Many distractions in this life lead a person astray from his true path. Even as I put these words together, I’m thinking of everything that has nothing to do with what I’m writing. I am thinking about my career and need to find a job that will save me from constant underemployment. I find myself looking at the cafe where I write. I watch others talk, wondering about their lives and why they have figured out something I haven’t.

Sometimes my mind wanders back to my past where I have historically made bad decisions. I think about my bills, my kids, my ex-partners, my family, and sometimes I feel sorry for myself in general. In the meantime, good work needs to be done. God’s work needs to be done. But the distractions and temptations of this world keep me away from the ministry and teachings of Jesus Christ.

Nathaniel Manderson

When I look at the temptations in my own life, I realize that the current evangelical leadership has fallen victim to the temptations presented by Donald Trump. More importantly, these temptations are eerily similar to the temptations Satan offered to Jesus Christ before Jesus began his ministry.

For those who don’t know this story; According to the Bible, there was a time when Jesus went into the desert to fast and prepare for his work before beginning his ministry. Meanwhile, Satan came to Jesus to present the same three temptations that lead everyone astray from their true path. These are also the same temptations that Trump presents to the evangelical movement.

The difference is that, unlike Jesus, the evangelical movement has chosen to follow Trump, which leads them further away from God and closer to the path set by Satan.

The first temptation was to offer bread to Christ. who would starve to death then? Jesus’ answer was that man does not live by bread alone.

I accept that having more money and more bread is as much a part of me as anyone else. I want to provide more for my daughters and it breaks my heart every time I have to explain to them why I can’t afford this or that. However, chasing money still has the potential to distract me from my true calling as a teacher and counselor.

Trump offered the Evangelical church more bread, cheaper bread, more money and the opportunity to live like Trump. A few invitations to Mar-a-Lago, a few trips on the Trump plane, continued tax cuts, and an economy that mostly benefits already very wealthy evangelical ministers.

In every aspect of life, when a lot of money becomes the ultimate goal, services deteriorate, art suffers, facts are distorted, and the church is no different.

Meanwhile, evangelical leaders are afraid of this message. They tie themselves in theological knots by teaching and preaching that it is okay to be a millionaire and it is okay to be a pastor. I don’t know if it is or not, but I do know that it is a specific message that the temptation to greed is detrimental to the teachings and ministry of Jesus Christ.

“Trump offered these evangelicals a bag of cash, and these leaders will do anything to get their hands on it.”

Suddenly, paying decent wages to the working class, offering opportunities to America’s disadvantaged, or welcoming foreigners became bad things, and giving tax breaks to billionaires became the basis of the Christian faith. Trump offered these evangelicals a bag of cash, and these leaders will do anything to get their hands on it.

Satan’s second attempt protection and security. Christ’s response was not to test the Lord God.

This is an interesting temptation to face in life. The desire for comfort, security and protection is what most people think about most. I craved job protection in my career but found it difficult when you are determined to tell the truth. Diplomacy has never been my strong suit, and my career has long been a war. I wish it wasn’t like this, but it proved to me that sometimes job security becomes more important to people than business integrity. I see this in the evangelical support of Donald Trump.

Trump’s desire for protection and security is clear. He discusses this constantly. It will protect Christians from the evil forces of the liberal movement. The left is coming for your guns, it’s coming for your ability to publicly profess your Christian faith, and your children are in danger of being talked out by the great mob virus.

Fear not, Evangelicals, Trump will protect you.

The problem with this message, besides coming from the devil, is that there is never a promise of safety when someone follows the teachings of Jesus Christ. The promise is upon the disciple to serve, to love his enemies, to heal the sick, to serve the poor, and to love the prisoners. This is difficult to do when someone is sitting at home on their couch and only cares about the rights of those who agree with them.

“Jesus Christ did not live a safe life, a protected life, or a comfortable life.”

Jesus Christ did not live a safe life, a protected life, or a comfortable life. These protection and security facilities could have been a false temptation to throw him off course, just as Trump’s security temptations have led evangelical leadership off course.

Satan’s final temptation is the most obvious. Satan offers Christ all the power in the world. All Christ has to do is submit to Satan’s authority.

I barely have to write this part because the truth of it is louder than anything I can put into words. Typically, people support politicians based on their personal interests. I’m no different either. My fight for working-class, first-generation college students was in the hearts of everyone I voted for. I’m not looking for power per se, but I’m looking for more opportunity for the population I love. The thought of having more power and influence in this field naturally tempts me, but perhaps that can distract me from my calling to be at the forefront of this work.

Power corrupts, as does evangelical support for Donald Trump.

To avoid attacking Robert Jeffress, but no one better embodies this disintegration of seduction. This man loves the power of the White House and the power Trump gives him. Pastor Jeffress will create whatever theology he needs to do to get Trump back into the White House.

I often listen to this man on the radio. He’s a pretty good speaker. As good as it gets. In one of the stories he shared, he described how he managed to lure himself into the Oval Office during a school trip in his youth. He’s been doing his best to return to that office ever since.

“The temptation of power prevents a person of faith from promoting the opportunity of everyone he claims to help.”

All Pastor Jeffress had to do was submit to Donald Trump’s authority. The temptation of power prevents a person of faith from supporting the opportunity of everyone he claims to help. Once these ministers taste that power, nothing can satisfy them anymore.

My last job was as a hospice chaplain. It is something that stays very deep within a person. Every day I encounter families trying to say goodbye to their loved ones and a person trying to say goodbye to life.

This is not the peaceful transition many believe. There is great anxiety, loss of control, anger. Here’s what I found: For people of faith, for people who succeed, for people who fail, for those who do things right, for those who do things wrong, death comes no matter what. Their lives up to this stage rarely matter.

Those last days are difficult and sad. The comforts of this world have left them. Power, security and money are all gone. All of these are ultimately futile efforts. These searches lead people away from the right path. They influence relationships, career, art, writing, politics, and faith.

I think the teachings of Jesus and the teachings of the Evangelical church are moving in opposite directions. The evangelical church is closing in on Satan and the temptations of Donald Trump; He walks away from a man who served the poor, healed the sick, loved his neighbor, and taught his followers to do the same.

American Evangelicals have stopped listening to Jesus, which means they are now listening to Satan.

Nathaniel Manderson Educated at a conservative seminary, trained as a minister, ordained through the American Baptist Churches USA, and guided by liberal ideals. Throughout his career, he has been a pastor, career counselor, academic counselor, high school teacher, and advocate for first-generation and low-income students, as well as a paper deliverer, construction worker, package carrier, and whatever else he could do. care of his family.

Related articles:

From King to Trump | Nathanial Manderson’s view

Save this column and don’t say we didn’t warn you | Mark Wingfield’s opinion

Trump’s dangerous closing message to his white Christian followers | Robert P. Jones’ opinion