Review of Tim Alberta’s “The Kingdom, The Power, and The Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism”

“The book is at its best in shedding light on how American evangelicals have confronted – and continue to navigate – the relationship between faith and politics. Across his travels, Alberta recounts a colorful cast of characters and churches.” - Providence

Discussion

I appreciate DLCreed's comments above. I think it is wise for us to tread carefully when it comes to politics. My concern is how some of those who are loudest in telling us to stay out of politics are the ones who keep stirring the pot here on SI when it comes to politics (I am not referring to DLCreed). Some of them are constantly telling us how to vote and that no Christian should ever vote such and such a way while also saying how terrible evangelicals are for supporting Trump and voting for him. I just get tired of the double standard about who has to stay out of politics and who gets to tell us how to vote.

What DOES matter to me is whether or not my activism for political leaders and parties diminishes my testimony, effectiveness as a pastor and ability to represent Christ accurately as His ambassador. I am fully convinced that it does, therefore I dropped out about 20 years ago during the end of the first term of the second Bush Presidency.

I think 20 yrs ago was too soon, but can’t disagree on the last 7 yrs.

One of the continuously interesting things to me is how nobody seems to notice that all the “we have to do X now because things have never been this bad, etc., etc.” rhetoric is identical to what we’ve been hearing since the 80’s. Can I be forgiven for being unmoved when I’ve been hearing the sky is falling since I was, literally, in junior high?

So here’s a bunch of “intelligence folks” willing to lie to influence an election. And you’re thinking Trump is the corrupt one here?

One does not erase the other. Worth noting: only one of the people mentioned is a) a former US President, and b) a current candidate.

Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.

I have no doubt there is more than one corrupt person involved in government. I just don't think any corrupt people are against Trump due to them thinking "the world will end" in any way for them if Trump becomes president.

Ok - but the bulk of active corruption I see is oriented against Trump. And there is a lot of "end of democracy" talk about a Trump win. Which, to me, is a sign of either corruption or stupidity.

I think the above Aaron means that clear corruption on one side does not "disprove" corruption on the other. Honestly, yeah. Maybe so.

One of the continuously interesting things to me is how nobody seems to notice that all the “we have to do X now because things have never been this bad, etc., etc.” rhetoric is identical to what we’ve been hearing since the 80’s. Can I be forgiven for being unmoved when I’ve been hearing the sky is falling since I was, literally, in junior high?

This is interesting. It would be a good thread. My wife teaches a a Christian school. They are doing Sound of Music. And the director asked my wife if she thought the words to Sixteen Going on Seventeen had not "aged well" and maybe should be changed. Should a 16yo be pressured into a relationship with a boy who argues she needs someone older and wiser telling her what to do?

My response was: do not change the song. Boys have been pressuring girls into things for a long time and it is better to understand that and teach girls how to respond.

But this brought on a discussion of other songs that haven't aged well. Or are cringy. Songs like Don't Stand So Close to Me.

Sorry - I'm rambling. Aaron's post builds on the truth that there's nothing new under the sun. But AI will be relatively new.

What the democrat party did with Facebook and Twitter over the last several years is corrupt and election interfering. Add AI to that and free speech suppression will become pervasive.

And there is a lot of "end of democracy" talk about a Trump win. Which, to me, is a sign of either corruption or stupidity.

I think people are just taking Trump at his word. When he writes, “A Massive Fraud of this type and magnitude allows for the termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution,” then people are going to look at that and legitimately have "end of democracy" worries about a candidate who is fine with terminating parts of the Constitution.

What Kevin writes + the fact that many of Trump's cabinet-level people have since spoken out against how he led and the decisions he made while president.

Trump has disqualified himself from running for elected office. Period.