Christians need to do some soul searching and Bible reading

[Danmark]

Trump has told thousands of documented lies; has mocked the disabled; has separated families; cheated on his wives; and has made countless remarks that would've banned him from this forum, yet evangelical Christians in every demographic except those 'of color,' voted for him and continue to support him, i suspect because he promised to overturn Roe v. Wade, and reduce taxes on the rich and because he wasn't Hillary Clinton. That is, he promised things evangelicals wanted.
If they were mindful of the words of Jesus they would not have voted for him and would not support him.
Jesus warned:
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? ....Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."
__ Matthew 7:15-19

Do evangelicals put their politics ahead of following Jesus?

[bluethread]

Who say that Trump is a prophet?

" i suspect because he promised to overturn Roe v. Wade, and reduce taxes on the rich and because he wasn't Hillary Clinton."

What is wrong with that. Is one not permitted to oppose Roe vs. Wade? If one is to reduce taxes, it would have to be on those who are paying taxes and pretty much everyone who pays taxes has had them redeuced. Is that a bad thing? Is Hillary Clinton a paragon of vurtue? We are living in a secular state. We have been repeatedly told by the left that personal morality is not relevant, i.e. Bill Clinton. Now, since Trump is borish and has some personal morality issues, we should bow out and let the Leftists have free rein in running the government? How does that make sense?

[Danmark]

Who say that Trump is a prophet?

" i suspect because he promised to overturn Roe v. Wade, and reduce taxes on the rich and because he wasn't Hillary Clinton."

What is wrong with that. Is one not permitted to oppose Roe vs. Wade? If one is to reduce taxes, it would have to be on those who are paying taxes and pretty much everyone who pays taxes has had them redeuced. Is that a bad thing? Is Hillary Clinton a paragon of vurtue? We are living in a secular state. We have been repeatedly told by the left that personal morality is not relevant, i.e. Bill Clinton. Now, since Trump is borish and has some personal morality issues, we should bow out and let the Leftists have free rein in running the government? How does that make sense?

You have managed to entirely miss the point, so I'll restate. Evanelicals ignored the warning of Jesus when he told them you don't get good things from bad people. My complaint is NOT about politics, but that that passage was ignored. It was abundantly clear before the election that Trump is at best amoral, or do you think you can get figs from thorn bushes?
Evangelical support for Trump turns off those who might otherwise accept Jesus into their lives.

[bluethread]

You have managed to entirely miss the point, so I'll restate. Evanelicals ignored the warning of Jesus when he told them you don't get good things from bad people. My complaint is NOT about politics, but that that passage was ignored. It was abundantly clear before the election that Trump is at best amoral, or do you think you can get figs from thorn bushes?
Evangelical support for Trump turns off those who might otherwise accept Jesus into their lives.

No, I think I addressed the point directly. One can support an immoral man, while still opposing his immorality. That is what many are doing. Would I like someone else to be president? Yes, I was for Cruz. However, that was not the choice I was given. As Edmond Burke said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.� If we make the perfect the enemy of the good, we are doomed to the tyranny of the bad. We should oppose Trump when he is immoral. However, when he is right he should be supported.

[Danmark]

You have managed to entirely miss the point, so I'll restate. Evanelicals ignored the warning of Jesus when he told them you don't get good things from bad people. My complaint is NOT about politics, but that that passage was ignored. It was abundantly clear before the election that Trump is at best amoral, or do you think you can get figs from thorn bushes?
Evangelical support for Trump turns off those who might otherwise accept Jesus into their lives.

No, I think I addressed the point directly. One can support an immoral man, while still opposing his immorality.

No, supporting an immoral man is itself immoral, or do you suppose grapes grow on thorn bushes? Let's take Adolph Hitler. It was absurd to believe good could come from him. Supporting him is itself immoral, just like supporting Trump who is clearly biased against certain races, cultures, and religions.

First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

__ Martin Niemöller

[Furrowed Brow]

I'm not American. But the rest of the world have a stake in which direction America goes.

Turning the question around, if a Trump figure arose on the left promising the kind of leftist platform I'd find it easy to align myself with.... would I hold my nose and vote for him? - Not unless I was desperate, angry, stopped caring, and lost faith in the political system.

Trump is an obvious con artist. Why would I believer any promise even those I might like.

Sure Obama was a liar and a tool of the plutocracy and had me fooled for a time but at least he was plausible and persuasive talker. It is obvious how people fell for Obama, it is less obvious why anyone would fall for Trump.

Commentators like Chris Hedges have already pointed out the neat fit between Trump and the evangelical right. He does indeed act and behave much like one of those corrupt pastors of a mega church. Trump seems able to pull the same strings and work his audience as they do.

As Trump's promise of Making America Great Again wear thin this is not going to leave people more reasonable and kinder to those outside their family, church, hometown or ethnic group. And as Trump and maybe the next couple of Presidents that follow Trump all promising to fix things while all surely failing, those that form Trump's base are going be ever harsher on scapegoats. This group at least on the surface appear the least well equipped to identify the real cause of their economic woes. And whilst I have my own list of reasons at very bottom the most basic reason is that history has not ended. Empires and nations rise and fall. America is no exception.

America's first great advantage of a new population of immigrants invading a "new world" and taking advantage of the land and resources found there, and the second was Europe tearing itself apart and reducing its industrial capacity to rubble in WWII. But these advantages are old and tired will not sustain America into the future. Its last two major advantages are that it owns the reserve currency and the size of its military. America is already close to losing the reserve currency status. Maybe they can hang on to it for another decade but it is difficult to see it lasting much beyond that. The bloated size of America's military cannot be sustained for long without maintaining the reserve currency. And yes I know you guys are very proud of your military - you do have a very large one. The down side is it is probably impossible to downsize your military without cratering your economy. So you are kind of trapped and tied into the horrible inevitable military protection of the American dollar. And despite Trump campaign promises there will be more war. (Pursuit of endless military campaigns characteristics for an empire nearing decline).

Over the next twenty years it is going to be more obvious the world is once again multi polar. A process that guarantees America is not going to be "Great Again". The readjustment is going to be hard for some to take or understand. Maybe leaders will arise able to negotiate that without ever greater authoritarianism and eventual war with China. I don't think so.

The truth is that for America to be Great again requires the economic growth in China (1.4 billion people) and India (1.3 billion) to stall and take a step backwards. It needs Europe to follow America's lead. And Trump is working very hard at dissuading Europe and the rest of the world from taking America seriously.

It is more likely the evangelical right and anyone else wedded to MAGA are going to find the coming decade very hard. It is also likely they will interpret the decline in terms of a lack of religious purity, on Roe V Wade, on God punishing America for its sinful ways. It is less likely they will be able to come to terms with America being one more nation susceptible to historical processes and undergoing a loss of power and influence as every dominate nation before has gone through. (Hey, I'm British we know what that is like).

As much as I despair at a figure like Trump and as much as th rest of the world find him a joke it would be better for everyone if he manages by luck or design to give America some breathing space with a decade of rising prosperity.

Do evangelicals put politics above Jesus? They are going to say no. But there interpretation of Jesus is political.

[bluethread]

You have managed to entirely miss the point, so I'll restate. Evanelicals ignored the warning of Jesus when he told them you don't get good things from bad people. My complaint is NOT about politics, but that that passage was ignored. It was abundantly clear before the election that Trump is at best amoral, or do you think you can get figs from thorn bushes?
Evangelical support for Trump turns off those who might otherwise accept Jesus into their lives.

No, I think I addressed the point directly. One can support an immoral man, while still opposing his immorality.

No, supporting an immoral man is itself immoral, or do you suppose grapes grow on thorn bushes? Let's take Adolph Hitler. It was absurd to believe good could come from him. Supporting him is itself immoral, just like supporting Trump who is clearly biased against certain races, cultures, and religions.

First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

__ Martin Niemöller

You are conflating the principle with the person. That quote was not about Hitler, but about totalitarianism. You are also dehumanizing Hitler. One of the biggest mistakes we can make it to presume that we could not have done what he did in the same circumstance. We are all capable of doing horrific things, so we need to be diligent to avoid being put into places where we can be susceptible. That said, let me ask you, who do you believe should be President? No matter who you choose, there will be things about that person that offend some ones morals.

[Tcg]

You are also dehumanizing Hitler. One of the biggest mistakes we can make it to presume that we could not have done what he did in the same circumstance.

This may be an error on your part, it isn't mine. I know for a fact I would never do what Hitler did.

I don't believe in God so I would never act as he did:

"I believe today that my conduct is in accordance with the will of the Almighty Creator."

- Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf, Vol. 1 Chapter 2

Only those who believe in an Almighty Creator, as Hitler did, that would have to worry about whether or not they would attempt genocide in accordance with their God's will.

That must be quite a burden to carry. I'm glad it's not mine.

[bluethread]

You are also dehumanizing Hitler. One of the biggest mistakes we can make it to presume that we could not have done what he did in the same circumstance.

This may be an error on your part, it isn't mine. I know for a fact I would never do what Hitler did.

You may claim it with certitude, but you can not know it for a fact, at least not as people on this site use the term. I highly doubt that you have ever been in position similar to the one he was in. Mind you, I am not excusing his behavior. I am merely pointing out your hubris.

I don't believe in God so I would never act as he did:

"I believe today that my conduct is in accordance with the will of the Almighty Creator."

- Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf, Vol. 1 Chapter 2

Only those who believe in an Almighty Creator, as Hitler did, that would have to worry about whether or not they would attempt genocide in accordance with their God's will.

That must be quite a burden to carry. I'm glad it's not mine.

First, you are presuming that was an honest statement. Second, his making that statement does not mean that one could not do those things without a belief in a deity. Third, the phrase "as Hitler did" is appropriate. Most theists do not believe in an Almighty Creator, "as Hitler did". That said, we all go through mental gymnastics to reassure ourselves that we would never do as he did. However, none of us can know that for a fact, unless we were there and experienced what he did.

[myth-one.com]

Trump has told thousands of documented lies; has mocked the disabled; has separated families; cheated on his wives; and has made countless remarks that would've banned him from this forum, yet evangelical Christians in every demographic except those 'of color,' voted for him and continue to support him, i suspect because he promised to overturn Roe v. Wade, and reduce taxes on the rich and because he wasn't Hillary Clinton. That is, he promised things evangelicals wanted.
If they were mindful of the words of Jesus they would not have voted for him and would not support him.
Jesus warned:
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? ....Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."
__ Matthew 7:15-19

Do evangelicals put their politics ahead of following Jesus?

Evangelicals seem perfectly fine with every horrible thing you listed.

What they truly feared was the possible loss of their tax exempt status!!

In 1954 a provision was added to the U.S. tax code that prohibited all non-profit organizations from endorsing or opposing political candidates. This included religious organizations. The amendment was introduced by Lyndon B. Johnson -- thus it became "The Johnson Amendment."

Trump came out of his meeting with the evangelical leaders during the presidential campaign and called for the repeal of this amendment.

For that, the evangelicals delivered the evangelical vote to Donald!

That was the agreement reached at that meeting.

Of course, by delivering the evangelical vote, the leaders actually violated the still existant "Johnson amendment," and they should have lost their exempt status by doing so.

But do not fear, they will never be held accountable -- as that was the "deal" they made!