Trump: The President “Evangelicals” Deserve

By John Bradley Wheeler

In the 2016 presidential election, “Evangelicals” rallied around candidate Donald Trump. Tired from losing, fearful of the demise of the American culture before their eyes, and desiring to win, they bet it all on Donald Trump. His rhetoric echoed the anger they felt. When attacked by the left, Trump punched back hard. Armed with Twitter and loaded with red meat, his rallies invigorated America. ‘Evangelicals” such as Robert Jeffress, Jack Graham, Tony Perkins and Jerry Falwell Jr. became his loudest cheerleaders. Word of Faith preachers such as Paula White, Kenneth and Gloria Copeland rallied to his side. “Prophets” such as Lance Wallnau prophesied that Trump was this generations Cyrus, the fulfillment of Isaiah 45 (never mind that this prophecy was fulfilled long ago). A religious alliance was struck between these various groups of Baptists, Charismatics and New Apostolic Reformation leaders into a broad “Evangelicalism” united in the endeavor to “make America great again” (a completely nebulous agenda which allowed all involved to imagine the nation they wanted).

When challenges arose from people such as John MacArthur, Albert Mohler, and Russell Moore about the fitness of Donald Trump to hold the office of President. Fox News and other affiliates would just trot out one of his “Evangelical” religious supporters. These challengers were scolded for their objections, being told, “We are electing a president not a pastor.” As news broke about Trump’s “crotch grabbing” comments, “Evangelicals” reduced it to mere locker room talk. The very same “Evangelicals” who had once criticized Bill Clinton for his immorality now sang the song of 1990’s Democrats essentially proclaiming, “it’s just sex.” This chorus of once moral voices dismissed the obvious and blatant immorality of Donald Trump demonstrating the not only had America’s moral values slidden into the gutter but the moral values of many in “Evangelical” leadership had landed there as well.

Regardless of Trump’s failings we were told that he was one of us. He had his shortcomings, but he was pro-life, he was for border security, he was going to guarantee a conservative Supreme Court, and he would advocate for smaller budgets and cutting the deficit. The pro-Trumpers proved to be the majority voice within “Evangelicalism.” Trump was elected and America was going to be great again (whatever that means to whoever you ask).

Fast forward to March 23, 2018. President Donald Trump signs a $1.3 Trillion Omnibus Bill. The bill was written by a GOP Congress. It was laden with pork and included $500 million for Planned Parenthood. The bill did not fund the border wall. Even neoconservatives such as Laura Ingraham and Ann Coulter criticized the bill. For the first time in his presidency the “make America great” coalition has raised some critical uproar. Though most of the uproar has to do with the neglect of the border wall rather than the most obvious and egregious expenditure of the bill, Planned Parenthood.

Noticeably absent from the uproar were Trump’s “Evangelical” supporters. Nowhere have I read of Paula White or Kenneth Copeland or Robert Jeffress objecting to the President signing a bill funding Planned Parenthood. “Evangelical” support is constant even though Trump is absent on the issue of life in supporting Planned Parenthood because they are still focused on a different issue, “making America great again” (which doesn’t appear to mean ending abortion).

The President, some have labeled as the most pro-life president in our history, signed a bill providing $500 million to Planned Parenthood. His justification, funding the military. President Trump approved giving hundreds of millions of dollars to the largest abortion provider in the nation in exchange for being able to fund the military. Think of how oxymoronic such a statement is at its very foundation. The purpose of the military is to protect American lives. The purpose of Planned Parenthood is to take American lives. The President is now funding the taking of American lives in order to fund the protection of American lives.

Some will argue, that the money the government provides to Planned Parenthood isn’t used to fund abortions. This is a red herring, as if, when you put all the cash into a big pot the government’s money doesn’t free up other donations to be spent in the murder of the unborn. One might as well say one’s donations to Germany’s WWII war effort, designated for prisoner medical care, didn’t fund the exterminations at Auschwitz. When you give money to the largest abortion provider in America, you are funding abortion, even if only indirectly.

We must ask, “why did a Republican Congress include Planned Parenthood in their spending bill?” Aren’t Republicans supposed to be pro-life? Yet, with a majority GOP Congress and a GOP President, abortion giant Planned Parenthood is still being funded.

Perhaps a history lesson is helpful at this point. Abortion was made legal by a majority Republican Supreme Court while Republican President Nixon was in office. Further it was Republicans who pushed the issue in the 1960’s through the Population Council funded by Republican J.D. Rockefeller III. J.D. Rockefeller III was also a member of the American Eugenics Society and a prominent supporter of Planned Parenthood. His fingerprints are all over the material cited in the Roe decision, with various research groups he funded quoted as positive evidence in support of abortion.  Further, prominent Republicans have tended to be pro-abortion until they decided to run for national office. George H. W. Bush is a prominent example of someone who was an abortion supporter prior to running for president. Even worse, many “Evangelicals” supported abortion in 1973, and only became pro-life later.

History partnered with continued funding of abortion begs the question of whether or not the GOP is actually interested in defunding Planned Parenthood and are they ever going to move toward ending the carnage continuing to be carried out against the unborn through legal abortion? This Congress and President had every opportunity to defund Planned Parenthood with this omnibus and they did not do it. The answer can only be because it wasn’t their priority. “Evangelical” silence, likewise means it was not their priority either.

The truth is abortion is a money maker. I don’t mean only for the abortion industry or for liberal Democrats who lobby for abortion rights. Abortion is a money maker for Republicans and for, dare I say, “Evangelical” pro-life organizations. Think of the funds raised by political candidates on the Right, who election after election, promise to end abortion. If they actually fulfilled the promise the  “cha ching” of political donations related to the abortion issue would suddenly go away. The same can be said by many who have made the pro-life movement their cottage industry. It is hard to imagine those who have made their entire careers about ending abortion working for their unemployment. Much like those who have built a career battling racism, once the problem is solved, their businesses must be closed. Ending abortion would mean a loss of substantial income for those who run these organizations.

The dirty little secret about many non-profits is that they must fundraise to continue to exist. This means they must always have a carrot  before the nose of their supporters (or perhaps a peanut before the nose of the elephant) if they hope to raise funds. If you pay attention to the emails of many pro-life nonprofits you will notice promotion after promotion of varying means to end abortion. Donate to this cause here or this effort here, while no progress is actually made. It doesn’t even matter if the means is legitimate. For example, I recently ran across one endeavor by a “Evangelical” pro-life legal nonprofit promoting the signing of a petition to be presented to the Supreme Court for the purpose of ending abortion. The claim is ridiculous because the Supreme Court being the “non-political” branch of government does not receive such petitions and only hears actual “cases or controversies,” not petitions. But to the average layman not familiar with the law, it sounded good, and they had a donate button on the same page so you could support the effort.

Which brings me back to Trump being the President that “Evangelicals” deserve. “Evangelicals” who supported Trump were looking for the pragmatic win. They needed a symbol of hope and a President who felt their anger (much like Clinton felt a certain segment of Americans’ “pain”). Much like many “Evangelicals,” Trump says a lot of things, promises a lot of things, tweets a lot of things. He has learned, you can say almost anything and do almost anything, as long as you tilt your head in the direction of certain “Evangelicals” giving Jesus just a little due. Which is what “Evangelicals” have done for a long time themselves.

A long time ago many “Evangelicals” traded the gospel for pragmatism; seeking ways to grow bigger churches and bigger organizations. The gospel of Jesus wasn’t enough. “Evangelicals” turned to methods of entertainment, the social sciences, consumer techniques and marketing. Their message wasn’t Jesus anymore, it was something attractive to the masses and “Jesus too” (e.g. “Come hear our choir and Jesus too”. . . . “come see our drama and Jesus too” . . . .”free coffee and Jesus too”. . . .”your best life now. . . .and Jesus too.”) This is at the very core of Trump’s relationship with “Evangelicals.” The something attractive he promises to “Evangelicals” is “making America great again” and he has no problem tacking on “and Jesus too.”

This pragmatism allowed “Evangelicals” to support Trump. Just as they jettisoned Jesus from the center of their own churches and organizations decades ago, they are willing to settle for a ‘Jesus too” type of President. Their common ground is their common faith. Sadly, this isn’t Biblical Christianity, but pragmatism and winning. Tragically, this ‘winning” looks much more like Charlie Sheen, full of vulgarity and pride, than the humble and holy Jesus of Nazareth. But that appears to be o.k., as long as everybody gets what they want, a great America again (whatever that may be). Apparently that means for both “Evangelicals” and Trump, position and power, and nothing to really do with the gospel or with ending abortion. One must just give Jesus a little due and then do whatever they please, including funding Planned Parenthood. This is why Trump is the President “Evangelicals” deserve.

This article was originality published on johnbradleywheeler.com.