Stop wrapping Christ around something so seedy and sinful...

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But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." - Ephesians 5:3-14 (ESV)

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In the world of MAGA fake pastors, Shane Idleman is at the top of the boot licking list. It is a shame really that this once gospel-centric rising star of Evangelicalism has taken the NAR dominionist route, I assume for relevance and expediency. As such, he has spent the years since COVID doing the bidding of his masters in the Republican Party and trying to wrap Jesus around it to make a pig sound pious. For background on how we got here, I want to take us back a few years to when I feel God was really testing the growing NAR tendrils within the church that was going apostate. In 2012, God made sure the choice for President of this country was a no-brainer. On the one hand you had a liberal Christian. Husband of one wife, father to two children. Certainly not the best conservative choice and certainly no Republican. The other choice, however, was a Mormon. Based on what we believe, Mormonism is a Satanic cult. It was founded by a pedophile bigamist who had 33 wives, the youngest of which was 13. He claimed that he had found golden tablets upon which was written a new gospel, in the woods behind his upstate New York house in the 1800s. Even the bible explicitly says he should be accursed. Now, Mitt Romney has always been a likeable fellow, but he is a direct descendant of one of the founding apostles of Mormonism and he donates 25% of his vast wealth to the cause of this false church. There could not be ANY scenario that a Christian should have cast their vote for him on general principle. Yet, Franklin Graham removed Mormonism from the Billy Graham Association list of cults in the runup to the election and the NAR machinery demanded that church folk vote for the Satanic cult member. Vote they did.

Fast forward to 2016 and God upped the ante by ensuring the least Christian man ever, became the GOP candidate. A playboy known for his pro-choice history and penchant for bankruptcy, infidelity and divorce. Yet that same NAR dominionist machine, at the behest of the Republican Party did all they could to turn the "grab women by the genitals" guy into Mother Teresa. Suddenly there were Christian leaders swearing he was saved, or a baby Christian, or the second coming of King Cyrus, or that he had a Deborah mantle with an Elijah anointing. This is not hyperbole. This was what we were fed for the entire 2016 election and the church came out in record numbers to give Trump the victory. Then despite a horrific presidency, they voted for him again in 2020 as all of the NAR prophets assured us God said he was going to win reelection. Except he didn't. He lost by seven million votes. Since then, we have had to endure the constant nonsensical whining of a defeated man swearing everything that ever goes against him is somehow rigged. So, we come to this year and that man is facing over 90 felony counts across four different trials. The first one of those trials just concluded with a resounding jury verdict of guilty on all 34 counts against the former president. Amidst the dangerously stupid declarations against our justice system, I expected the apostate church leaders to come out in unison as well, but things have been relatively silent until the above linked article today from Idleman. So let us reason once more beloved for our Lord Jesus Christ and not the political masters of this carnal world that Shane Idleman continues to serve.

'"How can you follow Jesus and Donald Trump?" Many are not following a man; they are shaping a movement. A better, biblical question to be asking is this: What direction is the country heading? The short answer to the original question is "Absolutely, especially after a sham trial that resembles Venezuela more than America."' - Shane Idleman

Taken straight from the Trump playbook, Shane tries to start by switching the narrative. It is a completely fair questions for Christians to ask. How can you follow both Jesus and the now 34-time convicted felon? Shane can pretend all he likes that this is really a movement, but we all know this is a cult of personality. Whenever Trump goes away, for whatever reason, we will see that no one will be able to simply step into his place. Not little Marco, lying Ted, low energy Jeb or bird-brain Nikki. There is no movement. The reason why Shane desperately wants you asking about the country and not the man is because the man has been convicted of 34 felonies and this was the "weakest" of his four trials. The reason why Idleman is throwing shade at the trial is because his masters have told him to. Venezuela? Don't fall for the utterly moronic rhetoric. What happened in NYC was our system, not Venezuela. Trump was treated like any other citizen, albeit with utter kid gloves. You can bet if you or I ignored the judge's rulings to the tune of ten contempt citations that we would be in jail today. He was convicted by 12 of his peers, selected by his attorneys. You can bet your bottom dollar if they had acquitted, he would be praising the system and the jury. Instead, Idleman defames them and denounces our system simply because he does not like the outcome.

"If a leader lacks Christian character but is pointing the nation back to God, 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? If they are fighting the global agenda to enslave America, 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 its people"from corrupt Balaam to ungodly kings in the Old Testament"if they direct the people back to God, it can be a good thing." - Shane Idleman

These are the deals with the devil Shane Idleman and the dominionists are willing to sell to the church. The notion that Trump simply "lacks Christian character" is asinine. He is the virtual embodiment of the opposite, no matter how much Charisma News tries to rehabilitate his image. He said after these convictions that if it happened to him it could happen to you. Yes Donald. If I ever run for president and pay $130,000 to a porn star I slept while my newly minted third wife was home with my newborn child, in order to deceive the electorate - then yes - they could be coming for me too. The absolutely hysterical thing is that to Shane and Dominionists, a man could pay off a porn star to deceive the American people and still somehow be pointing America back to God. That entire premise is beyond vacuous. The rest of this is just silly Republican talking points. America was not more secure by alienating our friends and cozying up to dictators. Who would Jesus deny handouts to based on some self-righteous definition of laziness? This garbage about judging nations shows such a poor understanding of the bible. Literal nations are not judged but the individuals inside of them are based solely on faith in Christ. Worshipping this country and getting in bed with corrupt men, does not improve the spiritual health of anyone.

Not voting for Trump is a vote against what needs to happen in this nation. We can't allow personal pain or flawed character to have national consequences. We're not playing games anymore"serious things are on the line that have massive consequences. We need to wake up. There is no Plan B. I don't believe that any other candidate could carry trump's momentum.

What momentum? I appreciate that anyone, including Shane Idleman has the right to pretend that the Trump years were some kind of Christian Shangri-La but that does not mean it was. I also understand he believes Trump is the best choice. The PROBLEM, is that he continues to pretend he is the godly choice when it is quite obvious he is not. Remember, the premise he quickly ran away from is in light of now being a convicted felon, should Christians still vote for him. Serious things are on the line. Like further destruction of our way of life. Like grievance becoming our national politic. Just consider the ramifications for the Christian faith. The last time Trump ran the roost, the apostate church flourished. It had to take a step back after the gaggle of false prophets were exposed in 2020 but a new Trump administration means another round of Paula White, Steven Strang, Mario Murillo, Apostle Greg Locke and the apostate teachers brigade in charge of the national false narrative. That is not a good thing beloved. Not even close.

Christians love refugees and immigrants and are eager to help with food, lodging and jobs. But at the national level, the president must put the safety and provision of the American people first. When an airplane loses cabin pressure, parents put on their oxygen masks first to better assist their child. This isn't selfishness; it's wisdom. Opening the borders parallels cabin pressure falling and a limited supply of masks. Our law enforcement officers could not sustain the load, nor could our nation. Let's streamline the process and welcome God-fearing immigrants and have them contribute to society so everyone benefits. But the truth is we may have more enemies than friendlies crossing the border.

Wow, what breathtaking racism and xenophobia. The lip service paid to what Christians love is simply beyond the pale. Hey, we would love to help you, but I have to put on my own mask first. Translation? My needs are more important than yours. Just picture yourself standing before Jesus and trying to explain your hatred for people who were different than you. Yes, illegal crossings are certainly much higher than when Trump was in office, but this administration is also deporting more than a million more per year. I do not want this to be lost. The "Christian" argument being made by Shane and the dominionists is that there just is not sufficient air for us and those that wish to come into this country. That because we won some kind of geographical lottery to be born into this country that the air belongs to us and screw those who are trying to flee poverty, violence and death in the country they were unfortunate enough to be born into. In typical selfish, fake Christian ways, Idleman also declares that only those who fear God should be allowed into his Christian utopia. Poor? Stay out. Sick? Not welcome. Do not understand saving faith in Christ? Hey, better luck next time. There is only a limited amount of air and God says you can't have mine. Then to demonize them further, he infers that the people trying so desperately to live, are actually our enemies more than our friends. Praise Jesus, right?

The majority of news outlets spin everything (yes, everything) to put Trump in a bad light. Their hatred for him trumps the truth. Their agenda is simple and clear: Remove him from office at any cost. And I hope you realize this: They are really coming after you, me and our Christian values. The push toward open borders is more about votes than truly helping people, hence the mainstream media's silence on this issue. Open borders would be like me telling my kids to leave their windows open in case a stranger needs a warm night's sleep. That would be severe parental neglect because many harmful things could also enter through those open windows. Open borders would parallel that type of irresponsibility. In addition, our financial system cannot support people flooding in who need assistance. How is that using wisdom? It's not a matter of whether this type of financial irresponsibility causes damage but when and how much. There is a better way, but our leaders must repent and seek God for wisdom.

I'm sorry. Is there a good light to discuss why a man pays off a porn start he cheated on his wife with to deceive the voting public that I am unaware of? Is it hatred to correctly say that he stole national secrets and let others see them while he refused to return them to whom they belonged? He was not removed from office Shane. He was voted out by a seven million vote margin. Stop lying and pretending God endorses your lies. How in the world is paying off porn stars akin to coming after my Christian values Shane? What planet are you on? Donald Trump is not defending me. He is trying to protect himself and only himself. The media is silent on immigration? Are you serious? Outside of Trump trials, that is all they talk about regarding the upcoming election! Enough with the childlike illustrations! Your child is not the government of the most powerful and richest nation in the world! Your individual house is not America! I get the message Shane, I really do. You think it is a Christian imperative to close the windows and doors to America. You think it is somehow ungodly to spend money on helping people who are a different color than you. Or a different nationality than you. Or a different faith than you. I get it. Never mind that in the fourth quarter of 2023, American corporations raked in over 3.3 trillion dollars in profit, but you are demanding votes for the guy who will give them more tax breaks, while you sell us on the notion that there just is not enough air to go around. Got it. God is not up there saying, hey I gave you all that money but only for yourselves. Don't you dare help someone with it. It is not wise. Just stop it, Shane. Admit you are a money-grubbing whore that does not care about people and stop Jesusfying your politics.

Most critics don't care what the facts are. Their hatred for the president overshadows their desperate need for humility. Let this sink in: innocent children were being protected, godly counsel was surrounding President Trump, terror was being restrained, good judges were being selected, socialism was being resisted, families were being encouraged via employment (Black employment was at an all-time high), prayer was being brought back in schools, God's wisdom was 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.

Gotta love it. To disagree with Shane Idleman and his politics is to need humility. How insultingly arrogant. Correctly calling the former president a convicted felon is not hating him. It is telling the truth. Saying that he has zero morality, or an inkling of Christian values is likewise, an accurate statement. Godly counsel? There was NOTHING but false teachers, hucksters and charlatans surrounding Donald Trump as president, including Shane Idleman. His spiritual advisor was a woman who fleeced the flock of God for five million dollars! Good judges? Who? The guy who flies his flag upside down? Socialism was being resisted? Stop with the NAR talking points! Black unemployment under Trump was between 6-7% and under Biden it is between 5-6%, not including COVID (2021). I know prayer in school is a pet wedge issue the NAR uses to motivate lazy Christians, but God does not care one whit if we force kids who do not understand, to recite a prayer to a god they do not know. The gospel does not work like that Shane. So let us be fair here because the trade-off Shane espouses is the same one being sold to the apostate church today. That because Trump appointed three hardcore Supremes, we can turn a blind eye to the least moral man to ever occupy the White House. Three times married and unfaithful? Hey look at Brett Kavanaugh! Says he can grab women by the vagina? Hey, doesn't Neil Gorsuch look nice? Steals and reveals national secrets, tries to overthrow the government, doesn't mind if his followers hang his vice president, and pays $130,000 in hush money to deceive the electorate from knowing about his affair with a porn star? Three words - Amy Coney Barrett. Maybe you are ok with this trade-off politically. That is your right as an American. Just stop pretending God is on your side because He is not. Stop because it destroys the witness for Christ.

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? Does his past or his demeanor matter more than the results he is accomplishing? If you are intellectually honest, the answer is not difficult. In the same way, the answer is simple for America.

I think Shane Idleman should stay out of the analogy business because he is really, really bad at it. This country is not your gated community. The president is slightly more important than the person who does the neighborhood watch. Trump did not previously have an affair. He cheated on every wife he ever had and the last time we know about was with a porn star. He has been civilly convicted of sexual assault as well. Nineteen women in total have accused the former president of sexual misconduct on varying levels, including rape. I know in Shane's world, they are all Venezuelans carrying out a coordinated witch hunt against the second coming of the apostle Paul but on earth one, we know the truth. So, does the past and demeanor of who is on our neighborhood watch matter? Absolutely. Character reveals who people are, not just who they invite to the homes for fake prayer. If I knew that the guy running for neighborhood watch cheated on three wives with porn stars and behaved boorish and crassly, why in the world would I trust him watching my neighborhood? I would probably hide my wife and kids if he was watching anything.

Again, we are not voting for people based on how godly they are; we are voting for the future direction of America: the right to life, the elevation of God's Word back to its proper place, the appointment of conservative judges, securing America and her borders, creating jobs and improving the quality of life for all Americans. I will close with what I stated before: We can't have our cake and eat it too"there is no middle ground for Christians today. You can choose a president who who would seek to destroy the America we know and lead us down the primrose path of socialism"or worse. Or you can choose to back President Trump. For those who say they won't be voting, your silence speaks volumes. Be clear on that. Saying nothing is saying something.

Yes, saying nothing is certainly saying something. It is saying that we are not of this world. That the kingdom we serve is not of this world. It is saying that we will not demonize other human beings, all of whom were made in the image of God because we are scared that there is not enough American air to go around. God's word does not need to be properly elevated in this country if it is not going to properly elevated in our churches. Do you think that the unsaved looked at the snake oil salesmen that surrounded the first Trump presidency and did not realize the rampant hypocrisy? I want us to seriously consider the key verses for today listed above. I included the entire context because it is quite telling for this discussion. The sexual immorality that was convicted 34 times last week should never be found among us. Let there be no filthiness or crude joking. For such people, idolators, have no place in the kingdom of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words like Shane Idleman. Do not become partners beloved with the darkness but expose it! Awake oh sleeper and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine upon you!

Beloved, God does not care about our carnal politics. People can be saved under monarchies, socialist regimes, capitalist countries or hybrid mixes such as ours. God is not a respecter of persons, let alone the governmental models persons ascribe to. Shane Idleman is trying to sell what his masters have commanded him to. That his candidates, from his party are the true choice for God when they are not. They are flawed and sinful men and women, just like in the other party. The other side might not be God's choice either, but they are not pretending to be and therein lies the rub. Donald Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts last week. You can say that does not affect your vote, but you cannot ascribe Christ to it. In closing, I ask only one question that you alone need to answer for yourself. If Joe Biden had been convicted last week of 34 felonies for covering up an affair he had with a porn star years ago to deceive voters before the 2020 election, would you be screaming Venezuela? Or would you be righteously demanding he be removed from office or at the bare minimum be locked up and prevented from running for office? I think we know the answer, don't we? Shane Idleman can try to wrap Donald Trump up in Jesus Christ all day long but at the end of that day all he is left with a man convicted of 34 felonies for trying to cover up an affair with a porn star to deceive voters. Do not fall for the Faustian bargain he offers you. Deals with the devil do not work out in the favor of anyone but the devil. Judicial appointments are not worth your soul. It is not worth your witness. Dear Lord, it is just not worth it and last week we were given 34 more reasons why so.

Reverend Anthony Wade - June 3, 2024

Authors Bio:
Credentialed Minister of the Gospel for the Assemblies of God. Owner and founder of 828 ministries. Vice President for Goodwill Industries. Always remember that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.