I am the apostate son of an evangelical preacher man. This apostasy has informed allusions I’ve made in many commentaries to the white evangelical-Jewish political alliance.
Ironically, two recent developments have sanctified my “heretical” take on this relationship. Therefore, I feel obliged to at least acknowledge them.
The Evangelical-Jewish Alliance
I have always found the way Jews embrace evangelical Christians utterly stupefying. For years, I’ve written about the condescension and bigotry inherent in these Christians deeming it an article of their faith to both protect Jews (whom they hail as ‘God’s chosen people’) and convert them to Christianity to ensure they make it into Heaven.
The contradiction is stark: why would God need self-professed Evangelicals to convert his chosen people for his rapture?
That’s why I was heartened this week when the February 22 edition of The Daily Beast ran a report that mainstreamed and vindicated my stupefaction. Here is an excerpt:
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Historically, American Jews have leaned more liberal than conservative, especially given the anti-Semitic white nationalists and neo-Nazis that comfortably reside on the right. So what are we to make of the fact that today, the largest block of supporters of Israel are American Republicans and, in particular, Evangelical Christians?
‘Til Kingdom Come investigates that seemingly illogical alliance …an eye-opening examination of a relationship that both sides believe is ordained by God, even if it involves making a deal with the devil. …
‘We are the people that brought Donald Trump to power,’ he says. ‘And he pushes our agenda’ — by which he means not only pro-life and pro-gun stances, but fervent support of Israel, which Boyd, like his pastor-grandfather and father before him, believes was bequeathed by God to the Israelis.
Until, that is, Armageddon, at which point two-thirds of all Jews will perish during the seven-year Tribulations, and the remaining third will be converted to Christianity. Devout Christians will be spared this hellish conflict by the Rapture, and then, following Jesus’ return to Earth, they will claim Jerusalem for themselves.
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Now, if I were a Jew and I knew that’s what these evangelical Christians believed as an article of faith, I would consider them even greater mortal enemies than neo-Nazis. After all, these Christian SOBs presume they hold the key not just to the survival of Jews in this life but to salvation of Jewish souls for eternity.
Trump as the Golden Calf
On a more superficial but equally stupefying note, I have long observed that evangelical Christians have forsaken God to idolize Trump, the way the Israelites in Bible days did to worship the proverbial Golden Calf.
Never before in the history of politics have so many sacrificed so much for so little. And I cannot overstate the shock of so many evangelical Christians sacrificing their souls at the altar of this two-legged golden calf.
That’s why I was amused and bemused in equal measure when Republicans — the vast majority who proudly identify as evangelical Christians — mainstreamed and vindicated my cynicism. They literally wheeled out a golden statue of Donald Trump to worship at their annual political revival.
A golden statue of former President Donald Trump has turned into the talk of the Conservative Political Action Conference taking place in Orlando, Florida. CNN, for example, calls the more-than-6-foot-tall statue the ‘indisputable star’ of the conference. …
Many on Twitter were quick to recall the Old Testament story of the golden calf that angered Moses. ‘Idol worship isn’t conservative. #RestoreOurGOP,’ Rep. Adam Kinzinger, who was one of 10 House Republicans to vote in favor of impeaching Trump, wrote on Twitter.
(CNN, February 27, 2021)
iPINIONS knows I’m just the son of a preacher man. But you can see why I might be something of a prophet in my own right, no?
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