Perkins Texas

Christian Right

Why do so many Christians embrace Trump?

In simple terms, it is a symbiotic relationship. They use him and he uses them. Both think they benefit.

Focus on Christian Nationalists defined by Yale professor Philip Gorski as:

•White Christian nationalism is, first of all, a story about America.

•It says: America was founded as a Christian nation, by (white) Christians;

•and its laws and institutions are based on “Biblical” (that is, Protestant) Christianity.

•This much is certain, though: America is divinely favored. Whence its enormous wealth and power.

•In exchange for these blessings, America has been given a mission: to spread religion, freedom, and civilization—by force, if necessary.

•But that mission is endangered by the growing presence of non-whites, non-Christians, and non-Americans on American soil.

•White Christians must therefore “take back the country,” their country. 

“Christian nationalism gives moral cover for actions, even unseemly ones, taken in pursuit of national or political goals,” as explained by the United Methodist Church. Christian Nationalists will support Trump as long as he helps them achieve their goal to gain control of the country.

Public Religion Research Institute uses 5 questions to measure Christian Nationalism:

1. The government should declare America a Christian nation.
2. U.S. laws should be based on Christian values.
3. If the U.S. moves away from our Christian foundations, we will not have a country anymore.
4. Being Christian is an important part of being truly American.
5. God has called Christians to exercise dominion over all areas of American society.

In 2023, PRRI found that 29% of Americans agreed with most of these questions - the adherents and sympathizers.

Broken out by political party, 54% of Republicans fit the definition of Christian Nationalist compared to 15% of Democrats.

 

Republicans back Trump because of the insurrection, not despite it - his ruthlessness remains central to his appeal.

Christian Nationalism

the belief that the American nation is defined by Christianity, and that the government should take active steps to keep it that way - America must remain a “Christian nation”

New Apostolic Reformation

advocate for spiritual warfare to bring about Christian dominion over all aspects of society and end the separation of church and state

And a more recent article about NAR

National Association of Christian Lawmakers

can’t make this stuff up

Alliance Defending Freedom

7 Mountain Mandate

Christians seek to gain influence over the "mountains" of government, church, education, family, media, arts, and business. Hear Dallasite Lance Wallnau video

Church vs State in Texas

Texas is the incubator of “anti-democracy” with people such as Tim Dunn pushing church domination over the state and Republicans hoping to push the same policies on to the federal level

Also see for example the True Texas Project

A couple of my presentations based on the Immortal Diamond by Richard Rohr who is always looking for the broadest, boldest view rather than a narrow, provincial perspective.

The True Self, in its original pure primordial state, is wholly or partially identifiable or even identical with God …  page 99

Surely God was not just waiting for Orthodox Jews, Roman Catholics, and American evangelicals to show up, which is in the last nanosecond of known time. page 131