Why do so many Christians revere Trump?

[Beanieboy]

When Trump was running for president, I watched him court the Religious Right by appearing on their shows in interviews. Trump would say things like, "I read the Bible more than anybody," but when asked what his favorite passage was, said, "the New Testament." I'm a teacher and looked up from my grading and thought "you didn't read the book, did you?" I mean, come on, if you have to quote a verse, John 3:16. When asked if he asked God for forgiveness said no, because he hasn't done anything wrong.

Clinton appeared on a radio show or podcast with two black men and one black woman. The woman asked "what is something that you always keep in your purse?" Hillary said, "hot sauce" and you can see the black girl fall out laughing at here, aware of how pandering she sounded. The African American community were already at odds with her quotes of the past about super predators and bring them to heel. The protests would have been a great time for discussion and healing, but Clinton chose to simply quiet the voice.

I assumed that the Religious Right were kind of making a deal with the devil if we vote for Trump, he will put conservative Supreme Court justices to help illegalize abortion, etc.

But a Canadian talk show host would go to rallies, ask people what they thought of ghe "Grab her by the" comment. One woman said, "Didn't happen," When told it was on tape - fake news

While I don't expect anyone to be perfect, he was notorious for his racist comments towards most communities of color, was an expert in creating fear of some other, being divisive, all the while QAnon was claiming he was going to destroy a secret cabal and free us all as well as arrest people in human traficking rings kind of like Indiana Jones and Short Round, to the point that anything questionable he said or did was ignored and it bordered on worship like a cult leader.

What was the draw, exactly? He seemed to be running for president for his own gain and ego, but because people followed him so blindly, I understood what happens when the anti-Christ appears. Despite a number of red flags, all that needs to be done is to create z common enemy, say what you want to hear, and dangle a carrot from a stick.

And because this is how so many opposing him saw him, using critical thinking, many of us were left confused about how he had so much power over others.

 

[bekkilyn]

While I can understand why some people voted for him, I doubt I'll ever understand the blind devotion.

 

[Abaxvahl]

I assumed that the Religious Right were kind of making a deal with the devil if we vote for Trump, he will put conservative Supreme Court justices to help illegalize abortion, etc.

That's the main reason that I know of from those I spoke to who supported him.

 

[public hermit]

I have never understood it. It's one thing to say: He supports positions I favor so, in spite of him, I support him. I get that. But I have seen so many confessing Christians defend his character, lol. What? Why? If you're going to be pragmatic, be honest about it. Why defend the man?

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

It's one thing to say: He supports positions I favor so, in spite of him, I support him. I get that. But I have seen so many confessing Christians defend his character, lol. What? Why?

I would love to hear some answers to this question also.

 

[dzheremi]

Somehow previous election cycles' "guy who seems like you could have a beer with him" lower-than-low social standard for electability morphed into the "guy who seems like he'd try to sexually assault the waitress who brings the beer, but it's okay because he's rich and he pwns the libs and says stuff we're all thinking but Nancy Pelosi (or Anderson Cooper, or Don Lemon, or whoever) doesn't let us say out loud" what-the-heck-is-going-on standard.

I don't think I'll ever understand it, but then I figure some things aren't for me to understand. We're all sharing the country anyway, so I guess the best I can do is hope that the Trump voters around me at least thought they were doing the right thing, no differently than I was trying to do by not voting for him.

 

[Handmaid for Jesus]

Well I saw it as enthrallment. That is the only thing that made any sense to me. Like the cult leader he is, he seduced them and took their minds. Thankfully some are shaking off the spell.

 

[Sketcher]

I really don't know why. I find the position to be compromising.

I had a long, uncomfortable conversation with a friend who had taken the plunge from being not very political to Trump follower. This was after the election but before Jan 6. He had picked up a number of new beliefs over the past 4 years, but among them was that Trump had become a Christian but the media wouldn't let him say that he had - even though he could have tweeted it at any time, and he didn't know why he didn't tweet it when I asked. He also believed some very unflattering things about the political left now that he didn't previously (which I largely agree with) but none of them point to Trump becoming a Christian. Nor does anything that Trump did in office point to him becoming a Christian. I'm not seeing that he used logic or Scripture when coming to his conclusion about Trump. Possible that hysteria swept him to it.

 

[Albion]

What was the draw, exactly?

His opponent was known to not be any better than Trump when it came to the disturbing comments and to the moral shortcomings you reminded us of, except that much of it pertained to Trump earlier in life, prior to him being in elective office. However, none of those considerations carry over to his opponent, Mrs. Clinton, whose sorry record was well-known.

Therefore, when faced with voting for one or the other, the one who offered the best policies for the American people was preferred to the one whose policies were known to be harmful.

And, when he won, he delivered; Trump oversaw a strong economic recovery, an improvement of the condition of people of all economic classes but especially racial minorities and women, and he avoided getting us into any new wars.

 

[friend of]

And, when he won, he delivered; Trump oversaw a strong economic recovery, an improvement of the condition of people of all economic classes but especially racial minorities and women, and he avoided getting us into any new wars.

He did all that and more. I don't understand why his detractors cannot give credit where credit is due.

 

[.Jeremiah.]

It’s impossible for one to vote for the devil and simultaneously claim to be Christian.

Matthew 15:8
This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

The mouth can “claim” anything.

 

[Carl Emerson]

I think the reason he was supported was that he represented the personification of 'dominionism' - a theology held by many modern mega churches.

They claim to have the authority to establish the 'Kingdom Now' and you can hear it in the way they pray... "I release this... "I command that...
An assumed authority that has departed from the sermon on the mount and the principle of less of us and more of Him.

 

[Albion]

I think the reason he was supported was that he represented the personification of 'dominionism' - a theology held by many modern mega churches.

They claim to have the authority to establish the 'Kingdom Now' and you can hear it in the way they pray... "I release this... "I command that...
An assumed authority that has departed from the sermon on the mount and the principle of less of us and more of Him.

There are such people, but they are far, far fewer than was needed to elect Trump or anyone else to the Presidency.

The question that was asked here, therefore, has to be more than this that you're speaking of. But the answer is not obscure--the country had suffered for eight or more years with a stagnant economy, growing domestic disunity, no-win wars abroad, etc.--and was ready for a change.

Hillary obviously offered nothing that would represent a change for the better, while Trump offered a return to better times. Why he won is hardly a puzzle that leaves thinking people scratching their heads.

 

[Mark Quayle]

When Trump was running for president, I watched him court the Religious Right by appearing on their shows in interviews. Trump would say things like, "I read the Bible more than anybody," but when asked what his favorite passage was, said, "the New Testament." I'm a teacher and looked up from my grading and thought "you didn't read the book, did you?" I mean, come on, if you have to quote a verse, John 3:16. When asked if he asked God for forgiveness said no, because he hasn't done anything wrong.

Clinton appeared on a radio show or podcast with two black men and one black woman. The woman asked "what is something that you always keep in your purse?" Hillary said, "hot sauce" and you can see the black girl fall out laughing at here, aware of how pandering she sounded. The African American community were already at odds with her quotes of the past about super predators and bring them to heel. The protests would have been a great time for discussion and healing, but Clinton chose to simply quiet the voice.

I assumed that the Religious Right were kind of making a deal with the devil if we vote for Trump, he will put conservative Supreme Court justices to help illegalize abortion, etc.

But a Canadian talk show host would go to rallies, ask people what they thought of ghe "Grab her by the" comment. One woman said, "Didn't happen," When told it was on tape - fake news

While I don't expect anyone to be perfect, he was notorious for his racist comments towards most communities of color, was an expert in creating fear of some other, being divisive, all the while QAnon was claiming he was going to destroy a secret cabal and free us all as well as arrest people in human traficking rings kind of like Indiana Jones and Short Round, to the point that anything questionable he said or did was ignored and it bordered on worship like a cult leader.

What was the draw, exactly? He seemed to be running for president for his own gain and ego, but because people followed him so blindly, I understood what happens when the anti-Christ appears. Despite a number of red flags, all that needs to be done is to create z common enemy, say what you want to hear, and dangle a carrot from a stick.

And because this is how so many opposing him saw him, using critical thinking, many of us were left confused about how he had so much power over others.

We've just been through this with someone who was apparently hoping to shame us, or at least to demonstrate our hypocrisy. So that's two of you who I see as believing in political leaders as spiritual leaders. That may be why you look up to them, but it isn't why we voted for Trump. I wouldn't be very much surprised if you had heard that before but still don't get it.

 

[Handmaid for Jesus]

the country had suffered for eight or more years with a stagnant economy,

You are forgetting that the economy fell into the ditch with then President Bush. By the time Trump came to office, the economy was in full recovery. Trump inherited an economic rebound which he proceeded to undermine and destroy.

no-win wars abroad, etc.-

Which were started by then President Bush and his warmongers and were poorly executed.

growing domestic disunity

Because of the tea party malcontents who became Trump syncopates. who threw away their love for Jesus to embrace the man of no character or reverence for truth.

 

[Oompa Loompa]

When Trump was running for president, I watched him court the Religious Right by appearing on their shows in interviews. Trump would say things like, "I read the Bible more than anybody," but when asked what his favorite passage was, said, "the New Testament." I'm a teacher and looked up from my grading and thought "you didn't read the book, did you?" I mean, come on, if you have to quote a verse, John 3:16. When asked if he asked God for forgiveness said no, because he hasn't done anything wrong.

Clinton appeared on a radio show or podcast with two black men and one black woman. The woman asked "what is something that you always keep in your purse?" Hillary said, "hot sauce" and you can see the black girl fall out laughing at here, aware of how pandering she sounded. The African American community were already at odds with her quotes of the past about super predators and bring them to heel. The protests would have been a great time for discussion and healing, but Clinton chose to simply quiet the voice.

I assumed that the Religious Right were kind of making a deal with the devil if we vote for Trump, he will put conservative Supreme Court justices to help illegalize abortion, etc.

But a Canadian talk show host would go to rallies, ask people what they thought of ghe "Grab her by the" comment. One woman said, "Didn't happen," When told it was on tape - fake news

While I don't expect anyone to be perfect, he was notorious for his racist comments towards most communities of color, was an expert in creating fear of some other, being divisive, all the while QAnon was claiming he was going to destroy a secret cabal and free us all as well as arrest people in human traficking rings kind of like Indiana Jones and Short Round, to the point that anything questionable he said or did was ignored and it bordered on worship like a cult leader.

What was the draw, exactly? He seemed to be running for president for his own gain and ego, but because people followed him so blindly, I understood what happens when the anti-Christ appears. Despite a number of red flags, all that needs to be done is to create z common enemy, say what you want to hear, and dangle a carrot from a stick.

And because this is how so many opposing him saw him, using critical thinking, many of us were left confused about how he had so much power over others.

I am assuming you do know that Trump isn't President anymore.

 

[.Mikha'el.]

I've always had this feeling that if the nominee in 2016 had been anyone else, the GOP base would have fallen in line just as easily, that there's nothing special about Trump that inspires such adoration outside of being the nominee.

 

[Sketcher]

I've always had this feeling that if the nominee in 2016 had been anyone else, the GOP base would have fallen in line just as easily, that there's nothing special about Trump that inspires such adoration outside of being the nominee.

People weren't falling over John McCain in 2008 like they were for Trump in 2016 and following years. Yes, there were people who mistakenly thought John McCain was a man of God just because he was a Republican. But there were not as many people fired up about McCain the same way they were fired up about Trump, nor was there such a stark contrast between the candidate's actions in the relatively recent past and Christianity as there was with Trump, which didn't seem to matter. Sure, McCain had an affair and "married" the mistress 28 years before his nomination, but at the time of the nomination he could believably pass as a Christian anyway with the other things he did and said. Trump's past with women was far worse, far more recent (including the non-consensual kissing he bragged about), and in that election year he publicly admitted that he failed to grasp any need to repent for anything. Many Christians did vote for him anyway, because Clinton was her own kind of horrible, but at least they did so with the understanding that he wasn't a Christian. But the really insane part is how some Christians became hostile to other Christians who admitted and criticized Trump's faults as a person. When this very measured column doing so was written (which attempted consistency between judging Mr. Trump and Mr. Clinton), that was my friend's break with Christianity Today as a news source. McCain never would have been that sort of a lightning rod.

 

[Jake Arsenal]

I've always had this feeling that if the nominee in 2016 had been anyone else, the GOP base would have fallen in line just as easily, that there's nothing special about Trump that inspires such adoration outside of being the nominee.

I think fear plays the biggest role. Hillary Clinton is some kind of supervillain in many people's imagination while Joe Biden has never been taken seriously. A large portion of voters feared Clinton and looked to Trump as a savior. False prophets latched on to this and began calling him, "God's Anointed," claiming he would be elected to a second term(specifically stating it would not be in 2024 but in 2020). When that didn't happen, they claimed the election was stolen and would be overturned. Another large portion of voters spent four years acting like psychos because Trump won and are now criticizing his supporters for behaving similarly after he lost.

People are looking for the Messiah in all the wrong places. Jesus is the Christ(God's Anointed(Luke 4:16-21, Isaiah 61:1)). No person can stop what is coming. God is in control. Trust HIM and let go of fear.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.(Proverbs 9:10)

But with You there is forgiveness, so that You may be feared.(Psalm 130:4)

 

[mama2one]

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/authoritarian-therapy/202009/what-is-the-appeal-trumpism



"Trump has established an emotional connection with 40% of the American people. In my opinion, it is a narcissistic identification with Trump that is at the heart of his appeal. That Trump can say he can shoot someone and retain appeal, or grab women by the genitals, suggests he has tapped into the unconscious desires and thoughts of millions of Americans. His vulgarity, indecency, and law-breaking leads his followers into a narcissistic identification – as if they are Trump."