A cult is defined as religious devotion directed toward a particular figure. This figure is typically charismatic, authoritarian, and considered infallible. The figure demands conformity through pressure, discourages critical thinking, demands no accountability of themself, often forcing prioritization of the cult group over everything from outside influence, including family and friends. I understand it is difficult for some to accept but MAGA is a cult. There is no question that Donald Trump is charismatic and authoritarian. There is no question that not only does he think he is infallible, which is why he does not think he needs to ask God for forgiveness, but his followers act this way as well. Any criticism at all is summarily dismissed or excused away through conspiracy theory and whataboutisms. The pressure for conformity is immense as no dissent is tolerated. Just ask former Republican politicians who were primaried out of their careers by MAGA. When Trump was being found guilty over the summer for 34 felonies his politician supporters not only had to show public fealty but had to actually dress like him. Critical thinking is considered rebellion and he can never be held to account for anything. Today he will be sworn in as the 47th President and the first order of business is to dismiss all the pending prosecutions against him, eviscerating the rule of law. As for family and friends, I know many people who have MAGA spouses who now have more loyalty to their idol than their partner. This is all sad enough but it is far worse within the apostate church system of this country. Because there is no talking to Christians who have drank the Kool-Aid. Not only is the idolization of Trump all of these things but to them, it is also God's plan. They have been sold for eight years now that Trump is everything from King Jehu to the second coming of Elijah. They use horrific biblical understanding and dismiss all character issues in a Faustian bargain to get policy they think serves the kingdom because of the NAR dominionist theology they have been snookered into buying. One Christian leader who is all in on this idolatry is Shane Idleman, pastor from California. Today on his Facebook page he made a post trying to defend and explain his position, which alone is a tell. Let us reason once more together beloved through this post:
"It's sad to see how many Christians are naïve and clueless about the role of politics our nation:
Some say, "How can you follow Jesus and support Donald Trump?" We are not following a man, we are shaping a movement. A better question to be asking, though, is What direction is the country heading? If a leader lacks Christian character but is pointing the nation back to God, is that a bad thing? If they are minimizing murdering babies and maximizing godly values, is that a bad thing? If they are being a terror to terrorists and making America secure, is that a bad thing? If they are honoring hard work and minimizing free handouts, is that a bad thing? God doesn't judge a nation based on the character of one man; He judges it based on the spiritual health of her people. Never forget that." - Shane Idleman
Just to be clear, people are not clueless or naïve about the role politics in our NATION. The issue is the role of politics in our FAITH. Idleman can use whatever trite excuses he wants. It is not shaping a movement as much as it is worshipping a man. So, he believes that a man lacking in Christian character is actively pointing the country back to God? Why? Why would he do that Shane? Who is being naïve? Murdering babies? You do know that abortions have INCREASED since Roe was overturned? Maximizing godly values? Is that how you view the man who cheated on his first wife with his second wife and cheated on his third wife with a porn star? He is a terror to terrorists? Seriously? You do not know that he invited one of the most brutal dictators on the planet, Viktor Orban to his inauguration and previously has said he fell in love with the Christian murdering Kim Jung Un of North Korea? Shall we discuss his obvious adoration of Vladimir Putin? This is why you are following a cult, Shane. Because you cannot see the true level of your own bovine excrement. Public assistance is not "free handouts" Shane, what the hell is wrong with you? Do you even own a bible anymore? Mocking the poor in Jesus' name? Honoring hard work? How so? His new cabinet testified last week they do not even support raising the federal minimum wage, which currently sits at $7.25 per hour and has not been raised in 16 years. God does not judge the nations at all. You misinterpret the bible for your dear leader Shane. When the bible refers to this it is clearly speaking about the PEOPLE within the nation. Sure, He might hold nations accountable but it will be for their actions, not the individual spiritual health of the people. So, for example, when a nation with the vast wealth of America impoverishes the poor further so that a sliver of uber-rich can profit off of them, the country could be punished and held to account. By the way, you may want to check the billionaires in Trumps cabinet and sitting in the front row today at his inauguration. If you think that God will be more impressed with America if we force unbelieving children to pray every day in school, then you are biblically delusional.
"Let this sink in: innocent children are being protected, godly counsel is surrounding President Trump, terror is being restrained, good judges are being selected, socialism is being resisted, families are being encouraged via employment (black employment was at an all-time high under #45), prayer is being brought back in schools, God's wisdom is being sought, and on and on it goes. So again, we are not following a man, we are revitalizing a movement " a movement back to God. I'm more concerned with our nation's national character than I am with the president's personal character. Leaders aren't Always Neat." - Shane Idleman
Because Shane is in a cult, he does not bother to check any facts he is told and simply regurgitates them. For example, the fairy tale about black unemployment and poverty being lowest under Trump WAS true when Trump made the claim prior to 2020. I am sure Shane will be infinitely disappointed to discover that both metrics were improved upon under Joe Biden, the guy Shane hates. Oops. Godly counsel is surrounding the president? This is a huge part of the problem with people like Shane. They do not care what church leaders have the president's ear. His spiritual advisor last time was Paula White. Yes, that Paula White. Three times married, fleeced the flock for five million dollars and once preached that 1Chronicles 22:9 meant God wanted them to send her $229 dollars. Good call Shane. This twisted spiritual gymnastics that Shane tries to pull off here reveals the cultish nature of his devotion. No one is saying that leaders have to be "neat." That is minimizing the idol that Idleman worships. Our national character is shaped and directed by the personal character of our leaders. We cannot escape that. How exactly does a movement back to God occur under a convicted rapist? How does Shane think that fact is somehow is unimportant to God or to us? Shane is trying very hard to swear he is not following a man and by that fervor to swear, he reveals that he is most definitively following a man.
"An analogy that I often use will bring this point home. The head of a neighborhood watch program, who took the late-night watches, had previously had an affair. He was occasionally gruff and impulsive, and sometimes his words were crass and offensive, but he watched over the neighborhood diligently each night. Each week he invited church leaders into his home to pray for him and his family and to seek their advice. He often stood against others on the committee who wanted to enact policies harmful to the neighborhood and to the children, such as advocating an open-door policy where residents were required to allow anyone into their homes at all hours of the day for handouts. Is this not the kind of person you would want leading your neighborhood watch?" - Shane Idleman
No Shane, it is not and let me explain why. You see you have not been entirely honest about this man. It turns out he did not just have an affair. Anyone can fail and fall. It turns out that he cheated on all three of his wives and the last time, with a porn star. It turns out that he bragged about being able to grab the women of the neighborhood by their genitals. He also was not occasionally gruff, impulsive, using words that were crass and offensive. Again, that is a gross understatement of who this man actually is. He was willfully deceptive, all the time. In fact, it turns out that he started absurd and unfounded rumors that the folks in the neighborhood of Haitian descent were secretly eating the pets of the white neighbors. When it was brought to his attention that he was placing these neighbors' lives in jeopardy, he doubled down on what he knew was a lie. Then you also failed to mention that the church leaders he was inviting into his home were bat-poop crazy false teachers, so who cares if they pray for him to their false god or give him counsel? The fact that he would not care about people in need is not a selling point either. So, now why would we ever want that man leading our neighborhood watch? Hope the point has indeed been brought home for you Shane.
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