About Those Trumpvangelicals Who Don't Go To Church
What should we make of evangelicals who support Trump but don't go to church?
Evangelical identification has become associated with support for former President Donald Trump in the minds of many. I've been told more times than I can count that I can't be a Christian if I don't support Trump. So, it's no surprise that as the evangelical label becomes tied to a political leader rather than religious movement, religious behaviors, such as going to church, become optional.
A Monday New York Times article by Ruth Graham and Charles Homans, “Trump Is Connecting With a Different Type of Evangelical Voter,” examines this phenomenon. They write,
Being evangelical once suggested regular church attendance, a focus on salvation and conversion and strongly held views on specific issues such as abortion. Today, it is as often used to describe a cultural and political identity: one in which Christians are considered a persecuted minority, traditional institutions are viewed skeptically and Mr. Trump looms large.
“Politics has become the master identity,” said Ryan Burge, an associate professor of political science at Eastern Illinois University and a Baptist pastor. “Everything else lines up behind partisanship.”
While the article helps us understand non-churchy Trump-evangelicals, let's not lose sight of the big picture: non-church-attending politicized evangelicalism is happening alongside, not in opposition to, church-going politicized evangelicalism. In other words, the political extremism of MAGA-Christianity is happening both inside and outside our churches.
I've pointed this out many times before but it's worth repeating: We're observing a split in evangelicalism. On one side there is MAGA-style evangelicalism that views faith through a more national and political lens and seeks political power in order to wield it against their perceived political enemies, on the other side is non-MAGA evangelicalism, sometimes called neo-evangelicalism, that views faith through a more global and eternal lens and sees politics a sacrificial opportunity to seek the betterment of others. This is not simply a split between evangelicals who go to church and evangelicals who don't (though it can include that). This split is happening among churches, within churches, and within individual evangelicals who feel torn in both directions.
Here are a few more articles from this week that highlight what I'm talking about.
Deseret News: "Iowa pastors denounce ‘God Made Trump’ video"
Demastus, who has called Trump “the most pro-life president we have ever had,” said he is not alone in his disgust of the new video. “Many other evangelical pastors find that video offensive,” he said.
Terry Amann, pastor of the Church of the Way in Des Moines, found the video distasteful. “Christians have no right to be offended by anything since Christ went to the cross totally innocent for us guilty sinners,” he said. “That being said, (the video) demeans Christianity, Trump and the people who made it. It says a lot about the people around Trump and their ‘worldly’ understanding of Christianity.”
NBC News: "'A spiritual battle': Pastors embrace Trump's grievances in prayers at his rallies"
“We must re-elect President Trump for the third time,” Tenney said, echoing Trump’s “big lie” rhetoric. He then said that the upcoming election “is part of a spiritual battle” with “demonic forces at play.”
His voice trembling at times like a tent revival preacher behind a Trump-emblazoned podium, he continued: “When Donald Trump becomes the 47th President of the United States, there will be retribution against all those who have promoted evil in this country.”
Axios: "'Tectonic shift in power': How MAGA pastors boost Trump's campaign"
MAGA pastors have defended Trump on TV, amassed large followings online, been key advocates for the former president in swing states and, in some cases, influenced Trump's thinking.
What Else We're Reading
Wired: "How Charlie Kirk Plans to Discredit Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Act"
For Kirk, the shift on King wasn’t an offhand remark, but a glimpse into his broader strategy to discredit the civil rights leader and the landmark legislation most associated with King: the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
“I have a very, very radical view on this, but I can defend it, and I’ve thought about it,” Kirk said at America Fest. “We made a huge mistake when we passed the Civil Rights Act in the 1960s.”
Turning Point USA, founded in 2012 by an 18-year-old Kirk to organize conservative students on college campuses, has grown into an ideological force in right-wing politics. America Fest, which took place at a convention center in downtown Phoenix, featured speeches by right-wing heavyweights Donald Trump Jr., Tucker Carl son, and US representative Matt Gaetz of Florida. Nearly 20,000 people attended the four-day event, according to Kirk.
Axios: "Trump's history of launching 'birther' conspiracy theories against rivals"
Former President Trump resumed old tricks this week against a new target — fellow Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley.
The big picture: Trump has a history of launching racist "birther" conspiracies against opponents, particularly to discredit those he sees as a direct threat to him.
Events
Pastors and ministry leaders: Join one of our “Politics, Polarization, and Peacemaking” conferences on January 29 in Phoenix or February 15 in Orlando.
Mending Division Academy
Mending Division Academy is a set of 6 courses for small groups or individuals. Each course deals with a topic that has been a major driver of division in American churches.
When Conspiracies Divide Us: Confronting Misinformation
When Crises of Faith Divide Us: Confronting Deconstruction
When Journalism Divides Us: Confronting Our Media Consumption Habits
When Polarization Divides Us: Confronting the Perception Gap
When Politics Divides Us: Confronting Political Idolatry
When Social Media Divides Us: Confronting Our Internet Habits
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