We're finally there: Trump's connections to God

It has come to this, not surprisingly in my eyes. Donald Trump is not only a favorite in the eyes of a significant swath of Christianity, there are now pronouncements that he may be an extension of God.
This has perplexed me: the marriage of evangelical Christians with the president. Franklin Graham and Robert Jeffress set the tone for this.
But the idol worship, which seems to be more and more literal worship, seems to be expanding.
First, let's allow that the media create a stereotype with the "evangelical" Christians. It's hard to ascertain how much of the faith is made up of the people I'm trying to identify here. My own church is in a synod that has the "evangelical" name but heavens, we're certainly not under the conservative political umbrella.
You might argue that your faith ought not be closely aligned with politics. Well congratulations. We must attend to the needs of our secular world.
A compliment: The ELCA of the Lutheran faith has now stepped aside from much of Christianity. This is in contrast to when I was growing up: ELCA Lutherans were the most conservative sort in basic deportment and attitude. You might say they were on the other end of the generation gap. Today we receive materials from the ELCA that discuss climate change like it's a real threat, based on sound science, and must be taken seriously. How contrary to the Trump strain across the U.S., a strain that emotionally denounces climate change theory as a "hoax."
We have always seen images from Third World countries where supporters hold up poster photos of their desired political leader. It smacks of cult-like devotion.  But, this was the sort of thing that happened "somewhere else." We in the U.S. had a relatively calm political system in which people were motivated by reason and civility. Today? Many church organizations across the U.S. are becoming like those mobs holding up the poster images. It's Trump all the way and damn the socialist Democrats!
The cultural upheaval caused by gay rights has been part of this. Trump has worked to try to get transgender people kicked out of the military. Is this why so many of you conservative Christians cheer for Trump? Can't you at least tamp down some of the attention you pay to this issue?
I'm relieved for the ELCA because we have gotten past it. And now it seems embarrassing to realize we once might have had this issue tugging at us. Now it's the Methodists' turn to have all hell break loose. There's talk of that denomination splintering. Well, who cares I guess.
Membership in a church is not compulsory. I personally have not attended church for about six months. I have told friends I'd probably return sometime this spring, not that this needs to matter much to anyone. I have had a grievance about loud and disruptive kids in the sanctuary Sunday morning. I can easily skirt past this issue, but what is looming now is something new in connection to Trump.
For a long time I thought it was only a remote possibility that the evangelicals' devotion to Trump might lead to something akin to literal worship of the man. Could he have divine qualities, could he be an extension of God? Well, I certainly believe he has certain qualities, but they are rather unrelated to being deity. All you Apostolics who probably voted 100 percent for Trump: I'll ask you to try to envision how Stormy Daniels brought Trump to orgasm. There was that Playboy model too: McDougal? I'm not going to look it up. How did that babe bring Trump to ejaculation? These are important questions, all you Apostolics or evangelicals or whoever you all are.
If a significant portion of Christianity in the U.S. is really going to start considering Trump to have divine qualities, I'll have a problem with going to church again. I have a significant number of detractors in this community who'd say "who cares?" That's fine if that's your attitude. You wouldn't be reading this anyway.
The Lutheran denomination is named for one of the most notorious anti-Semites in world history: Martin Luther. That's another issue to weigh, plus the issue of how if it weren't for Christianity, we wouldn't have the Catholic Church with all the tragedy caused for kids molested by priests.
Again, church membership is not compulsory. As a kid I never felt I'd be imploring people to join an ELCA church, but today, relative to the zealous alternatives, it looks like a safe haven. Catholics, just walk away from where you are and walk into an ELCA church Sunday morning. Surprise everyone. You'll feel heartened and fulfilled.
You'll be welcome among people who believe climate change is most likely real, and that gay people should not be subjected to discriminatory policies. Gay rights ought to be a passe issue now. University of North Dakota tossed its "Fighting Sioux" nickname partly because it realized the issue was never going to go away. Now there's a sense of calm and relief there about this. Same with the ELCA and its enlightened position on simple gay rights. We're past that, while the Methodists are torn apart.
In Stevens County we have a whole new church inspired by the gay-bashing thing. I wonder if that church is now entertaining the thought of Trump as an extension of God. How plausible is this speculation? Oh it's quite plausible and I'll give evidence here: Franklin Graham has appeared to boost the idea, along with televangelist Paula White. (A televangelist can't be wrong, eh?) A Fox News poll revealed that about one in four Americans believe God wanted Trump to be president.
Trump's press secretary appeared to be implying divinity in a January interview. I don't blame Jim Carrey for painting Sarah Sanders Huckabee in an unflattering way. Isn't she from an Arkansas family? Maybe I stereotype those people.
At the start of the notorious CPAC conference, that big gathering of looney toons, wealthy businessman Michael Lindell went onstage and declared Trump "chosen by God." Hell, I think we are worshiping false idols. It feels like a losing battle to try to push back. Here's a headline from a web search: "Pompeo agrees it's possible God raised Trump to protect Israel from Iranian aggression."
Can't these people try to use simple reason and logic to present their views? Why the invoking of God and his suggested wishes? Does it give you empowerment? Will a new Bible be written with Trump's name in it? Maybe we'll see a "Book of Laura Loomer."
Barack Obama, our nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
 
Addendum: The real truth is, the ultra-conservative movement really only cares about tax cuts for the very wealthy, and deregulation. Everything else is just posturing to try to get the pliant masses on their side. It sure seems to be working. If Trump can fool so many people into thinking he's divine, I have to wonder if Jesus Christ himself could have done this.
 
Addendum #2: Pompeo should know that the word "aggression" triggers something in the minds of the boomers, people like me. We were told we had to fight North Vietnamese "aggression" and fight the "communist aggressors," remember? And the whole war turned out to be a lie.
 
- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com