Sara, I think there’s something to your suggestion to just stop talking about DT. However, given the political climate in this country right now, that’s not likely to happen. I also agree that those who follow DT reveal much about themselves. I think it’s important, though, for those of us who are appalled at what’s happening before our eyes to reflect on it all and speak out in a measured way. Whether it does “good” or not, who knows? But, to say nothing certainly does no good! Thanks for commenting.
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As I said what bothers me the most is giving this man attention – it’s not as if we are going to change anyone’s mind that is already compromised in such a deadly way. It has been impossible to discuss this situation across the isles and this is why SILENCING him is such a powerful too…In years past my outrage almost undid me – and eventually I learned that what was going to happen would happen regardless of how hard I tried to reach folks…. oh, and with such great care… each of us has a responsibility to keep ourselves sane and this is a tactic I use to help myself in this sea of collective insanity. But at the same time I support anyone’s right to speak out. I just don’t think it helps, sadly…… as for your personal story – i think so many would benefit from hearing how you managed to get out. WE could all learn something.
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Yes, especially agree with this: “…each of us has a responsibility to keep ourselves sane.” Some people “unplug” from media. Others engage. Some fortunate souls can stay even-keeled in the middle of all kinds of storms through a variety of means–meditation, exercise, journaling, etc. There’s no one size fits all, IMO. Thanks for your comments!
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The alliance of certain Evangelicals with Trump is so often beyond comprehension, so thank you for this in-depth analysis of that connection. I’m glad to say that I do know several Evangelicals who are not Trump supporters, but I fear they are in the minority. What I’m most curious about in this is your own story. How did you move from being a believer in such a fear-based, patriarchal religion to the person you are today?
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Hi Beth, Thank you for your comment and question. To answer you fully about how and why I left my cult-like past would take pages! One of the catalytic happenings, though, was my returning to university when my own kids were in college. I loved how everything we studied was put “under the lens of inquiry.” In other words, there were no sacred cows in my classes where we could not question, poke, and prod. Especially satisfying was learning the difference between a confessional understanding of religion and an academic study of religion. Confessional belief was (in my case) grounded in the absolute authority and inerrancy of the Bible. It took me a while to “get” that the Bible says a lot of things. My cult-like Protestant community’s leaders KNEW what God said and made their particular beliefs mandatory to remain in good standing. They never went outside a tiny bubble of “truth.” Academic study of religion, on the other hand, studies how humans access the divine in a plethora of cultures over time. It looks at the huge variety of ways people do that. So, in all of this, I learned how to question things in depth and always be open to more questions.
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Thank you so much. It’s been a question I’ve had for many years, and I’m sure each person’s story is different. I appreciate you sharing yours.
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Next post Esther – your story!
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Thanks Esther. I appreciate you sharing some of your story. It brings insight into my process.
I’ve been listening to a few people’s stories on what got them rethinking their beliefs. People sharing their experiences have helped me unpack my own beliefs and why I believe what I believe.
I recently watched a documentary “Objector” about a young and very brave woman living in Israel refusing to join the military because it went against her moral values. Most of her family was not agreeing with her. She went to prison for awhile. It wasn’t an easy process.
There was much more in this documentary that I won’t go into but my point is I think learning other peoples stories humanizes us. There is an opportunity to gain insight as opposed to generalizing groups of people. I don’t know the future but, I am going to keep listening and sharing and hopefully learning how to be a small part of a possible solution. I like to think of all of our collective heart centered stories becoming a big organism that keeps growing for the good of our Goddess Earth.
Blessed be.
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Yes. Especially like this “… my point is I think learning other peoples stories humanizes us. There is an opportunity to gain insight as opposed to generalizing groups of people.” This is so true in my particular experience these days working with people who want an abortion. The stories I hear are so varied and often sad. People who legislate would do well to be open to understanding differences among their electorate. Thanks!
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I am so glad to hear that you are working with women who want an abortion. I agree… so many very sad stories.
Thankyou for your insights.
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Beyond comprehension – you nail it.
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Hi Esther. Thankyou for this. I can relate. I was brought up to believe in the rapture. That some of my friends and myself would burn eternally in a lake of fire for not believing Jesus died on the cross for our sins. I know people who have a “the end justifies the means” mentality, politically and ecologically speaking.
When I was a very small little girl I would talk to Creator as a force that I felt but couldn’t see. A loving presence. I felt Angel’s and saw spirits. I worshipped nature. I’d go on long walks in the field by our house and talk to dragonflies, birds and prairie dogs. I was accepted and lovingly embraced in nature. That was my church.
My Mom, Dad, little brother and I went to church many Sundays in my younger years. The pastor let us know that if you were a person like me…eternal damnation was a guarantee. So did my dad. Citing scripture of end times, nuclear war etc. There would be predictions by my father, churches or pastors of the last days being any day soon. I’d brace myself and prayed to be spared because of the way I was born. I felt like I was born evil. Spiritual things that I can’t completely explain have happened to me all my life.
As I came into teenage years my family was a mess. I began questioning all this indoctrination. I realized I denied and hid my true authentic self and was beginning to lose my identity. This is a life time process. Deprogramming.
It would’ve been an easier life maybe?…if I just followed all of it so I wouldn’t have been othered by my family and the church. In time I have come back to that little girl that knew a different truth in her heart. It is an absolutely gut wrenching process talking to my little girl heart but I wouldn’t change it. There are so many layers to my story… I could go on and on.
I see why we’re here. Politically and ecologically contemplating the direction everything is going. I am sticking with love not hate. Speaking compassion for all the life of Earth. She takes care of all beings… least I could do.
Like Beth, I would love to hear your story of leaving the evangelical belief system if you felt comfortable to share.
Blessed be.
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Thanks, Michelle, for responding with your story. I remember being terrified of the rapture because somehow I knew for sure I would be “left behind.” Since then, I’ve seen articles arguing that teaching children about the rapture is a form of child abuse. I certainly understand since that concept brought me all kinds of terror. Happy you have found a more gentle way to be in the world. Hugs…..
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Oh Esther I just found this: If the Rapture really does take place during the Eclipse on Monday, Come Tuesday, we should see things begin to
improve….. had to add it to this discussion!
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Thank you, Esther, for this very enlightening post, and it is made especially powerful by the fact that you lived this way of being and left it behind. I so appreciate your courage on so many levels for sharing this with us. What strikes me most about your post is that for decades I haven’t understood how so many people could “vote against their best interests,” thinking in terms of political freedom, economics, general quality of community life, and healthfulness of the environment, and even basic compassion but posts like yours make me realize that, in the minds of Evangelical Trump, those aren’t important and are even threatening. To them they are “voting in their best interests.” As so many people have said, this is why it’s so important that you tell your story we can all at least start with some understanding of where people are coming from and maybe how they can go a different path.
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Yes, thanks Carolyn. You are absolutely right noting that people (as incomprehensible it may be) do believe they are “voting in their best interests” when they support politicians who lack a moral compass. I know that, as a child, I would cringe at some of things God did–kill people, punish people, engage in brutal war, and showed little to no flexibility when interacting with “His” creation. What’s worse is that somehow my evangelical world turned killing at the hand of God into a “loving” act which, of course, played itself out in how “we” treated other human beings. Not well. Have been working through all of this for years. Thank the Goddess for good therapists.
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Esther I put your children’s book on FB today – too good not too for you and Cate and every child
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Christianity awakens longings for a ‘savior’ type leader who can carry his people to a Promised exaltation. Promises and privileges. Lead us and we shall reap of the fruit. Protect us, be our shepherd, we will live peacefully like meek sheep, whilst you protect us from the big bad wolves.
In Christianity’s name, vile leaders like Trump keep stepping forward. Messiahs upon the backs of Messiahs.
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