When Donald Trump ran for President in 2016, 81 percent of White Evangelicals came out for him. The 2020 run showed very similar support from this critical group for his candidacy.
There is, however, explicit indications that the backing is getting soft and beginning to break up. The turn of events can also diminish the Evangelical dream of becoming the primary belief system in the country and perhaps the official religion in America.
Trumps fourth indictment and processing as inmate #PO1135809 in Atlanta, could begin a significant abandonment of the Republican primary favorite by a larger part of the Evangelical Movement. What was a widespread toleration of Trump’s “sinful” nature because he was seen as an instrument to achieve God’s plan, is gradually losing its meaning.
The genesis of the change in opinion comes, for many, from what they believe is the fake personality the former President brings to the leadership he portrays. There is also an element of fear about his association with the concept of the Antichrist made most prominent in the 2 Epistles of John of the New Testament.
Ironically, the road to this thinking has little to do with Bible prophesy or spiritual guardrails provided by the Fundamentalist community. Rather, the avenue to this consideration is politically driven.
The accomplishment of the appointment of three Conservative Supreme Court Justices by President Trump and the Republican Senate earned him the highest level of support by Evangelicals, particularly when it was followed by the reversal of Roe v. Wade. Then came the 2022 midterm elections where the Woman Right to Choose and more specifically, the abortion issue, won the day and the Republican Party experienced one of its worst losses in recent history.
The finger-pointing that followed included former President Trump’s expressed feelings about the negative political consequences of the abortion matter. Trump’s public sentiments on the subject led to scrutiny of his position and support of the Pro-Life platform.
Everyone that has read the history of the former President knows that he was a Pro-Choice Democrat among other political affiliations before becoming a Pro-Life Republican. His utterances about the 2022 midterm political loses created more doubt within the Evangelical community as to his allegiance to what they consider God’s work.
The four indictments of Trump is encouraging the notions of his potential role as the Antichrist that many believe is a prominent element of the last days. This is because, as the threat of conviction and imprisonment become a probability, the authoritarian style he exhibits requires his followers to carry out acts of loyalty and exaggerated devotion to his persona.
Many Evangelical Christians believe that this practice is idol worship and a person-centered cult mentality. It convinces some that Christ is being replaced by Donald Trump.
During my childhood practice of Evangelical Christianity I was taught that the every individual in the congregation needed to develop a personal relationship with God. This relationship was expressed in testimony before the membership in church services.
The relationship was not to be interrupted by outside influences because they could lead a person away from the covenant. In this regard, it is ironic that Evangelical church leaders are exposing believers to outside guidance that can lead to potential alternatives to Christ. A major consequence of this is the exposure to people that seek to substitute themselves in place of what one holds most sacred. In this sense Donald Trump can be a criminal, go to jail and be considered a martyr.
Question for Trump Evangelicals. Where is Jesus in this?
The views expressed by David conde are not necessarily the views of LaVozColorado. comments and responses may be directed to News@lavozcolorado.com.
