Trump Appoints Prosperity Gospel Minister to a White House Religious Position

[Stephen3141]

Trump Enrages Christians By Naming ‘Heretic’ Pastor to Admin

Trump’s preacher of choice goes too far for some evangelicals.

www.thedailybeast.com

I ignore the journalists' language inflation, such as "enrages"....

I would repeat, however, what I said many times during Trump's run for
the White House: Donald Trump does not understand what the core doctrines
of Christianity are, and he merely manipulates American Christians, in order to
gain votes.

The "property gospel" minister that Trump just appointed, is considered as
holding a heretical rebuild of historical, orthodox, Christianity.

"She is a proponent of “prosperity theology,” which teaches that God rewards the truly faithful with material wealth and personal success.

Critics say that by blaming financial woes on a lack of faith, prosperity theology can be used to exploit vulnerable churchgoers. Many Christians consider it a form of heresy, according to The New York Times.

Some of Trump’s Christian MAGA supporters took to social media to express their disappointment in the president’s pick.

“Even though President Trump is enforcing laws that line up with our values, that doesn’t mean he has any clue what biblical Christianity is or why it matters,” Christian podcast host John Mason wrote on X. “Paula White is a known heretic and known false teacher who has no regard for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” "


“A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. 44 For every tree is known by its own fruit. For people do not pick figs from thornbushes, nor do they gather grapes from brambles. 45 A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil; for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.
New American Bible, Revised Edition. (Washington, DC: The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2011), Lk 6:43–45.

For ALL Christians, the stamp of authenticity of their faith is not
some mere profession "I am a Christian". Authenticity involves
living out righteousness. If those who DO gain wealth, use it for
the good of the People of God (and not for a luxurious life), then
wealth is put in its proper place.

But when wealth is described as a crass mark of approval from God,
for the person with the wealth, THEN this is a doctrine that is incompatible
with orthodox Christianity.

My guess is that Trump is trying to "Jesus wash" the oligarchs that he is
putting into power, just as Putin tries to use the Russian Orthodox church
to "Jesus wash" Putin's brutal dictatorship.

 

[Laodicean60]

The bible promotes prosperity, just saying.

 

[chevyontheriver]

Trump Enrages Christians By Naming ‘Heretic’ Pastor to Admin

Trump’s preacher of choice goes too far for some evangelicals.

www.thedailybeast.com

I ignore the journalists' language inflation, such as "enrages"....

Kind of hard to ignore as it is right in the headline. And Paula White is called a heretic right in the URL.

I would repeat, however, what I said many times during Trump's run for
the White House: Donald Trump does not understand what the core doctrines
of Christianity are, ...

I would agree that he does not seem to grasp what Christianity is all about. Particularly since he doesn't seem to know that he actually needs a savior.

... and he merely manipulates American Christians, in order to
gain votes.

Politicians do that.

I'm gonna do a whattabout here though and bring up Joe Biden. I don't think he grasped what Christianity was about either. Particularly in that he didn't think that the least and most innocent human beings needed and deserved protection. There were dioceses where the bishops of those diocese had declared that because of that position he was unfit to receive communion. He could pick his dioceses though and present himself for communion, which itself was a manipulation of Catholicism, saying one can favor abortion and still be a good Catholic. All along he claimed to be a good Catholic while taking the most abortion favorable position of any president ever. We don't and shouldn't expect much of Donald Trump in this regard, but we should have expected much more of someone claiming to be a good practicing Catholic.

The "property gospel" minister that Trump just appointed, is considered as
holding a heretical rebuild of historical, orthodox, Christianity.

"She is a proponent of “prosperity theology,” which teaches that God rewards the truly faithful with material wealth and personal success.

Critics say that by blaming financial woes on a lack of faith, prosperity theology can be used to exploit vulnerable churchgoers. Many Christians consider it a form of heresy, according to The New York Times.

Some of Trump’s Christian MAGA supporters took to social media to express their disappointment in the president’s pick.

“Even though President Trump is enforcing laws that line up with our values, that doesn’t mean he has any clue what biblical Christianity is or why it matters,” Christian podcast host John Mason wrote on X. “Paula White is a known heretic and known false teacher who has no regard for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” "

Who is Christian podcast host John Mason and who is Scott Ross, a Texas-based leadership coach and self-described “orthodox Christian,”? And why does what they say even matter in the whole scheme of things? Who do they speak for, a podcaster and a leadership coach? They call her a heretic and an abomination. What gives them the authority to make that determination? Does their 'excommunication' matter?

Now my opinion of the prosperity gospel is mighty low. My opinion of woman pastors is mighty low. My opinion of divorced pastors is mighty low, and much lower for twice divorced pastors. So Paula White gets zero kudos from me. Zero.

“A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. 44 For every tree is known by its own fruit. For people do not pick figs from thornbushes, nor do they gather grapes from brambles. 45 A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil; for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.
New American Bible, Revised Edition. (Washington, DC: The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2011), Lk 6:43–45.

True.

For ALL Christians, the stamp of authenticity of their faith is not
some mere profession "I am a Christian".

In CF if someone says they are a Christian you can't say they aren't. Dems da rulz.

Authenticity involves
living out righteousness. If those who DO gain wealth, use it for
the good of the People of God (and not for a luxurious life), then
wealth is put in its proper place.

Agreed.

But when wealth is described as a crass mark of approval from God,
for the person with the wealth, THEN this is a doctrine that is incompatible
with orthodox Christianity.

Yup. Wondering if you agree that promotion of abortion is also incompatible with Orthodox Christianity? You know, like the last president? In which case maybe we have one fake Christian replacing another fake Christian. Also wondering if the Daily Beast at all addressed the dissonance between the faith Biden professed to believe and how he lived that out? Not that I an eager to wade into the Daily Beast archives.

My guess is that Trump is trying to "Jesus wash" the oligarchs that he is
putting into power, just as Putin tries to use the Russian Orthodox church
to "Jesus wash" Putin's brutal dictatorship.

I think Trump is naturally attracted to the prosperity schtick. It seems custom built for him. So I don't see it as a political move at all. It was natural. And Paula White is probably pleasant enough to look at so it's easy to appoint her. What surprises me however is that he is at all attracted to Catholicism. And he is. It's really beginning to show. But they are so diametrically opposed. I think it is not outside of the realm of possibility that he becomes Catholic. But not if the prosperity gospel gets their claws into him first and won't let him go.

Now is where I wonder if the Daily Beast would have cared at all if Trump had appointed some nondescript pastor for that job? Maybe it's a case of whatever Trump did and whoever he appointed the Daily Beast would have been critical out of the box. Maybe they would have been critical if Franklin Graham were picked. What would they have said if a Catholic priest were picked? I wonder.

By the way, the story was written by Liam Archacki who is a 'breaking news intern' with the Daily Beast. Hardly the religion editor for the Daily Beast, if they even have such a thing as a religion editor, let alone a competent religion editor. Which explains a lot about the article. It's not professional. It's sensational. Not balanced at all that I can see. Check out what else he has written recently.

I wonder if Terry Mattingly will have a take on this article? Watch for it maybe appearing at On Religion
https://www.thedailybeast.com/author/liam-archacki

 

[chevyontheriver]

The bible promotes prosperity, just saying.

Is that why Jesus was born in a palace and lived in a palace and died in his sleep at a ripe old age?

 

[Laodicean60]

Is that why Jesus was born in a palace and lived in a palace and died in his sleep at a ripe old age?

Not sure what you are trying to say.

 

[chevyontheriver]

Not sure what you are trying to say.

That the 'Prosperity Gospel' is a bit of a crock.

 

[Laodicean60]

That the 'Prosperity Gospel' is a bit of a crock.

What part? I don't know what the prosperity gospel is and to me, it's not a gospel because there is only one. You can't deny there are some verses in the bible referencing Christians to prosper.

 

[chevyontheriver]

What part? I don't know what the prosperity gospel is and to me, it's not a gospel because there is only one. You can't deny there are some verses in the bible referencing Christians to prosper.

The ‘Prosperity Gospel’ says if you aren’t rich you are doing something wrong. And you can get rich by giving money to your already rich pastor so he or she can buy a newer better airplane.

Living a Christian life means one tends to be less involved with addiction and dangerous behavior and wasteful spending, so a Christian might be a bit more well off than his or her neighbors. That makes sense. But that being a Christian the expectation is to become rich? And if you aren’t rich you’re doing something wrong? Nope.

I like my ministers to have taken vows of poverty. Guys that fly coach if they ever have to fly at all. Guys you can have over for dinner without wondering if you would be insulting them by not serving caviar. Guys who leave almost no possessions behind when they die. Pope John Paul II left behind almost nothing. Pope Benedict XVI left almost nothing except a substantial library of his books. It’s these kind of people who inspire me to be willing to give away my things. The ‘Prosperity Gospel’ folks only inspire more possessions. It’s a strange permutation of the Gospel. Jesus died with a robe. And that was taken from him.

 

[John G.]

Paula White is a friend of Israel and a good link between Christians and Jews.
That much I know of her.
Whether she is a proponent of the "prosperity gospel", I don't know.

 

[soldier of light]

The bible promotes prosperity, just saying.

No it doesn't. It doesn't teach wealth. It teaches the opposite

 

[soldier of light]

Trump is wealthy. Is it any surprise?

 

[soldier of light]

All politicians lead us astray. We are not supposed to complain, fight, fear, or worry like politicians do.

 

[Laodicean60]

No it doesn't. It doesn't teach wealth. It teaches the opposite

Is prosperity equal to wealth only?
I pray for all on this forum you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.

 

[soldier of light]

Is prosperity equal to wealth only?
I pray for all on this forum you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.

Prospering to Paul and the apostles was being poor. Look in acts chapter 4. That was the church prospering. They shared everything. No one was poor or rich. See 2 Corinthians 8 and Exodus 16 as well. Note that excess wealth is like rotten manna

 

[Laodicean60]

Prospering to Paul and the apostles was being poor. Look in acts chapter 4. That was the church prospering. They shared everything. No one was poor or rich. See 2 Corinthians 8 and Exodus 16 as well. Note that excess wealth is like rotten manna

You didn't answer my question

 

[soldier of light]

You didn't answer my question

The answer is no. Prosperity is in all good things. But being rich isn't good.

 

[Laodicean60]

But being rich isn't good.

Sorry don't see it your way, it's not being rich that is bad but what you do when you are rich. Broke Christian can't be a blessing to others. I thank God that I'm rich so I can be a blessing to people who are less fortunate than I am. For my tax break

 

[soldier of light]

Sorry don't see it your way, it's not being rich that is bad but what you do when you are rich. Broke Christian can't be a blessing to others. I thank God that I'm rich so I can be a blessing to people who are less fortunate than I am. For my tax break

Being rich is bad. Jesus said not to do that. Paul said it was a lustfull trap that erred from the faith. In acts chapter 4 the church gave its wealth away to the poor

 

[Laodicean60]

Being rich is bad. Jesus said not to do that. Paul said it was a lustfull trap that erred from the faith. In acts chapter 4 the church gave its wealth away to the poor

I think you mean the rich man which you are reading wrong. It's not that he was rich that was bad but his unwillingness to give it up. The love of money thing.

 

[soldier of light]

I think you mean the rich man which you are reading wrong. It's not that he was rich that was bad but his unwillingness to give it up. The love of money thing.

Acts chapter 4 is a spirit filled church
They gave their wealth to the poor and no one was rich or poor. If anyone wants to be rich that's on them. But desiring wealth is a sinful trap that errs from the faith. According to Paul