As a retired pastor, I no longer call myself an Evangelical Christian, just a believer in Christ. The stigma attached to this group of believers is nothing I want to be a part of. Once they divorced Jesus, to marry Trump, I was done.
After 72 years, I no longer call myself a Christian. I call myself a follower of Jesus. I think that most people that I meet have a positive opinion of the teachings of Jesus, but sadly, a negative opinion of both evangelical and Christian.
The evangelical movement divorced Jesus Christ to marry the Antichrist in the late seventies. Does anyone remember the bunch of crooks called The Moral Majority that led to the evangelical movement?
I'm constantly amazed at the number of Evangelicals who think God sent Trump to be their savior, while not considering he may have been sent to test their faith and principles.
My brother, who was a Pastor, said, God doesn't test us, Satan does that. God gives us strength to overcome the test. So saying God sent trump is wrong. Satan sent trump and the failure is not knowing the difference.
@@dennisc6716 Understood. My comment was directed to the evangelicals who say donald is sent by God. Why God would send donald to do anything is ridiculous.
@@yamahaBassman Christians praise their god for everything they like, and never blame god for the things that they don't like. Your brother, who presumably believes in the Christian god, and doesn't like Trump, blames the devil for sending us Trump, but praises God for giving us the strength to endure the ordeal. Why wouldn't God just override the devil? OTOH, Christians who like Trump naturally praise God for sending Trump. Why didn't God simply allow Trump to win the 2020 election? You say that any reasoning believing that God sent Trump is ridiculous. I agree. But how is your brother's version of history any less ridiculous?
I’m not a religious person but it gives me hope listening to people like you who understand that Trump is NOT, nor will he ever be a religious person. He’s a grifter and will gravitate towards whoever throws money, compliments, etc at him. Thank you.
They all conveniently forget that BOTH Trump and his FATHER were ardent DEMOCRATS for DECADES because that was where the money and financing was to build their slum-lord high rises for low-income housing and other projects that they got the Democrat government to finance for them. Remember all the money the Trumps got through Democrat NY Mayor Koch to do NYC projects. Trump was close "friends" with the Clintons to get Democrat money for projects. Trump didn't become a Republican until the 2000s when the national political power was switching to the RepublicanGOP.
A biblical metaphysic explains what attracts Trump and what longs for him, Proverbs 11:27 Whoever seeks good finds favor, but evil comes to one who searches for it.
I've been a Catholic all my life. Two years ago when Roe was overturned, our priest sang the praises of Donald Trump in his public sermon one Sunday. I haven't been back to church since. I often wonder if that was the right choice. I miss the community. The con man has taken so much from so many. I fear he will continue to divide us until he is in the grave.
I am Catholic as well. I quit following Trump 5 years ago. The Catholic church btw should be staying out of politics. They can discuss the issues at hand which is fine but they shouldn't tell you how to vote. There are many policies within the other party that also reflects Catholic teaching (sadly abortion is not one of them). I would just go to a different parish if I were you. Politics do not have a place behind the pulpit.
My grandparents told me about what happened in Bavaria when the Catholic Church supported Hitler because he was anti abortion and anti communist. Mussolini, Franco, Trump….Catholics don’t have a very good track record on choosing leadership.
I met the nicest committed Jew. A teacher... the moment I mentioned Trump not being unhelpful engaged Christian he became outrate, 🙄 🤣 he only calmed down when mentioned Ivana ( now a jew) 😂 He walked off angry! The country wouldn't be in this shape ! ( this was right after Oct 7. ) I thought, wow... sooo misinfoxformed. ( this is a short version)
I don’t think we should let anyone disrupt our relationship with Christ. Not a priest, not a family member or spouse, and certainly not a former president.
Since RvW was overturned, we’ve seen that the Church is pretty much just “pro-birth” rather than pro-life. A true pro-life position would champion child health care and welfare programs from birth through teen years, care for the elderly and infirm, and a social safety net that benefits single working mothers. Sadly, too much of the Church never votes to support candidates that would advance such a wholistic approach to life and flourishing.
These people do not care about the life of the children who are born into poverty or other social issues. Most of the states that have outlawed abortion also have more childhood poverty, and less money to education, pre/post natal care, healthcare, and low wages. They do not help families. The states where abortion is legal provide much better services. The statistics prove it.
its because religion is an attempt to cheat the odds of life. so the more misery, historically, the more church attendance.making the world crapper is a recruitment drive
I am 82 years old. I used to be an Evangelical but left years ago because I could see what was happening in that movement. I assume you are a retired Pastor. Thank you for coming on Video and speaking the truth. This is the first time I have watched you. After trying for 6 years to talk some sense into my Evangelical friends now I walk away. It is like trying to convert a fence post. If you take a good look at the makeup of the House of Representatives you will see this trumpisim is not just a problem with Evangelicals, it is a problem with the entire republican party. There is nothing viable left of that political party except a few members (handful) that have seen the light. I hope Pastor, you are not going to vote third party again. You might not realize it but it is, in effect, a vote for trump. Thanks for speaking out.
This is precisely what I say when some, even after all of these years, remark that Trumpism “changed” people: they are who they’ve always been, but emboldened.
He did reveal a lot of rot. The blind hatred unleashed not only at him but anyone who dares to vote for or think like him, has taken many people who claim to be for love and peace, and exposed them as the hateful people they really are. Trump getting elected was like turning on the lights and watching the roaches scatter.
The election of and continued support of Dump led me to give up on people. I just cannot fathom how any decent person could support a toxic orange monster.
Evangelical friends of mine in other countries have been horrified for years at what has happened to American Evangelicals and pray for them. Now they are completely stunned. I saw the tracks laid for this train wreck back in the 70's when I was a young Jesus Freak. Right-wing politicians approached us with big, crocodile smiles and said, "Hey brothers, I'm born again, too!" And then they slyly started in on, "You kids don't believe in evolution, do you? You're good supporters of the Bible, right?" I thought it was a settled deal, that for God one day is as a thousand and a thousand as one day, just like the Bible taught, and that you can't expect God-time to match human-time. But these politicians started to confuse kids who were not just born again in Jesus but born yesterday. They didn't have the theological chops yet to understand what they were being hit with. And just like that they got locked into the milk stage and never graduated to the meat stage of Christianity. This simultaneously set their thinking backwards in other things. Because if you had to block evolution from your mind, all of science became suspect. And if you turned your back on science, you turned your back on logic. So that made people vulnerable to more and more manipulation, because at that point a dangerous thing happened: People started applying to politicians the same faith that they applied to God. They got locked into circular thinking. The politicians were exemplars of Christianity, therefore one had to take on faith what they said, therefore one had to believe that they were exemplars of Christianity. And then the lies started pouring out thick and fast, each building on the last, till now you have people absolutely convinced that Democrats worship the devil and that vaccination has rendered them no longer human. And you can do anything you want to a devil-worshiping creature who's not human. Make no mistake: Any religion, political stance, or cultural movement that relies on lies serves the Prince of Lies. I believe with my whole heart that Jesus Christ my Lord is the God of Reality, that He is one aspect of the Triune God who made Reality in the first place, and He wants me to always seek to understand what's real. I will always, to the best of my ability, choose the God of Reality over the Prince of Lies. And yes, I am also pro-life. I vote Democrat because their policies reduce abortion, legal or illegal. The bottom line is how many lives actually get saved. I remember the days before Roe V Wade and how common abortion was back then, it was just hidden. Prevention is far, far more effective than illegalization.
Word - I wish this level of logic and reasoning was more widespread amongst everyone- not just Christians Making abortion illegal will do nothing to stop it
Abortion and Teen Pregnancy were going down markedly when abortion was overturned. Sex education, contraceptives and the morning after pills helped greatly with that. Now states have outlawed abortion and what do we see. Women who want their babies having miscarriages, non-vital babies, and conditions like ectopic pregnancies and not being able to get medications or procedures or getting them when they are very ill, impacting their health and/or their future pregnancies. Also victims of rape and incest. These states are virtually not providing exceptions even though they say they will. They want to punish women and/or people who help the women. No one except the woman, the father and the doctor should be involved in deciding these issues. Do you really think women will stop having abortions? It didn't work in the past and it won't now. There were many women who died in the days before Roe and that was one of the reasons it was legalized.among others. These laws don't solve anything only cause pain, suffering and death.
1) Lies 2) Move to another state 3) So many women support killing babies, that you can easily raise money to travel to another state for an abortion. Unfortunately, even some churches. 4) A revival is coming - marriage will die without social change, therefore social change will come. 5) The left will die out as half of women (feminists) will have no children and die alone.
Why aren't they punishing the men contributing to this insanity? Oh... that's right... they're 'exceptional'! Even though they could virtually impregnate a different woman every day of the week. Well...poor things. They're especially special apparently!😂
Abortions will happen whether legal or not, as long as factors like poverty exist. If they are illegal, then they will be performed in less than safe conditions for the mother. I know Dirty Dancing was almost 40 years ago but boomers and Gen X should remember it.
So very glad I came across this video. I have been a lifelong evangelical who doesn't understand what that means anymore either. I have had so many people tell me I can't be a Christian if I don't vote for Trump. I feel so lost anymore. Thank you so much for this video and you now have 1 new subscriber.
A Cristian *_should_* be uncomfortable almost all the time. By boy, this is really *_really_* scary right now. We always need to remember to be kind, compassionate, patient and the *_worst_* is *_not_* doing things I can see right now. We have to wait for others to wakeup again. One day at a time. Also remember a Christian National is nowhere like a Christian. Always remember WWJD (What Would Jesus Do).
Bless you. I'm the prophesied return of the biblical prophet Elijah. There's a lot I have to share that you would like to know, I can tell. (Most in your position are too closed-minded.) If you're a seeker you'll easily discover how to contact me.
Lost? Why can't you use your brain to know who you are and what you need and what's right and wrong? Are you too lazy to use your mind? You were brainwashed as a little child, indoctrinated without your consent so it's a hard thing to unwind. I suggest you'd be a lot happier if you looked inside yourself for answers instead of looking to be lead around by others.
Isn't that the nature of all evil? Unfortuntately, there is no Mount Doom like in the Lord of the Rings, in which we can once and for all cast the Ring of Power to forever rid ourselves of evil.
I tend to agree with you. I would add (on another note), I do not lean toward alarmism, however, some recent events have attracted my attention. Firstly, is the "co-opting" of a religious institution. For example, Hitler with the Lutheran church prior to WW2 and Putin with the Russian Orthodox Church. This of course is discussed in Alberta's work. Secondly however, is this consolidation of power. I believe this has been fairly illustrated in the last few days with the border bill. Trump's words caused house leadership to abruptly bury it (DOA). This coupled with a sycophant attempt to affect a Senate minority leader change. Finally, a proclivity toward establishing and maintaining relationships with totalitarian leaders. These phenomena reflect precursor components inherent in historical cases of totalitarianism or fascism.
Sir, Evangelicals are showing you EXACTLY who/what they’ve ALWAYS been! The reasons you couldn’t see it before is… 1) Your “faith” wouldn’t allow you to accept the subtle Far Right (political) undertones you witnessed. Or… 2) The Evangelicals were extremely clever at hiding their true nature from you. For many of us outsiders, we’ve ALWAYS recognized the hypocrisy within Evangelicals AND The Republican Party! “Family Values”.. “Fiscally Conservative”.. “God Fearing,” etc… are just slogans use for their benefit. They’ve NEVER believed in them!! It’s the same as Republicans not wanting ‘People of Color’ within their Party. They “claim” they’re accepting of ALL ethnicities but, their policies towards other ethnicities are the REAL truth tellers.
This. If the Christian right hadn’t been so busy judging the left, they might have heard the warnings that the left had been trying to bring to them, all along. The left DOES NOT WANT abortion, nobody wants abortion. But the alternative is far worse. Child suicide rates are high right now for a reason.
You are absolutely correct. 💯 percent. Republicans/Evangelist. All about the money. Send me the money. The richer you are the better. Pulling the wool over your eyes. Boosting family values, but lend a helping hand if needed. Don't want you to have an abortion, but after the child arrives, they don't know you. Can't help you or the child.
Sadly, the same thing happened to me. The word "evangelical" has been turned into a dirty word. I am actually angry at those people for hijacking my religion and my faith.
But did you ever stand up and rebuke your brothers and sisters for their trumpiness these past many years, or did you sit by quietly and abide them? If you didn't stand up and get just as loud in opposition, then you're just as guilty. So says the bible.
I severely criticized organizations like CRI (The Christian research institute). This is a true fact: One of their representatives told me that Trump and Pence will be in heaven, but that I will not be. That response was motivated by the fact that I criticized Trump and Pence, and that was a real turning point for me. MAGA will not listen to open rebuke. They will simply claim that they are God's true people, and that Trump is chosen by God. There is no reasoning with them.@@nicholashuff4198
@@nicholashuff4198I clicked on this comment and was about to provide the same response. I said from the very beginning, if he did what he did and everyone poo-poo’ed his nonsense the minute he started it, this bully would have had to leave the playground with his head hung down kicking stones and mumbling on the way out. It’s his supporters that give him the power to peddle his mayhem.
I'm not a believer, personally, but I believe in a world where people are free to practice their faith without persecution. Electing Trump would be one of the most destructive events in American history for believers of all faiths. Take away the rights of your neighbor and , before you know it, you'll be next...
@@tgriffin3059 No one is being arrested for praying in public and florists and bakers wouldn't go out of business, they would simply have more customers to cater to... Are all MAGA morons liars and simps? Jesus, figure it out...
Agreed. Just b4 R v W was overturned, a reporter caught up w/Trump outside the WH & asked him "Okay, but if you COULD make abortion illegal, Federally, would you?" TRUMP "I'm tossing it back to the states" REPORTER "Right. But if you COULD make it... TRUMP "Im tossing it back to the states. This went back & forth (rinse, repeat) til djt was able to slither thru the door he'd btwn walking twd. Logic dictates that if he REALLY CARED about saving ALL babies God knits in the womb & not just some, in whatever state, he'd have atleast WANTED to make it federal. I think that was just another move to divide& have us even more at each other's throats. AND it nailed my long-time sus that his ultimate goal is to have his own lil country to rule & pass on to his offspring...Jong Un Style. ESPECIALLY if he can get us all so exasperated & sick of each other that most ppl, from both sides will say "Yeah- just do it! Take the former confederate states.& be done with it!".
Yeah, Christians are just a bunch of hypocrites. I am a Christians and have been wondering what is wrong with me for not understanding why my fellow Christians all seem to think so differently than I do. Now I know. They think differently than I do not because I am dumb, but because they are hypocrites.
Yep.The “ abortion issue “ has always been one of the greatest gifts to the GOP they could possibly have . They obviously are never going to do anything for working people so they pretend to be the “ more moral “ party by pretending to care about unborn children. All they REALLY care about is power and keeping their donors happy- that’s your average GOP politician. The “ abortion issue” has always been a perfect smokescreen for them - they can appear to work diligently to “ protect the unborn “ all the while doing jack and squat for the rest of us . But, they messed up by actually getting RvW overturned and now they will be reaping the whirlwind for a long time . I contend that your average GOP politician would be in the abortion clinic assisting in abortions if it made their donors/corporate masters happy . They don’t care about unborn babies - they never REALLY did 😉
You're clearly a man of integrity and belief. I'm glad I discovered your channel today. I'm wondering where in the gospels it says that loving Christ means being viciously mean to everyone who disagrees with me on even one thing. That's how MAGA evangelicals feel to me.
Are you saying that the number of people who identify as Christians is shrinking? I know that many churches are losing members. Could it be that churchgoers are disgusted at the politicization of American Christianity - both Protestant and Catholic? Hopefully, they're not turning to spiritualism and the occult.@@lukeyznaga7627
WTF are you talking about? Have you actually MET any Christians? Or you'd know what nonsense that is. Yes there are some very die-hard Trump fans out there but WORSHIP? It's a TINY fraction of his support at most.
@@lukeyznaga7627 Please stop using America as the beginning of the end of Christianity in the World. America is a hopeless case when it comes to living as Christians. A Country that let an evil, immoral, corrupt, racist, narcissistic, lying thing to become their President and destroy anything good about America must accept you all failed your Country. Just look at America 8 years later, the Republican Party has been destroyed by this monster. Because he dragged so many Congress Men and Women down to his level Republicans have lost all decency and promote the evil one as worthy of another term. How disgusting is that. The World has gone from laughing at America to despair that the Country will end up a Dictatorship led by Trump, Putin, Xi and Kim Jong Un. Then we will have WWIII. As an Australian Catholic I can tell you that Christianity still lives here. Our weekly masses consist of an average of 300 to 400 and we have 5 masses over a weekend. We became the fastest growing Parish in Australia. This new parish started just 8 years ago with out a Church holding mass in the School Library with maybe 100 people at each mass. Our 10am Mass now is full of families, many children and a group of musicians who have us singing all the great Hymns we all love. We have 300 children registered to receive 1st Communion this year. Therefore I urge you to have faith that there are Countries outside America still living as Christians. Politics is never mentioned at our Masses nor individual tyrants around the World. We do not need to have a gun in every home either.
The same people who call themselves pro-life because they oppose abortion are strangely silent on gun control. Shouldn't they just call themselves pro-prenatal life? If a fetus is a person from conception, can pregnant women use the HOV lane while driving? Can she claim the fetus as a dependent on their taxes? Is she entitled to child support?
Democrat platform will prevent more abortions than the Republicans would. If only they can get enough majority to overcome the obstruction and actually do their policy.
A fetus cannot be person from conception - it can’t be anything from conception because it doesn’t become a fetus until 9 weeks after conception. At conception it is a zygote, then becomes an embryo, then later becomes a fetus. I’m not trying to be rude, I just think it’s very important we use the correct terms. Otherwise we end up with people thinking that an abortion is killing a baby, which obviously has a heavier emotional pull. I mean who would want to kill a baby? The pro lifers need to learn some facts.
Wow, I just happened to come across this video; I'd never heard of you before. I'm almost shocked at how similar our stories are. I was a deeply involved evangelical for nearly 50 years, but Trump and the MAGA movement ended it. I graduated from an evangelical college and then worked in the public policy division at Focus on the Family, and after that in the publishing department at an international Bible study ministry. I was all in--until Trump. Days after Trump's inauguration, I left the Republican Party, and a few months later, I left white evangelical Christianity. I still believe all the major evangelical tenets, but I will not be associated with the MAGA movement. I wish I could convert my MAGA-obsessed evangelical friends and family members, but they are too far gone; most refuse to even discuss the matter with me. Anyway, I wish you all the best in your endeavors.
Bless you. I'm the prophesied return of the biblical prophet Elijah. There's a lot I have to share that you would like to know, I can tell. (Most in your position are too closed-minded.) If you're a seeker you'll easily discover how to contact me.
@@tomrhodes1629No matter how many times you repost this nonsense it doesn't make it true. What you are is a troll farm employee spewing nonsense to solicit replies.
Beatitudes-Blessed are: Poor in Spirit vs. proud Meek vs. forceful & aggressive Hungry & Thrist for Righteousness vs. seeking your own pleasures Merciful vs. vengeful Pure in Heart vs. evil heart Peace Makers vs. looking for a fight Phony billionaire, most New Yorkers kept saying he is a fraud, which is the reason he was never accepted into the club.
Roe v. Wade was an acknowledgement of the reality of abortion. As "pro-life" as I may have ever been, I never thought that it should be an issue for anyone other than the woman and her doctor. Religious leaders have the same right to free speech that everyone else has, but abortion, in reality, is a choice of the mother, whether or not it happens in a medical facility.
Indeed. Abortion was well known in the Roman Empire at the time of Christ. If he had strong views about it, he would have communicated them in his teaching. It strikes me that the same people who are most exercised about innocent life being infinitely precious, when forcing their viewpoint onto women in bad situations, have no interest in exploring the proportion of innocents on death row, or agitating for abolishing the death penalty altogether.
What I liked most or in this important talk was the idea of care for ALL life ( I am pro choice). Many seem to want all to be born but that's where their interest ENDS!
I’ve lived in the south my whole life…65 years. I retired from teaching. From my perspective there is a tremendous amount of racism in the red states I’ve lived in. Also, a ton of what I call heritage Republicans…family tradition with little critical thinking. I will say that my granddaughters have a different perspective. My oldest one (15) recently asked me how to handle relationships with friends that regurgitate the old tropes of evangelism. She didn’t phrase it that way, but that is what she meant. I told her it is important for her to question herself. If you believe you are right, do some research. My partner and I are the only Democrats in the family. My white friends are all Republicans. It takes tact and tolerance, but my family and friends learned quickly not to use racist words around me. Okay, I’m not tactful or tolerant with that and neither is she. I told her I was so happy that her generation was more accepting of differences in people. Keep that in mind when talking with her peers, and it will help her tone.
Thank you for sharing this. It lifted my heart. I'm afraid my tolerance level is and has been 'on its last nerve' for quite some time now... nearly eight years. Your patience and diplomacy are a tribute and helpful reminder to an old goat like me! Thank you again. 🫂🌹🫂
I was pretty much done with religion in general. The affiliation with Right-wing politics, and later, Trumpism was the final nail in the coffin. Good riddance.
I hope you reconsider. If a someone, or even LOTSA someone's played Shakespeare badly, would you blame Shakespeare? Of course not. Please dont let satan use Trump(ers) to shipwreck your faith & relationship with Jesus Christ...or keep it shipwrecked (whichever is the case).
I just wish the crazies would leave normal folk alone. They are not happy believing their fairytales, they are determined to push their insanity onto everyone. I just want to be left alone and if I have an abortion...it ain't nobodies business but my own! PLEASE!
my sister in law was pregnant and her child died in her womb and the state of Texas forced her to carry it to near term before they would induce labor. She carried a dead fetus for more then 6 weeks. My brother went along with this madness even though it put his wife at serious risk and they have other children still to raise. Then there is the 11 year old who one state said could not have an abortion even though the doctors said the pregnancy would endanger her life and then add in the states that want to make it a capital offense if a woman leaves the state to have an abortion and I think pro life is insane. I find myself further and further from the church. Years ago my pastor told me the reason I was sick was because I was sinning. This was supposedly. a highly educated man. It took a lot of years for me to figure out that Job didn't sin, and I want to find a church because I miss the fellowship, but I find that more and more I can not agree with many things taught in modern churches. Judaism teaches that the fetus does not get a soul until the child is born. In this incredibly cruel world I no longer have any problem leaving the decision to carry a baby in the hands of the woman. It is between her and God and no one should be allowed to force that. In Texas recently a Houston Lawyer got six months for giving his wife a drug that causes miscarries because he didn't want.a child. He gave it to her 7 times and only got 6 months. Yet they want to make it a capital offense if a woman has an abortion. The church isn't pro life when it votes for people who refuse to care for the poor and feed children in schools. my interpretation of the first books of revelation is that it is about the modern christian church which has lost its first love. It is doubtful that will find my way back inside a church.
If you need fellowship, try a Unitarian Universalist congregation. They accept everyone, and always have a great coffee hour 😊 Just my opinion, I hope you find what you're looking for ❤
LEARNING ABOUT THE HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY AND THE CHURCH IS A REAL EYE OPENER. FEW CHURCH LEADERS THEN AND NOW HAVE THE WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE IN MIND. IT'S REALLY ALL ABOUT POWER, CONTROL, AND MONEY.
How did we get to church influencing everything in government? This is not what built the greatest USA. Some of our founding fathers were non believers! Our country was built on freedom of ideas not religion. We need to go forward and kick religion out of politics.
7:27 That's the sort of thing I've been wanting for decades. Outlawing abortion will just drive it underground again, and we're already seeing that happen in some states. It would be much more effective to work with people from the pro-choice side who nevertheless see it as the least-bad option available, and try to make abortion as *unnecessary* as possible by more effective sex education, better availability of birth control, and better support for pregnant women and women with infants regardless of circumstances. (For staunch Catholics or other Christians opposed to birth control, they can still work on the other two issues.) I strongly feel that real progress in these areas would see a much greater decrease in the number of abortions than outlawing it. Sadly, due to how Roe v. Wade got overturned and the words and actions of many Christian leaders since then, I doubt anyone in the pro-choice movement will trust anyone going under the "pro-life" label for at least a generation, maybe two. But hey, at least today's Evangelicals can brag about how anti-abortion they are, regardless of what happens once their laws get repealed in the not-too-distant future.
We know what reduces the need for abortions but conservatives refuse to agree to those things. They prefer to criminalize abortion and make women slaves to the state, forcing birth!
@jodyjm13 You're acting as if all pregnancies are between consenting adults and that they had an oops pregnancy. What about all of the GIRLS and women that were raped and got pregnant? This country actually needs to start teaching boys and men that they have no right to molest, sexually abuse, sexually assault or rape a GIRL or woman! PERIOD!
This made my day because it resonated with me. I'm an immigrant to the US (Swedish). I was an exchange student under Bush senior where Reagan was still very much present. I identified with GOP and supported every single candidate until Trump. It shocked me that I had been so wrong about Americans electing a person with such an incredible personality flaw. I was still holding a green card at the time, but given his rhetoric about immigrants, despite me being blond with blue eyes, I decided to apply for citizenship because I feel American. I graduated a US university Valedictorian, not because I'm smart but because I worked hard, and thought USA was my future. I lost a lot of faith during the Trump years and now, being a US citizen, I'm seriously considering moving back to Europe. I've never watched your channel before, but I can tell you that people like you make me feel American more than European. It just seems like there are way to many people in the USA that can't see the obvious. Thank you!
I agree on being embarrassed to be affiliated with evangelical Christians or Christian nationalists.😮. I also thought MAGA and especially Christians people who voted for Trump would start seeing the light and turn from him. Unfortunately it hasn’t happened 🙏.
@@tgriffin3059 if you listen to the people in the groups I mentioned who still support Trump then you will hear the dichotomy of what Jesus wants us to be and what Trump does and stands for. Because so many pastors and church leaders continue to support him and his lies it makes it look like Christians aren’t very much like Jesus. We are supposed to be an example of why someone should believe in Jesus and become a Christian. Why would an unbeliever want to associate with a group who follow a malignant narcissist and believes in conspiracy theories?
@@tgriffin3059 You have NOTHING to be embarrassed about. One of our founding principles is religious freedom. We all have to be careful about imposing our views on others. From a legal point of view, the first question is are we talking about a medical procedure or when the unborn receive their full legal rights and protections? If a medical procedure, then a state governing body does have the ability to regulate the practice. But I am also able to travel to another location that does allow the procedure. If we are talking about full rights being granted to the unborn at conception then we have some hard choices to make as a society. Do we ask women to take a pregnancy test once a month so we can begin protecting the unborn? Do we ask women to provide the results of a pregnancy test before they can travel internationally? If you are pregnant when you leave the US then you should return pregnant. What about those who are conceived when the woman is just visiting the USA but not a citizen?
@@tgriffin3059 I don’t agree. We should always try and choose a leader who has some level of moral values. Everybody I know who hates Trump hates him because he is just a bad person. He has spread hate and descension in America., he caused injury to over 100 police officers at the capital insurrection, he continues to spew hate and the “othering” of people. If it was purely about getting Bill‘s passed or changing America for the better, then I would still support him, even though I don’t like him as a human. But unfortunately, he’s done the opposite. And Christian nationalist are furthering his agenda, which is the opposite of what Jesus! would do.
@@tgriffin3059 have you ever talked with a women or young girl in the midst of making the decision to have an abortion or not? If you talked with very many you would feel the anguish. It’s a heart breaking decision.😥 I listened to a very insightful podcast on what really lowers the abortion rate. It was from a Christian, who spent his career in government, pushing pro life agenda, and he said that pushing the bills to stop abortion did not affect the amount of abortions. What he found, was supporting a woman during this difficult time such as a pregnancy crisis center was what actually lowered the rate more than anything else. 🙏❤️
The one thing I've kept close to my heart is that God's word says that you'll know them by their fruit. And it says many of the elect will be deceived, and they sure have.
That may help you personally but how is your 1st sentence related to the 2nd? So if they are known by their fruit, they won’t be elect then right? No fruit. Maybe they aren’t related and that’s fine too. Just curious. I disagree they have been deceived but that’s another issue. Thats who they are.
@DrPhilGoode it absolutely helps me personally. In God's word, he shows me how can tell the wolves from the sheep. Or how to tell when someone is a posing Christian. By their fruit/actions, we will know them. Matthew 7:15-20 The 2nd point I was making is that in the end days, even people (elect) we would never expect will be deceived. Matthew 24:24 I do pray that God's word helps bring comfort. 🙏
@@debbiedefiestheoddsdebm9604 I can respect that. We can disagree about end times etc but that’s fine. The New Testament was mostly written by apocalyptic authors including Jesus himself who was an apocalyptic prophet. They expected the end times to be during their generation or soon after. But I digress. As far as people being deceived, we may disagree. Being deceived on any level is caused by deception or by a deceiver…sometimes both. A wolf is only deceptive in sheep’s clothing, when the wolf is not in sheep’s clothing he is no longer deceptive or a deceiver. Trump is not a wolf in sheep’s clothing, he’s a wolf in wolf’s clothing loudly howling like a wolf. His psychological makeup and behavioral characteristics don’t include a skill set for deception because he isn’t trying to deceive. He honestly doesn’t think he needs to deceive anyone. His elevated sense of superiority tells his fragile ego that he is the best at everything, so deception is irrelevant and unneeded for someone as superior as he is. I say all that to support a theory that those who are still supporting him are doing so out of deep desire to do so. A simpler way would be to say…they are bad people. PERIOD. Thanks for the convo. 👍🏻
Debbie it says that if it were possible the elect will be deceived. Intimating that the true elect will not be deceived. Ergo if you are deceived….well ? ?
I am with you on this whole Trump/Maga thing. I have been an evangelical Christian, but now I have moved away from the Republican party. I am concerned that Trump will do much harm to the Church. I am going against many fellow Christians by supporting Biden over Trump. I feel that while neither candidate is full on supporting Biblical principles in running the country, Trump pretends to do so, deceiving many. I can't trust him.
I am so hopeful when I hear voices like yours addressing the danger of the former president. Christians need to examine their hearts. who do we serve man or God? Thank you for speaking up.
I hear you. I have never been more disillusioned in my life. I am a believer in Jesus Christ and all he is about. I can no longer call myself "Christian" by the definition given by the actions of Christian Nationalists. If I have to choose between Christ and Christian Nationalists, I choose Christ.
When you align with the teachings of Yeshua, it spares you from the Old Testament which promotes a cruel god. Love is the core of the teachings of Yeshua. The One Source is Love. Love is the One Power that is in all of us. We are more powerful than we are taught by any religion. Follow Love.
@@jackiehoracekAmen!! A few days ago I had a very good & open minded discussion with a young relative. He’s trying to determine the course of his life, and was weighing many pros and cons trying to discover what is really most important in life. Somewhere in our discussion I referred to the Good Samaritan, and he was not familiar with the story. So we both looked up Luke 10.25-37 in a literal translation, and read it together verse by verse, discussing it as we went. At the end of our wonderful discussion he said, “it’s really all about Love, isn’t it? Love God first & most, and Love other people like you love yourself!! Wow, and to think that ‘Love’ is a VERB… it’s amazing!” & I think now, that’s actually what it all comes down to for me. Love God, & Love People. God gives us the best example of what love really is in Jesus, and Jesus helps us learn who our neighbor is, in the story of the Good Samaritan. God has put us here on earth, to share His love, mercy and kindness with others! Love really is a Verb- meant to show Action! If we have the love of God inside, we should be motivated to act like Jesus. The Good Samaritan- whoever is reading this, please read it if you haven’t before! I think we can all look up Luke 10 online now, even if we don’t own a Bible. It’s a story of choices and actions, decisions made when an unexpected need is encountered. Would I be so willing to set aside my own plans? It’s also very interesting that people from the injured man’s own tribe/group did not choose help him, but rather a Samaritan businessman, a despised minority group, is the hero of the story. His choice to take time out of his work schedule to gently tend to the man’s wounds with his own hands, transport him to an inn, to spend his own money, to arrange for the wounded man to rest and recover. He truly wants the injured man to survive, and thrive! I have to wonder, how different our world might be today, if “we the people who think we love God” actually paid attention to and followed these words of Jesus? If we can’t imagine ourselves doing so, perhaps we have yet to be filled with God’s love? That must be what church is supposed to be- a fellowship of Love & Joy centered around God. Can we possibly be people who actually are primarily motivated by Love? So many have been wounded and abused at churches. I think all of humanity is broken; and hurt people hurt people. I think probably most of us are walking wounded. You might say it’s not realistic in this day and age, but there are those of us who still Love God and people, regardless of the failure of so many institutional churches. I actually have so much more hope this week, than I did last week! Today has been a beautiful day, and I’ve enjoyed the sunshine! I feel grateful, and I’m noticing God’s blessings today. In the past I’ve been hopeless, felt overwhelmed, & suffered from the politicization of faith for too long. I’m not going to let those hateful people who claim to be Christians disturb me any longer- I have Nothing more to do with followers of Hate. If they are satisfied with a counterfeit, so be it- “Though none go with me, still I will follow Jesus!” I’m going to re-read the Gospels, now, meditatively & prayerfully. It may take me a while, I’m not in a rush. I’ll be asking the Lord to fill me with His Love, so I have plenty of it to share with others. I truly want to follow Jesus, and no one else! I will not settle for any idol or counterfeit! How can we be sure we are following Jesus unless we really know the real deal personally, and love Him first of all? I’m afraid many have just been deceived by attending a church, and thinking they are safe. I’m reminded by my friend’s grandma who said, sleeping in the garage does not make you a car! This is what I feel I need to focus on right now, to re-center my life on Jesus, rather than on institutions man has built. I invite you to join me on a journey, and re-examine the words of Jesus in the Gospels. I want to know, What WOULD Jesus Do? 💙🙏🏼💙📖🫶🏼🫱🏽🫲🏼🌅
How wonderful that i just stumbled onto this little gem. Like this good pastor, I have always identified myself as an evangelical, and now I find myself torn. Unlike this pastor, I have NEVER voted conservative, not once. I too, am pro-life and I have found that the evidence is overwhelming that ONLY a genuinely progressive national agenda would reduce the numbers and ( I believe ) would eventually end the procedure altogether. I absolutely agree with this gentleman that conservative politicians have only been using this issue to appeal to their base. Ironically, those same conservative Christians have been voting to ensure that abortion will remain with us into perpetuity. Well done reverend, although I don't entirely agree with you, I look forward to reading your book.
It seems that all too many don’t understand that abortion is a medical term. Someone who wanted to carry to term, but who had an incomplete miscarriage or other medical emergency will find abortion necessary to preserve their health and life. Medical decisions of any kind need to be between the doctor and patient, not politicians or activists who fantasize they should be in control of lives other than their own. Doctor Mama Jones makes videos that explain a physician’s view of how complex this issue is.
The number would be decreased exponentially if males took personal responsibility THEMSELVES to prevent unplanned conception and pregnancy. BECOME AN ADVOCATE FOR THAT.
I thank you, Pastor Pat, for your agonized honesty. I thank you for your courage and for your faith. I do hope and pray that you can sway some voters in the middle of the country.
As a confused agnostic, your reasoning brings me closer faith in God and even people as I listen to you. I am appalled by all the “Christians” in my little town who show signs of worshiping such a corrupt person. Thanks! -New Sub
Hi Starry! Something I learned along time ago. When I read scripture, I ask the Holy Spirit for the power of discernment. Instead of words printed on a page, it’s like I’m immersed into a technicolor movie. It comes alive! Try it, hope you like it. Blessings
@starrycrown Look at the Christ of the Bible, not at self-professing Christians. People will always disappoint us sooner or later. God never fails. Blessings to you. Sounds like you’re on a journey.🙂
Thank you, sir, for a well-thought video. I am a Canadian, an avid right to lifer, and an Evangelical. With you, I am deeply ashamed of the American Evangelical church. I used to be a "litmus test voter", voting my right to life beliefs, even to scratching ballots, and voting for uncompetitive candidates. I am no longer a litmus test voter. I have found something worse than a pro-abortion position. I believe that integrity trumps even genocide. For us Christians to abandon our integrity, which is what following Trump requires, is for us to have a horribly sin-stained message. Thanks again for shining a light to the American Christian community.
Trump uses actual brainwashing techniques. During his rally at some point he plays soothing music and slows down his speech. That is hypnosis. These people need to be deprogramed.
VERY few people want a total ban on abortion. You would have to be okay with a 10 year old dying of pre-eclampsia while attempting to deliver her own sibling who never developed a brain as a fetus. Roe v. Wade did NOT allow abortion on demand but allowed restrictions.
I grew up Southern Baptist in Alabama, and witnessed the racism and homophobia, hypocrisy and destructiveness. I consider myself to be a spiritual person, but I would never be Religious based on what i experienced. Trump's following has shown the World the shortcomings of Religion.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I am a born progressive who has, I guess, some inner conservatism. I'm virtually in accord with all of your sentiments. It is, I think, about "pro life" and how one needs to interpret such. For me, I ask "who/what generates the most vibrant protection of all life itself?" and surely things such as the welfare and treatment of the living must be a parcel of this question. You said you were a bit too optimistic originally about the sincerity of some people's relation to their own soul (my paraphrasing) and that tethering an entire worldview of a candidate to one issue can land one in a disoriented state. Yes, I think so. It makes me sad that these coarse measurements of a person's soul are replacements for witnessing a kindness that can only be kindled and rekindled with a spiritual walk. 🇺🇸
The trouble is abortion under Roe v Wade was dropping exponentially, and lack of abortion for medical reasons in these zero tolerance states is dangerous .
It is nice to know there are Christians out there who understand what a divisive person #45 is. And that they realize whatever they thought that Trump could do for them, they finally understand that Trumpism and Christianity should not have any kind of connection if you really believe in the Message of what Jesus taught.
As a Canadian and ex-evangelical I appreciate your comment. I left the faith about 20 years ago however I have devout pro-Trump evangelical members in my family. I know that they wish they could vote for Trump here in Canada. Your attitude is the most measured and sensible I've heard coming from someone who identified and maybe still does identify with evangelicalism. I will forward the link to this video to them. Hopefully, they will receive it with an open mind but somehow I doubt it. By the way, is that a ribbon mic you are using?
In my teens,I was a flaming Evangelical. At 21,I had a long, painful, lonely crisis of faith. After studying Comparative Religion for decades,I decided to convert to Buddhist. It's a great ethical philosophy for animal lovers. I tried to explain it to a lifelong, Evangelical friend this way. For me to get back into that mindset is like trying to fit into my ten-year-old pants. Sometimes it's a good thing to outgrow your beliefs.
One of the biggest problems with the pro-life argument is that maternity mortality is up 64% in states that have some form of abortion restriction. You are literally killing women on the basis that you are saving children. There is nothing pro-life about it. It is not a binary choice when it comes to medical care and one of the most frustrating things about the Roe v Wade debate. It is the exact same problem with the border debate. We are taking stances that are far to simple for the complexity of the problem. The way to solve these tough issues is through bipartisan efforts something that someone like Trump will never understand with the winner take all attitude. Tearing down the system because you can't have your way is never going to solve anything. Also just remember Biden is the actual Christian not Trump.
I felt “the change” in my Lutheran church over twenty years ago. I pulled my kids and left 15 years ago. I no longer wanted to be associated with them nor did i want my kids to become like them. Never regretted it
I thanked God this Sunday for giving my local church a pastor that preaches God's love and not hate. I feel your pain and disappointment at many Christians for corrupting our faith with hateful politics. It will dramatically harm Christianity in the long run.
Caring for life at every stage, I’m so glad to hear you say that! Being Pro Pregnancy and yet not being there to help young mothers, who were not prepared to raise a child and willing to put mothers at risk with a non-viable fetus,, and promotion of guns, which have become the number one killer of children has angered me immensely!
I am not an Evangelical. I stumbled upon your video and what kept me watching was your sincerity and I could tell you are in pain over the loss of your Christian community. I am not sure if you know this but it sounded like you are trying to understand what happened to your church this may help you understand. Rev. Robert Schenck testified under oath in front of the House Judiciary Committee in 2022 that the leaders of the church made a "Faustian bargain" with the Republican Party as part of their quest to overturn Roe v. Wade. The deal was that the GOP would ensure Roe would be overturned but in return the Church has to go along with the GOP on everything. Raw Story who is a trusted publication wrote the article. I know that I myself do not need a church to have strong faith and a strong relationship with Jesus. I wish you peace
I'm not American. Nor am I what many White Evangelicals would call a "Real Christian". I am a (sometime) member of a Church that Protestants have been calling (in their loving Christian way), for centuries, "The Whore of Babylon". My point is that I am a complete outsider and as an outsider I have some insights that might be useful. The largest single Evangelical Denomination in the US, in fact the largest Protestant denomination, is the Southern Baptist Convention. This is a Denomination founded to defend Slavery that later became the mainstay of Jim Crow Segregation. While they uttered some words of "Regret" over those stances, they have never made Reparations and they have never done Atonement (both of those are Biblical terms that the SBC doesn't seem to know) for those Sins (or, if you prefer, EVILS). Even aside from the SBC, most White Christian Evangelicals (Trump's most fervent followers) have, long before the advent of Donald Trump as a political figure, deep roots in racism and racist statements, as amply demonstrated by Kristin DuMez in her book "Jesus and John Wayne". So, when Donald Trump began his Presidential Campaign with overtly racist statements, and continued to make abhorrently racist remarks, White Evangelicals, who's "Tradition" has always been racist, discovered a political figure who, overtly, was happy to walk in the footsteps of Strom Thurmond and George Wallace (the GOP had covertly been doing so for decades). Trump is a nasty person. He was a nasty person when Nixon's Justice Department convicted him of Racial Discrimination in the 1970s and he has never had a "coming to the light" moment. But, even if Trump never existed, the racism that undergirds much of US White Evangelicalism would still exist and would still find a way to surface, especially given the natural demographic changes occurring in the US. Trump is, and has always been, preaching to the choir...
Tell me you're Catholic without telling me you're Catholic. That said, their attitude and teaching on divorce and remarriage is the only thing that keeps me from joining you!
New to this channel, but I’m impressed with what I’ve seen. You’re very self-reflective and articulate. More importantly, you seem very amenable to change and looking for ways to better yourself, which is the sign of a humble human being. It’s important we can talk to and listen to each other, so thank you for making this dialogue easier to have. Great work!
As a European atheist, it’s always boggled my brain looking on from afar and seeing Trump - a guy who clearly has never even looked inside a bible, and whose actions clearly are not in line with Christian doctrine, to have much more support amongst evangelicals than Biden, a guy who is legitimately a man of faith.
The most sane Christian conservative I’ve ever heard. As a democrat moderate, I like what this guy has to say! God bless you and continue the good fight against the bad and evil.
The acronym WWJD comes to mind. Well, Jesus would not support a traitor, liar, cheat, philanderer who admires dictators and talks about turning his back on our allies.
Most Christians I've known strike me as people who want to be led so they could avoid the ambiguity and questions that come with thinking for yourself.
God bless you, Pat! My wife and I are as frustrated as you are with Christian Trumpers. It’s amazing (and discouraging) how many lies and falsehoods I hear from Christians regarding Trump, election fraud, and January 6. Even from my own pastor. 😢 If Trump wins again, thank God my citizenship is in Heaven. I grew up a lover of American history and studied both the good and bad as I saw opportunities to learn and grow to become the person Jesus wanted me to be. We saw very early Trump was not only dangerous for our country but also potentially divisive for the church. Sadly, this has proven true. Trump has even destroyed the careers of what few Republicans of integrity there were left. To support him, Christians are left to spin and lie for him.
You are a very sincere and thoughtful person. All I can say is that anyone who supports Trump is definitely an aberrant individual. We are so far beyond GOP vs Dems in this upcoming election. This is an existential crisis for America of the likes we've never seen before. I care about the future of our incredible country and Mr.Trump is in opposition to our incredible country. God help us. Dues ex machina.
Exactly. Take a clear position. The time for deliberation and thinking is over. We've had since 2016 to figure out what MAGA is about. We now clearly understand what the US Evangelical movement is about based on their history and political record. By this time, there should be no confusion as these people have shown us who they are.
A Christian is a footstep follower of Christ. They believe that he came to earth to teach us, leave a model for us to follow, and that he died to pay the price for our sins, thus making him our Savior. My question is this, and I truly ask it in all sincerity ~ what is the difference in being a Christian and being an "Evangelical" Christian? Thank you for you videos, your spot on insights from the few videos I've seen thusfar, for caring about following our Lord without compromise, rather than following any man.
My reading of Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" shows that, while he wasn't a strong believer, he used the Bible as moral examples everyone could identify with. I remember the quote from, I think, Exodus, how Moses was promising the end of kings, even while the Jews were clamoring for a king, "so we could be like other nations."
When people talk about the “sanctity of life”, they never mean the mother’s life. Theydon’t care about the already living, breathing human or that father/husband or their other children who NEED THEIR MOTHER. And that is what’s wrong with that “opinion”.
Thank you, Pat, for putting your heart out there. Our country will never heal if we aren't willing to bare our souls. I was once a Christian, and have much love for the Christian community, people who sincerely seek to love their neighbors. To me the problem is this: what is our relationship to G-d? Is G-d buried in a book, the most recent chapter of which was written 1900 years ago, or is G-d alive today? I sum it up as bad exegesis. Stop insisting on living in the 1st century, and see G-d alive in the beautiful world around you. Add to that world's beauty with your one precious life. Modern evangelicalism is bibliolatry.
Hi Win …biblio-idolatry…I agree. I thought I coined the term but perhaps you have as well or perhaps you have come across that term somewhere? I’m curious. Anyway, I share your perspective. I’m working on becoming a volunteer for a group called “Recovering from Religion “. Are you involved in an online organization that you appreciate? Anyway, cheers!
@@cipherklosenuf9242 Hi, Cipher. Well, I think you have unique claim to the term biblio-idolatry, a great word you've coined, and I think we think alike on this issue. I haven't been involved with any online organizations, other than subscribe to good TH-cam channels that don't dumb down Christianity, like this one. I get much inspiration from the 19th century transcendentalists, such as Ralph Waldo Emerson. Here is a bit from his essay called Nature, I recommend him and Thoreau and others...
@@cipherklosenuf9242 Our age is retrospective. It builds the sepulchres of the fathers. It writes biographies, histories, and criticism. The foregoing generations beheld God and nature face to face; we, through their eyes. Why should not we also enjoy an original relation to the universe? Why should not we have a poetry and philosophy of insight and not of tradition, and a religion by revelation to us, and not the history of theirs? Embosomed for a season in nature, whose floods of life stream around and through us, and invite us by the powers they supply, to action proportioned to nature, why should we grope among the dry bones of the past, or put the living generation into masquerade out of its faded wardrobe? The sun shines to-day also. There is more wool and flax in the fields. There are new lands, new men, new thoughts. Let us demand our own works and laws and worship.
I just came upon your channel and was heartened to hear your heart-felt thoughts on the corrupting of American (not to mention growing numbers of Latin American and African) evangelicals and the need for America to find a middle ground on abortion. These are difficult times to be a faithful Christian in America, but one thing that will help us find the right path forward is to talk to one another, as you are doing here.
You are seeking many truths. I commend you for this. The majority of "Christians" in church actually are not saved Christians. Unfortunately, this may never change. Many of us recognize your willingness to speak truth.
The problem with Christianity, and religion in general, is that it teaches you to accept things on faith, rather than based on evidence, and to be subservient. This is what opened the door to people like Donald Trump to take advantage of a group of people he could tell anything he wanted and they would believe him. Society would be much better off if people stopped having irrational beliefs.
People would be much better off if they understood what love actually is! we really can learn a lot from the life and examples of Jesus, and his teachings. If people really focused on what Jesus actually says in the Gospels, rather than on the institution men has build up afterwards- Then they wouldn’t be so easily fooled by someone who comes along claiming to be a Christian, when they have No good fruit in their life, and are actually teaching Hate!!
@@SalyLuz-hc6he Honestly, we really have no idea WHAT Jesus said or taught. There were absolutely no first-hand accounts of anything he did or said. One troubling thing is there is not one account of him speaking out against slavery. And having irrational beliefs, no matter what, is not ideal. Better to be a good person without irrational beliefs.
I was raised Independent Baptist. My grandparents raised my siblings and I and my grandfather was the preacher so yes I was raised in an evangelical home. When I was 40 years old I converted to Catholics mainly because they seemed to have a softer more loving Christlike approach to helping those that are less fortunate. They also seemed to be less judgmental. Fast forward to 2016 and Trump and all the different Christian denominations went crazy. I no longer attend church because I really feel no commonality with the other parishioners. I still am somewhat spiritual but not going to church and getting revived each week makes it difficult to have that connection with God. I hope someday to get back to church but as long as Trumps influence is still present within the church I cannot go back. This channel is awesome. Keep up the good work.
It is very puzzling as to why the All Powerful Creator of the entire universe and everything in it would be so utterly preoccupied with the petty politics and material economic desires of a select small group of followers on just one particular planet in a universe so vast that at the speed of light it would take 93 billion years to cross.
One thing I've thought for some time, is that the republican embrace of right to life/anti-abortion rhetoric was at least partly to bring more Catholics into their fold. As a lifelong Catholic, I am convinced that many Catholics were enthralled by the seeming achievement of a long-sought goal, and ignored all the QAnon conspiracy-laced lunacy and cynical power-grabbing that had co-opted them.
The big church prosperity conmen already had a whole flock of people housebroken to fall for the next big grifter. They started 'prosperity gospel' that taught wealth was a gift from God (when the Bible teaches the opposite). They said that people with money were automatically 'blessed', (when the Bible says the opposite) and trained people to pull out their wallets and pay up for a chance to be blessed themselves. They trained people to fall for the con, to have faith in the immoral and to believe in the irrational.
As a retired pastor, I no longer call myself an Evangelical Christian, just a believer in Christ. The stigma attached to this group of believers is nothing I want to be a part of. Once they divorced Jesus, to marry Trump, I was done.
After 72 years, I no longer call myself a Christian. I call myself a follower of Jesus. I think that most people that I meet have a positive opinion of the teachings of Jesus, but sadly, a negative opinion of both evangelical and Christian.
Turned agnostic but still respect Christ teachings but no respect for Christians!
The evangelical movement divorced Jesus Christ to marry the Antichrist in the late seventies. Does anyone remember the bunch of crooks called The Moral Majority that led to the evangelical movement?
I did the exact same thing. I follow christ but not via a church following
I see a large portion of the church descending a moral staircase, hand in hand with Trump, taking step after step downward.
I'm constantly amazed at the number of Evangelicals who think God sent Trump to be their savior, while not considering he may have been sent to test their faith and principles.
That is the most concise way to demonstrate that no matter how one looks at it, Christianity is nonsense.
My brother, who was a Pastor, said, God doesn't test us, Satan does that. God gives us strength to overcome the test. So saying God sent trump is wrong. Satan sent trump and the failure is not knowing the difference.
@@yamahaBassman If you read closer, you'll see I never actually said anything about who may have sent Trump as a test.
@@dennisc6716 Understood. My comment was directed to the evangelicals who say donald is sent by God. Why God would send donald to do anything is ridiculous.
@@yamahaBassman Christians praise their god for everything they like, and never blame god for the things that they don't like. Your brother, who presumably believes in the Christian god, and doesn't like Trump, blames the devil for sending us Trump, but praises God for giving us the strength to endure the ordeal. Why wouldn't God just override the devil?
OTOH, Christians who like Trump naturally praise God for sending Trump. Why didn't God simply allow Trump to win the 2020 election?
You say that any reasoning believing that God sent Trump is ridiculous. I agree. But how is your brother's version of history any less ridiculous?
I’m not a religious person but it gives me hope listening to people like you who understand that Trump is NOT, nor will he ever be a religious person. He’s a grifter and will gravitate towards whoever throws money, compliments, etc at him.
Thank you.
Yep. In fact “ Two Corinthians “ Trump has always been an atheist until he saw how much he needed the far right to get power.
Same. I’m actually relieved to hear what this guy said.
They all conveniently forget that BOTH Trump and his FATHER were ardent DEMOCRATS for DECADES because that was where the money and financing was to build their slum-lord high rises for low-income housing and other projects that they got the Democrat government to finance for them. Remember all the money the Trumps got through Democrat NY Mayor Koch to do NYC projects. Trump was close "friends" with the Clintons to get Democrat money for projects. Trump didn't become a Republican until the 2000s when the national political power was switching to the RepublicanGOP.
A biblical metaphysic explains what attracts
Trump and what longs for him, Proverbs 11:27 Whoever seeks good finds favor, but evil comes to one who searches for it.
Putin said same thing..he loves flattery.
I've been a Catholic all my life. Two years ago when Roe was overturned, our priest sang the praises of Donald Trump in his public sermon one Sunday. I haven't been back to church since. I often wonder if that was the right choice. I miss the community. The con man has taken so much from so many. I fear he will continue to divide us until he is in the grave.
I am Catholic as well. I quit following Trump 5 years ago. The Catholic church btw should be staying out of politics. They can discuss the issues at hand which is fine but they shouldn't tell you how to vote. There are many policies within the other party that also reflects Catholic teaching (sadly abortion is not one of them). I would just go to a different parish if I were you. Politics do not have a place behind the pulpit.
My grandparents told me about what happened in Bavaria when the Catholic Church supported Hitler because he was anti abortion and anti communist. Mussolini, Franco, Trump….Catholics don’t have a very good track record on choosing leadership.
Trump has exposed how corrupt the religious institutions r ,
I met the nicest committed Jew. A teacher... the moment I mentioned Trump not being unhelpful engaged Christian he became outrate, 🙄 🤣 he only calmed down when mentioned Ivana ( now a jew) 😂 He walked off angry! The country wouldn't be in this shape ! ( this was right after Oct 7. ) I thought, wow... sooo misinfoxformed. ( this is a short version)
I don’t think we should let anyone disrupt our relationship with Christ. Not a priest, not a family member or spouse, and certainly not a former president.
Since RvW was overturned, we’ve seen that the Church is pretty much just “pro-birth” rather than pro-life. A true pro-life position would champion child health care and welfare programs from birth through teen years, care for the elderly and infirm, and a social safety net that benefits single working mothers. Sadly, too much of the Church never votes to support candidates that would advance such a wholistic approach to life and flourishing.
These people do not care about the life of the children who are born into poverty or other social issues. Most of the states that have outlawed abortion also have more childhood poverty, and less money to education, pre/post natal care, healthcare, and low wages. They do not help families. The states where abortion is legal provide much better services. The statistics prove it.
They'd also care about women's health and lives but they're not. It's all about control of women.
Well said
Yes.
its because religion is an attempt to cheat the odds of life. so the more misery, historically, the more church attendance.making the world crapper is a recruitment drive
I am 82 years old. I used to be an Evangelical but left years ago because I could see what was happening in that movement. I assume you are a retired Pastor. Thank you for coming on Video and speaking the truth. This is the first time I have watched you. After trying for 6 years to talk some sense into my Evangelical friends now I walk away. It is like trying to convert a fence post. If you take a good look at the makeup of the House of Representatives you will see this trumpisim is not just a problem with Evangelicals, it is a problem with the entire republican party. There is nothing viable left of that political party except a few members (handful) that have seen the light. I hope Pastor, you are not going to vote third party again. You might not realize it but it is, in effect, a vote for trump. Thanks for speaking out.
Well said. Thank you.
@jsenear 100% THIS! Any 3rd party vote or a refusal to vote for Biden is a vote for tRUMP. This is why the electoral college needs to be ended.
Exactly..Voting third party is a vote for trump. And that's exactly what Republicans want.
Interesting. I'm a 78 year old former evangelical. I left years ago because I felt it was a fascist cult. Then Trump!
Far too many do not understand that a third-party vote in this bipolar political society is actually a vote for the bad guy.
trump revealed the rot at the heart of our culture, and that rot has been highly attractive to evangelicals. It says a lot about them.
This is precisely what I say when some, even after all of these years, remark that Trumpism “changed” people: they are who they’ve always been, but emboldened.
He did reveal a lot of rot. The blind hatred unleashed not only at him but anyone who dares to vote for or think like him, has taken many people who claim to be for love and peace, and exposed them as the hateful people they really are. Trump getting elected was like turning on the lights and watching the roaches scatter.
No, true conservatives have been trying to reveal the rot for decades. For some reason, no one cared until Trump came along.
The election of and continued support of Dump led me to give up on people. I just cannot fathom how any decent person could support a toxic orange monster.
Birds of a deplorable feather flock and trumpet together.
And, it is extremely painful when these Magats are in your family😩
Have a look at the theory called Spiral Dynamics - specifically, the personality type or paradigm called Red.
They are the same monsters who have followed, and supported, every other dictator in history.
Every country has them, and in large numbers.
Its greed. That's all it is, they want a better economy at all costs. Everything else is a red herring.
IT'S A CULT.....! ! !
Yes. Big time.
All religion is a cult at some level.
@@tgriffin3059 The truth is timeless, sonny.
So is Christianity. So is any religion. Just because it is a big cult, doesn't mean it's not a cult
Yes it is. It's also IDOLATRY.
Evangelical friends of mine in other countries have been horrified for years at what has happened to American Evangelicals and pray for them. Now they are completely stunned.
I saw the tracks laid for this train wreck back in the 70's when I was a young Jesus Freak. Right-wing politicians approached us with big, crocodile smiles and said, "Hey brothers, I'm born again, too!" And then they slyly started in on, "You kids don't believe in evolution, do you? You're good supporters of the Bible, right?" I thought it was a settled deal, that for God one day is as a thousand and a thousand as one day, just like the Bible taught, and that you can't expect God-time to match human-time. But these politicians started to confuse kids who were not just born again in Jesus but born yesterday. They didn't have the theological chops yet to understand what they were being hit with. And just like that they got locked into the milk stage and never graduated to the meat stage of Christianity.
This simultaneously set their thinking backwards in other things. Because if you had to block evolution from your mind, all of science became suspect. And if you turned your back on science, you turned your back on logic. So that made people vulnerable to more and more manipulation, because at that point a dangerous thing happened:
People started applying to politicians the same faith that they applied to God.
They got locked into circular thinking. The politicians were exemplars of Christianity, therefore one had to take on faith what they said, therefore one had to believe that they were exemplars of Christianity. And then the lies started pouring out thick and fast, each building on the last, till now you have people absolutely convinced that Democrats worship the devil and that vaccination has rendered them no longer human. And you can do anything you want to a devil-worshiping creature who's not human.
Make no mistake: Any religion, political stance, or cultural movement that relies on lies serves the Prince of Lies. I believe with my whole heart that Jesus Christ my Lord is the God of Reality, that He is one aspect of the Triune God who made Reality in the first place, and He wants me to always seek to understand what's real. I will always, to the best of my ability, choose the God of Reality over the Prince of Lies.
And yes, I am also pro-life. I vote Democrat because their policies reduce abortion, legal or illegal. The bottom line is how many lives actually get saved. I remember the days before Roe V Wade and how common abortion was back then, it was just hidden. Prevention is far, far more effective than illegalization.
Thank you for sharing this.
It's officially diagnosed as "Spiritual Abuse."
Word - I wish this level of logic and reasoning was more widespread amongst everyone- not just Christians
Making abortion illegal will do nothing to stop it
@@EH23831Thanks.
Abortion and Teen Pregnancy were going down markedly when abortion was overturned. Sex education, contraceptives and the morning after pills helped greatly with that. Now states have outlawed abortion and what do we see. Women who want their babies having miscarriages, non-vital babies, and conditions like ectopic pregnancies and not being able to get medications or procedures or getting them when they are very ill, impacting their health and/or their future pregnancies. Also victims of rape and incest. These states are virtually not providing exceptions even though they say they will. They want to punish women and/or people who help the women. No one except the woman, the father and the doctor should be involved in deciding these issues. Do you really think women will stop having abortions? It didn't work in the past and it won't now. There were many women who died in the days before Roe and that was one of the reasons it was legalized.among others. These laws don't solve anything only cause pain, suffering and death.
1) Lies
2) Move to another state
3) So many women support killing babies, that you can easily raise money to travel to another state for an abortion. Unfortunately, even some churches.
4) A revival is coming - marriage will die without social change, therefore social change will come.
5) The left will die out as half of women (feminists) will have no children and die alone.
VOTE BLUE, or submit to their orange religion💙💙💙💙💙💙💙
Why aren't they punishing the men contributing to this insanity? Oh... that's right... they're 'exceptional'! Even though they could virtually impregnate a different woman every day of the week. Well...poor things. They're especially special apparently!😂
The GOP are not pro-life they are pro-control.
Abortions will happen whether legal or not, as long as factors like poverty exist. If they are illegal, then they will be performed in less than safe conditions for the mother. I know Dirty Dancing was almost 40 years ago but boomers and Gen X should remember it.
You're a good man, Pat. The fact that the movement would choose Trump over people like you says everything you need to know.
So very glad I came across this video. I have been a lifelong evangelical who doesn't understand what that means anymore either. I have had so many people tell me I can't be a Christian if I don't vote for Trump. I feel so lost anymore. Thank you so much for this video and you now have 1 new subscriber.
A Cristian *_should_* be uncomfortable almost all the time. By boy, this is really *_really_* scary right now. We always need to remember to be kind, compassionate, patient and the *_worst_* is *_not_* doing things I can see right now. We have to wait for others to wakeup again. One day at a time. Also remember a Christian National is nowhere like a Christian. Always remember WWJD (What Would Jesus Do).
Bless you. I'm the prophesied return of the biblical prophet Elijah. There's a lot I have to share that you would like to know, I can tell. (Most in your position are too closed-minded.) If you're a seeker you'll easily discover how to contact me.
@@tomrhodes1629Consider deprogramming and mental health intervention while you are still able to get the help you obviously need.
Two new subscribers!
Lost? Why can't you use your brain to know who you are and what you need and what's right and wrong? Are you too lazy to use your mind? You were brainwashed as a little child, indoctrinated without your consent so it's a hard thing to unwind. I suggest you'd be a lot happier if you looked inside yourself for answers instead of looking to be lead around by others.
I'm an atheist but appreciate that there are still believers like you out there. We need more like you.
You uttered the words "MAGA Christian." A more perfect oxymoron has never been.
I don’t know about that. I think MAGA and money-grubbing televangelists have a lot in common.
'MAGA' and 'Christian' are synonymous in the Bible Belt.
WE CALLED IT, KKK BEFORE DONNIE @@jimwing.2178
@@jimwing.2178 Yet, never mention Christ or as some of them who have claimed Jesus is too woke.
Analogous to “German Christians” under N@zism.
We will have to continue to defeat him until he passes. It will take years more to defeat his sick legacy.
Isn't that the nature of all evil? Unfortuntately, there is no Mount Doom like in the Lord of the Rings, in which we can once and for all cast the Ring of Power to forever rid ourselves of evil.
I tend to agree with you. I would add (on another note), I do not lean toward alarmism, however, some recent events have attracted my attention. Firstly, is the "co-opting" of a religious institution. For example, Hitler with the Lutheran church prior to WW2 and Putin with the Russian Orthodox Church. This of course is discussed in Alberta's work. Secondly however, is this consolidation of power. I believe this has been fairly illustrated in the last few days with the border bill. Trump's words caused house leadership to abruptly bury it (DOA). This coupled with a sycophant attempt to affect a Senate minority leader change. Finally, a proclivity toward establishing and maintaining relationships with totalitarian leaders. These phenomena reflect precursor components inherent in historical cases of totalitarianism or fascism.
No doubt when one reads Project 2025 what the intent is. An authoritarian government aligned with Christian Nationalism and with corporate power.
Watch you're really saying is you watch a lot of MSNBC.
Well, actually no. This would be incorrect. However, I do read fairly voraciously, including history and thoughts from both "sides". @@ron88303
@@ron88303 says trump cult member and faux news #1 watcher
Yup - it’s well on its way…😢
Sir, Evangelicals are showing you EXACTLY who/what they’ve ALWAYS been! The reasons you couldn’t see it before is… 1) Your “faith” wouldn’t allow you to accept the subtle Far Right (political) undertones you witnessed. Or… 2) The Evangelicals were extremely clever at hiding their true nature from you.
For many of us outsiders, we’ve ALWAYS recognized the hypocrisy within Evangelicals AND The Republican Party! “Family Values”.. “Fiscally Conservative”.. “God Fearing,” etc… are just slogans use for their benefit. They’ve NEVER believed in them!! It’s the same as Republicans not wanting ‘People of Color’ within their Party. They “claim” they’re accepting of ALL ethnicities but, their policies towards other ethnicities are the REAL truth tellers.
VERY WLL PUT!!! I agree wholeheartedly.
As Stuart Steven's says about about the Republican party "It was all a Lie"
Yes. Their actions speak louder than their words.
This. If the Christian right hadn’t been so busy judging the left, they might have heard the warnings that the left had been trying to bring to them, all along. The left DOES NOT WANT abortion, nobody wants abortion. But the alternative is far worse. Child suicide rates are high right now for a reason.
You are absolutely correct. 💯 percent. Republicans/Evangelist. All about the money. Send me the money. The richer you are the better. Pulling the wool over your eyes.
Boosting family values, but lend a helping hand if needed. Don't want you to have an abortion, but after the child arrives, they don't know you. Can't help you or the child.
Sadly, the same thing happened to me. The word "evangelical" has been turned into a dirty word. I am actually angry at those people for hijacking my religion and my faith.
But did you ever stand up and rebuke your brothers and sisters for their trumpiness these past many years, or did you sit by quietly and abide them? If you didn't stand up and get just as loud in opposition, then you're just as guilty. So says the bible.
I severely criticized organizations like CRI (The Christian research institute). This is a true fact: One of their representatives told me that Trump and Pence will be in heaven, but that I will not be. That response was motivated by the fact that I criticized Trump and Pence, and that was a real turning point for me. MAGA will not listen to open rebuke. They will simply claim that they are God's true people, and that Trump is chosen by God. There is no reasoning with them.@@nicholashuff4198
@@nicholashuff4198I clicked on this comment and was about to provide the same response. I said from the very beginning, if he did what he did and everyone poo-poo’ed his nonsense the minute he started it, this bully would have had to leave the playground with his head hung down kicking stones and mumbling on the way out. It’s his supporters that give him the power to peddle his mayhem.
I'm not a believer, personally, but I believe in a world where people are free to practice their faith without persecution. Electing Trump would be one of the most destructive events in American history for believers of all faiths.
Take away the rights of your neighbor and , before you know it, you'll be next...
@@tgriffin3059 Grown men are mature enough to love people who are not them.
@@tgriffin3059 Maybe you should come back when you get an education. Slava Ukraine!
@@tgriffin3059 No one is being arrested for praying in public and florists and bakers wouldn't go out of business, they would simply have more customers to cater to...
Are all MAGA morons liars and simps? Jesus, figure it out...
@@tgriffin3059Where is this occurring specifically?
So you're basically a single-issue voter. How simple minded.
Didn't want Roe overturned just like they don't really want a border deal, hypocrites by definition.........
True!
Agreed. Just b4 R v W was overturned, a reporter caught up w/Trump outside the WH & asked him "Okay, but if you COULD make abortion illegal, Federally, would you?"
TRUMP "I'm tossing it back to the states"
REPORTER "Right. But if you COULD make it...
TRUMP "Im tossing it back to the states.
This went back & forth (rinse, repeat) til djt was able to slither thru the door he'd btwn walking twd.
Logic dictates that if he REALLY CARED about saving ALL babies God knits in the womb & not just some, in whatever state, he'd have atleast WANTED to make it federal.
I think that was just another move to divide& have us even more at each other's throats. AND it nailed my long-time sus that his ultimate goal is to have his own lil country to rule & pass on to his offspring...Jong Un Style. ESPECIALLY if he can get us all so exasperated & sick of each other that most ppl, from both sides will say "Yeah- just do it! Take the former confederate states.& be done with it!".
Absolutely correct. Without a border crisis they have no talking points. A truly dysfunctional group of people.
Yeah, Christians are just a bunch of hypocrites. I am a Christians and have been wondering what is wrong with me for not understanding why my fellow Christians all seem to think so differently than I do. Now I know. They think differently than I do not because I am dumb, but because they are hypocrites.
Yep.The “ abortion issue “ has always been one of the greatest gifts to the GOP they could possibly have . They obviously are never going to do anything for working people so they pretend to be the “ more moral “ party by pretending to care about unborn children.
All they REALLY care about is power and keeping their donors happy- that’s your average GOP politician.
The “ abortion issue” has always been a perfect smokescreen for them - they can appear to work diligently to “ protect the unborn “ all the while doing jack and squat for the rest of us . But, they messed up by actually getting RvW overturned and now they will be reaping the whirlwind for a long time .
I contend that your average GOP politician would be in the abortion clinic assisting in abortions if it made their donors/corporate masters happy . They don’t care about unborn babies - they never REALLY did 😉
You're clearly a man of integrity and belief. I'm glad I discovered your channel today. I'm wondering where in the gospels it says that loving Christ means being viciously mean to everyone who disagrees with me on even one thing. That's how MAGA evangelicals feel to me.
It is good to know that there are still a few Christians (not many) who worship and follow Jesus of Nazareth, and not Donald of Mar-a-Lago.
Well said
Are you saying that the number of people who identify as Christians is shrinking? I know that many churches are losing members. Could it be that churchgoers are disgusted at the politicization of American Christianity - both Protestant and Catholic? Hopefully, they're not turning to spiritualism and the occult.@@lukeyznaga7627
People have been saying the end is near for over 2000 years.@@lukeyznaga7627
WTF are you talking about? Have you actually MET any Christians? Or you'd know what nonsense that is. Yes there are some very die-hard Trump fans out there but WORSHIP? It's a TINY fraction of his support at most.
@@lukeyznaga7627 Please stop using America as the beginning of the end of Christianity in the World.
America is a hopeless case when it comes to living as Christians. A Country that let an evil, immoral, corrupt, racist, narcissistic, lying thing to become their President and destroy anything good about America must accept you all failed your Country. Just look at America 8 years later, the Republican Party has been destroyed by this monster. Because he dragged so many Congress Men and Women down to his level Republicans have lost all decency and promote the evil one as worthy of another term. How disgusting is that. The World has gone from laughing at America to despair that the Country will end up a Dictatorship led by Trump, Putin, Xi and Kim Jong Un. Then we will have WWIII.
As an Australian Catholic I can tell you that Christianity still lives here. Our weekly masses consist of an average of 300 to 400 and we have 5 masses over a weekend. We became the fastest growing Parish in Australia. This new parish started just 8 years ago with out a Church holding mass in the School Library with maybe 100 people at each mass. Our 10am Mass now is full of families, many children and a group of musicians who have us singing all the great Hymns we all love. We have 300 children registered to receive 1st Communion this year.
Therefore I urge you to have faith that there are Countries outside America still living as Christians. Politics is never mentioned at our Masses nor individual tyrants around the World. We do not need to have a gun in every home either.
The same people who call themselves pro-life because they oppose abortion are strangely silent on gun control. Shouldn't they just call themselves pro-prenatal life? If a fetus is a person from conception, can pregnant women use the HOV lane while driving? Can she claim the fetus as a dependent on their taxes? Is she entitled to child support?
It appears that pro-lifers are less "pro-life" and more "punish women for having sex."
@@jimwing.2178And apparently ONLY women correct? And the gender proposing these measures and making these decisions are....?
Silent? They're loudly and staunchly against gun control
Democrat platform will prevent more abortions than the Republicans would. If only they can get enough majority to overcome the obstruction and actually do their policy.
A fetus cannot be person from conception - it can’t be anything from conception because it doesn’t become a fetus until 9 weeks after conception. At conception it is a zygote, then becomes an embryo, then later becomes a fetus. I’m not trying to be rude, I just think it’s very important we use the correct terms. Otherwise we end up with people thinking that an abortion is killing a baby, which obviously has a heavier emotional pull. I mean who would want to kill a baby? The pro lifers need to learn some facts.
Wow, I just happened to come across this video; I'd never heard of you before. I'm almost shocked at how similar our stories are. I was a deeply involved evangelical for nearly 50 years, but Trump and the MAGA movement ended it. I graduated from an evangelical college and then worked in the public policy division at Focus on the Family, and after that in the publishing department at an international Bible study ministry. I was all in--until Trump.
Days after Trump's inauguration, I left the Republican Party, and a few months later, I left white evangelical Christianity. I still believe all the major evangelical tenets, but I will not be associated with the MAGA movement. I wish I could convert my MAGA-obsessed evangelical friends and family members, but they are too far gone; most refuse to even discuss the matter with me. Anyway, I wish you all the best in your endeavors.
Bless you. I'm the prophesied return of the biblical prophet Elijah. There's a lot I have to share that you would like to know, I can tell. (Most in your position are too closed-minded.) If you're a seeker you'll easily discover how to contact me.
These kinds of voices have been missing all these years! It has been extremely lonely and bewildering!
@@tomrhodes1629No matter how many times you repost this nonsense it doesn't make it true. What you are is a troll farm employee spewing nonsense to solicit replies.
@@markwickens2756I can relate 💯. Thank you for sharing your heart and bewilderment. Much appreciated.
Beatitudes-Blessed are:
Poor in Spirit vs. proud
Meek vs. forceful & aggressive
Hungry & Thrist for Righteousness vs. seeking your own pleasures
Merciful vs. vengeful
Pure in Heart vs. evil heart
Peace Makers vs. looking for a fight
Phony billionaire, most New Yorkers kept saying he is a fraud, which is the reason he was never accepted into the club.
9:33 “Who knows what evangelicals will even do any more?” The least Christ-like thing possible.
Roe v. Wade was an acknowledgement of the reality of abortion. As "pro-life" as I may have ever been, I never thought that it should be an issue for anyone other than the woman and her doctor. Religious leaders have the same right to free speech that everyone else has, but abortion, in reality, is a choice of the mother, whether or not it happens in a medical facility.
AMEN
VOTE BLUE, or submit to their orange religion💙💙💙💙💙💙💙
Indeed. Abortion was well known in the Roman Empire at the time of Christ. If he had strong views about it, he would have communicated them in his teaching.
It strikes me that the same people who are most exercised about innocent life being infinitely precious, when forcing their viewpoint onto women in bad situations, have no interest in exploring the proportion of innocents on death row, or agitating for abolishing the death penalty altogether.
Just as many Republican wives, daughters, females want and get abortions (but privately) just as there are as many Democrat wives, daughters, females.
Its a private issue between the woman and God. Because he is the judge and has the last say.
What I liked most or in this important talk was the idea of care for ALL life ( I am pro choice). Many seem to want all to be born but that's where their interest ENDS!
It's all for his own self interest so he can pardon himself from serious wrongdoings.
I’ve lived in the south my whole life…65 years. I retired from teaching. From my perspective there is a tremendous amount of racism in the red states I’ve lived in. Also, a ton of what I call heritage Republicans…family tradition with little critical thinking. I will say that my granddaughters have a different perspective. My oldest one (15) recently asked me how to handle relationships with friends that regurgitate the old tropes of evangelism. She didn’t phrase it that way, but that is what she meant. I told her it is important for her to question herself. If you believe you are right, do some research. My partner and I are the only Democrats in the family. My white friends are all Republicans. It takes tact and tolerance, but my family and friends learned quickly not to use racist words around me. Okay, I’m not tactful or tolerant with that and neither is she. I told her I was so happy that her generation was more accepting of differences in people. Keep that in mind when talking with her peers, and it will help her tone.
Thank you for sharing this. It lifted my heart. I'm afraid my tolerance level is and has been 'on its last nerve' for quite some time now... nearly eight years. Your patience and diplomacy are a tribute and helpful reminder to an old goat like me! Thank you again. 🫂🌹🫂
I was pretty much done with religion in general. The affiliation with Right-wing politics, and later, Trumpism was the final nail in the coffin. Good riddance.
Same.
I hope you reconsider.
If a someone, or even LOTSA someone's played Shakespeare badly, would you blame Shakespeare? Of course not.
Please dont let satan use Trump(ers) to shipwreck your faith & relationship with Jesus Christ...or keep it shipwrecked (whichever is the case).
Same here. Agnostic now.
Same. I'm full on atheist. Maybe anti religion.
I just wish the crazies would leave normal folk alone. They are not happy believing their fairytales, they are determined to push their insanity onto everyone. I just want to be left alone and if I have an abortion...it ain't nobodies business but my own! PLEASE!
my sister in law was pregnant and her child died in her womb and the state of Texas forced her to carry it to near term before they would induce labor. She carried a dead fetus for more then 6 weeks. My brother went along with this madness even though it put his wife at serious risk and they have other children still to raise. Then there is the 11 year old who one state said could not have an abortion even though the doctors said the pregnancy would endanger her life and then add in the states that want to make it a capital offense if a woman leaves the state to have an abortion and I think pro life is insane. I find myself further and further from the church. Years ago my pastor told me the reason I was sick was because I was sinning. This was supposedly. a highly educated man. It took a lot of years for me to figure out that Job didn't sin, and I want to find a church because I miss the fellowship, but I find that more and more I can not agree with many things taught in modern churches. Judaism teaches that the fetus does not get a soul until the child is born. In this incredibly cruel world I no longer have any problem leaving the decision to carry a baby in the hands of the woman. It is between her and God and no one should be allowed to force that. In Texas recently a Houston Lawyer got six months for giving his wife a drug that causes miscarries because he didn't want.a child. He gave it to her 7 times and only got 6 months. Yet they want to make it a capital offense if a woman has an abortion. The church isn't pro life when it votes for people who refuse to care for the poor and feed children in schools. my interpretation of the first books of revelation is that it is about the modern christian church which has lost its first love. It is doubtful that will find my way back inside a church.
So your brother wouldn't even take her to another state to help her? He made her carry it? That's disgusting
If you need fellowship, try a Unitarian Universalist congregation. They accept everyone, and always have a great coffee hour 😊 Just my opinion, I hope you find what you're looking for ❤
LEARNING ABOUT THE HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY AND THE CHURCH IS A REAL EYE OPENER. FEW CHURCH LEADERS THEN AND NOW HAVE THE WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE IN MIND. IT'S REALLY ALL ABOUT POWER, CONTROL, AND MONEY.
How did we get to church influencing everything in government? This is not what built the greatest USA. Some of our founding fathers were non believers! Our country was built on freedom of ideas not religion. We need to go forward and kick religion out of politics.
7:27 That's the sort of thing I've been wanting for decades. Outlawing abortion will just drive it underground again, and we're already seeing that happen in some states. It would be much more effective to work with people from the pro-choice side who nevertheless see it as the least-bad option available, and try to make abortion as *unnecessary* as possible by more effective sex education, better availability of birth control, and better support for pregnant women and women with infants regardless of circumstances. (For staunch Catholics or other Christians opposed to birth control, they can still work on the other two issues.) I strongly feel that real progress in these areas would see a much greater decrease in the number of abortions than outlawing it.
Sadly, due to how Roe v. Wade got overturned and the words and actions of many Christian leaders since then, I doubt anyone in the pro-choice movement will trust anyone going under the "pro-life" label for at least a generation, maybe two. But hey, at least today's Evangelicals can brag about how anti-abortion they are, regardless of what happens once their laws get repealed in the not-too-distant future.
We know what reduces the need for abortions but conservatives refuse to agree to those things. They prefer to criminalize abortion and make women slaves to the state, forcing birth!
I think you are correct. You state it very well.
@jodyjm13 You're acting as if all pregnancies are between consenting adults and that they had an oops pregnancy. What about all of the GIRLS and women that were raped and got pregnant? This country actually needs to start teaching boys and men that they have no right to molest, sexually abuse, sexually assault or rape a GIRL or woman! PERIOD!
This made my day because it resonated with me. I'm an immigrant to the US (Swedish). I was an exchange student under Bush senior where Reagan was still very much present. I identified with GOP and supported every single candidate until Trump. It shocked me that I had been so wrong about Americans electing a person with such an incredible personality flaw. I was still holding a green card at the time, but given his rhetoric about immigrants, despite me being blond with blue eyes, I decided to apply for citizenship because I feel American. I graduated a US university Valedictorian, not because I'm smart but because I worked hard, and thought USA was my future. I lost a lot of faith during the Trump years and now, being a US citizen, I'm seriously considering moving back to Europe. I've never watched your channel before, but I can tell you that people like you make me feel American more than European. It just seems like there are way to many people in the USA that can't see the obvious. Thank you!
I agree on being embarrassed to be affiliated with evangelical Christians or Christian nationalists.😮. I also thought MAGA and especially Christians people who voted for Trump would start seeing the light and turn from him. Unfortunately it hasn’t happened 🙏.
"If you need to have everything explained, don't read my book." Jean-Jacques Rousseau @@tgriffin3059
@@tgriffin3059 if you listen to the people in the groups I mentioned who still support Trump then you will hear the dichotomy of what Jesus wants us to be and what Trump does and stands for. Because so many pastors and church leaders continue to support him and his lies it makes it look like Christians aren’t very much like Jesus. We are supposed to be an example of why someone should believe in Jesus and become a Christian. Why would an unbeliever want to associate with a group who follow a malignant narcissist and believes in conspiracy theories?
@@tgriffin3059 You have NOTHING to be embarrassed about. One of our founding principles is religious freedom. We all have to be careful about imposing our views on others. From a legal point of view, the first question is are we talking about a medical procedure or when the unborn receive their full legal rights and protections? If a medical procedure, then a state governing body does have the ability to regulate the practice. But I am also able to travel to another location that does allow the procedure. If we are talking about full rights being granted to the unborn at conception then we have some hard choices to make as a society. Do we ask women to take a pregnancy test once a month so we can begin protecting the unborn? Do we ask women to provide the results of a pregnancy test before they can travel internationally? If you are pregnant when you leave the US then you should return pregnant. What about those who are conceived when the woman is just visiting the USA but not a citizen?
@@tgriffin3059 I don’t agree. We should always try and choose a leader who has some level of moral values. Everybody I know who hates Trump hates him because he is just a bad person. He has spread hate and descension in America., he caused injury to over 100 police officers at the capital insurrection, he continues to spew hate and the “othering” of people. If it was purely about getting Bill‘s passed or changing America for the better, then I would still support him, even though I don’t like him as a human. But unfortunately, he’s done the opposite. And Christian nationalist are furthering his agenda, which is the opposite of what Jesus! would do.
@@tgriffin3059 have you ever talked with a women or young girl in the midst of making the decision to have an abortion or not? If you talked with very many you would feel the anguish. It’s a heart breaking decision.😥
I listened to a very insightful podcast on what really lowers the abortion rate. It was from a Christian, who spent his career in government, pushing pro life agenda, and he said that pushing the bills to stop abortion did not affect the amount of abortions. What he found, was supporting a woman during this difficult time such as a pregnancy crisis center was what actually lowered the rate more than anything else. 🙏❤️
I feel your pain. I share your pain. I pray we do not lose heart. Thank you for your videos, they give me hope.
The one thing I've kept close to my heart is that God's word says that you'll know them by their fruit.
And it says many of the elect will be deceived, and they sure have.
That may help you personally but how is your 1st sentence related to the 2nd? So if they are known by their fruit, they won’t be elect then right? No fruit. Maybe they aren’t related and that’s fine too. Just curious.
I disagree they have been deceived but that’s another issue. Thats who they are.
@DrPhilGoode it absolutely helps me personally. In God's word, he shows me how can tell the wolves from the sheep. Or how to tell when someone is a posing Christian. By their fruit/actions, we will know them. Matthew 7:15-20
The 2nd point I was making is that in the end days, even people (elect) we would never expect will be deceived.
Matthew 24:24
I do pray that God's word helps bring comfort. 🙏
@@debbiedefiestheoddsdebm9604 I can respect that. We can disagree about end times etc but that’s fine. The New Testament was mostly written by apocalyptic authors including Jesus himself who was an apocalyptic prophet. They expected the end times to be during their generation or soon after. But I digress.
As far as people being deceived, we may disagree. Being deceived on any level is caused by deception or by a deceiver…sometimes both. A wolf is only deceptive in sheep’s clothing, when the wolf is not in sheep’s clothing he is no longer deceptive or a deceiver. Trump is not a wolf in sheep’s clothing, he’s a wolf in wolf’s clothing loudly howling like a wolf. His psychological makeup and behavioral characteristics don’t include a skill set for deception because he isn’t trying to deceive. He honestly doesn’t think he needs to deceive anyone. His elevated sense of superiority tells his fragile ego that he is the best at everything, so deception is irrelevant and unneeded for someone as superior as he is.
I say all that to support a theory that those who are still supporting him are doing so out of deep desire to do so. A simpler way would be to say…they are bad people. PERIOD.
Thanks for the convo. 👍🏻
Excellent post!
Debbie it says that if it were possible the elect will be deceived. Intimating that the true elect will not be deceived. Ergo if you are deceived….well ? ?
I am with you on this whole Trump/Maga thing. I have been an evangelical Christian, but now I have moved away from the Republican party. I am concerned that Trump will do much harm to the Church. I am going against many fellow Christians by supporting Biden over Trump. I feel that while neither candidate is full on supporting Biblical principles in running the country, Trump pretends to do so, deceiving many. I can't trust him.
I am so hopeful when I hear voices like yours addressing the danger of the former president. Christians need to examine their hearts. who do we serve man or God? Thank you for speaking up.
I hear you. I have never been more disillusioned in my life. I am a believer in Jesus Christ and all he is about. I can no longer call myself "Christian" by the definition given by the actions of Christian Nationalists. If I have to choose between Christ and Christian Nationalists, I choose Christ.
AMEN. 🫂🌹🫂
When you align with the teachings of Yeshua, it spares you from the Old Testament which promotes a cruel god. Love is the core of the teachings of Yeshua. The One Source is Love. Love is the One Power that is in all of us. We are more powerful than we are taught by any religion. Follow Love.
@@jackiehoracekAmen!! A few days ago I had a very good & open minded discussion with a young relative. He’s trying to determine the course of his life, and was weighing many pros and cons trying to discover what is really most important in life.
Somewhere in our discussion I referred to the Good Samaritan, and he was not familiar with the story. So we both looked up Luke 10.25-37 in a literal translation, and read it together verse by verse, discussing it as we went. At the end of our wonderful discussion he said, “it’s really all about Love, isn’t it? Love God first & most, and Love other people like you love yourself!! Wow, and to think that ‘Love’ is a VERB… it’s amazing!”
& I think now, that’s actually what it all comes down to for me. Love God, & Love People. God gives us the best example of what love really is in Jesus, and Jesus helps us learn who our neighbor is, in the story of the Good Samaritan. God has put us here on earth, to share His love, mercy and kindness with others! Love really is a Verb- meant to show Action! If we have the love of God inside, we should be motivated to act like Jesus.
The Good Samaritan- whoever is reading this, please read it if you haven’t before! I think we can all look up Luke 10 online now, even if we don’t own a Bible. It’s a story of choices and actions, decisions made when an unexpected need is encountered. Would I be so willing to set aside my own plans? It’s also very interesting that people from the injured man’s own tribe/group did not choose help him, but rather a Samaritan businessman, a despised minority group, is the hero of the story. His choice to take time out of his work schedule to gently tend to the man’s wounds with his own hands, transport him to an inn, to spend his own money, to arrange for the wounded man to rest and recover. He truly wants the injured man to survive, and thrive!
I have to wonder, how different our world might be today, if “we the people who think we love God” actually paid attention to and followed these words of Jesus? If we can’t imagine ourselves doing so, perhaps we have yet to be filled with God’s love?
That must be what church is supposed to be- a fellowship of Love & Joy centered around God. Can we possibly be people who actually are primarily motivated by Love? So many have been wounded and abused at churches. I think all of humanity is broken; and hurt people hurt people. I think probably most of us are walking wounded.
You might say it’s not realistic in this day and age, but there are those of us who still Love God and people, regardless of the failure of so many institutional churches. I actually have so much more hope this week, than I did last week! Today has been a beautiful day, and I’ve enjoyed the sunshine! I feel grateful, and I’m noticing God’s blessings today.
In the past I’ve been hopeless, felt overwhelmed, & suffered from the politicization of faith for too long. I’m not going to let those hateful people who claim to be Christians disturb me any longer- I have Nothing more to do with followers of Hate. If they are satisfied with a counterfeit, so be it- “Though none go with me, still I will follow Jesus!”
I’m going to re-read the Gospels, now, meditatively & prayerfully. It may take me a while, I’m not in a rush. I’ll be asking the Lord to fill me with His Love, so I have plenty of it to share with others. I truly want to follow Jesus, and no one else! I will not settle for any idol or counterfeit! How can we be sure we are following Jesus unless we really know the real deal personally, and love Him first of all? I’m afraid many have just been deceived by attending a church, and thinking they are safe. I’m reminded by my friend’s grandma who said, sleeping in the garage does not make you a car!
This is what I feel I need to focus on right now, to re-center my life on Jesus, rather than on institutions man has built. I invite you to join me on a journey, and re-examine the words of Jesus in the Gospels. I want to know, What WOULD Jesus Do? 💙🙏🏼💙📖🫶🏼🫱🏽🫲🏼🌅
Maybe we could call ourselves “practicing Christians” as a way to distinguish between the “Christian” nationalists. That phrase is an oxymoron.
How wonderful that i just stumbled onto this little gem. Like this good pastor, I have always identified myself as an evangelical, and now I find myself torn. Unlike this pastor, I have NEVER voted conservative, not once. I too, am pro-life and I have found that the evidence is overwhelming that ONLY a genuinely progressive national agenda would reduce the numbers and ( I believe ) would eventually end the procedure altogether. I absolutely agree with this gentleman that conservative politicians have only been using this issue to appeal to their base. Ironically, those same conservative Christians have been voting to ensure that abortion will remain with us into perpetuity.
Well done reverend, although I don't entirely agree with you, I look forward to reading your book.
It seems that all too many don’t understand that abortion is a medical term. Someone who wanted to carry to term, but who had an incomplete miscarriage or other medical emergency will find abortion necessary to preserve their health and life.
Medical decisions of any kind need to be between the doctor and patient, not politicians or activists who fantasize they should be in control of lives other than their own. Doctor Mama Jones makes videos that explain a physician’s view of how complex this issue is.
The number would be decreased exponentially if males took personal responsibility THEMSELVES to prevent unplanned conception and pregnancy. BECOME AN ADVOCATE FOR THAT.
@@71suns I agree, however, responsibility should be shared.
@@DebKC-bj9jo Even if the GIRLS and women had been raped? It's time to teach the boys and men that they have no right raping a GIRL or woman.
I thank you, Pastor Pat, for your agonized honesty. I thank you for your courage and for your faith.
I do hope and pray that you can sway some voters in the middle of the country.
As a confused agnostic, your reasoning brings me closer faith in God and even people as I listen to you. I am appalled by all the “Christians” in my little town who show signs of worshiping such a corrupt person. Thanks! -New Sub
Stay Strong Brother!
You’re not Alone!❤
Hi Starry! Something I learned along time ago. When I read scripture, I ask the Holy Spirit for the power of discernment. Instead of words printed on a page, it’s like I’m immersed into a technicolor movie. It comes alive! Try it, hope you like it. Blessings
@starrycrown Look at the Christ of the Bible, not at self-professing Christians. People will always disappoint us sooner or later. God never fails. Blessings to you. Sounds like you’re on a journey.🙂
Thank you, sir, for a well-thought video. I am a Canadian, an avid right to lifer, and an Evangelical. With you, I am deeply ashamed of the American Evangelical church. I used to be a "litmus test voter", voting my right to life beliefs, even to scratching ballots, and voting for uncompetitive candidates.
I am no longer a litmus test voter. I have found something worse than a pro-abortion position. I believe that integrity trumps even genocide. For us Christians to abandon our integrity, which is what following Trump requires, is for us to have a horribly sin-stained message.
Thanks again for shining a light to the American Christian community.
What ever Trump likes and wants, MAGA likes and wants. No critical thinking required.
Once the MAGA minions heard Trump say, “I love the poorly educated.”… they accepted Trump as their ‘Lord and Savior’.
Once the MAGA minions heard Trump say, “I love the poorly educated.”…. they fully accepted Trump as their ‘Lord and Savior’.
Trump uses actual brainwashing techniques. During his rally at some point he plays soothing music and slows down his speech. That is hypnosis. These people need to be deprogramed.
I am so heartened that pastors are coming out. I hope you are influencing some people to see the light.
You are 100% on target. Thank you for speaking out.
VERY few people want a total ban on abortion. You would have to be okay with a 10 year old dying of pre-eclampsia while attempting to deliver her own sibling who never developed a brain as a fetus. Roe v. Wade did NOT allow abortion on demand but allowed restrictions.
I grew up Southern Baptist in Alabama, and witnessed the racism and homophobia, hypocrisy and destructiveness. I consider myself to be a spiritual person, but I would never be Religious based on what i experienced. Trump's following has shown the World the shortcomings of Religion.
I’m glad I was led to your channel - I just ordered your book and can’t wait to read it. Keep doing what you’re doing!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
I am a born progressive who has, I guess, some inner conservatism.
I'm virtually in accord with all of your sentiments.
It is, I think, about "pro life" and how one needs to interpret such. For me, I ask "who/what generates the most vibrant protection of all life itself?" and surely things such as the welfare and treatment of the living must be a parcel of this question.
You said you were a bit too optimistic originally about the sincerity of some people's relation to their own soul (my paraphrasing) and that tethering an entire worldview of a candidate to one issue can land one in a disoriented state.
Yes, I think so.
It makes me sad that these coarse measurements of a person's soul are replacements for witnessing a kindness that can only be kindled and rekindled with a spiritual walk.
🇺🇸
The trouble is abortion under Roe v Wade was dropping exponentially, and lack of abortion for medical reasons in these zero tolerance states is dangerous .
Finally! He's a man who gets me! We have exact same mindset and theology. I've felt very alone. B own less so😊
It is nice to know there are Christians out there who understand what a divisive person #45 is. And that they realize whatever they thought that Trump could do for them, they finally understand that Trumpism and Christianity should not have any kind of connection if you really believe in the Message of what Jesus taught.
As a Canadian and ex-evangelical I appreciate your comment. I left the faith about 20 years ago however I have devout pro-Trump evangelical members in my family. I know that they wish they could vote for Trump here in Canada. Your attitude is the most measured and sensible I've heard coming from someone who identified and maybe still does identify with evangelicalism. I will forward the link to this video to them. Hopefully, they will receive it with an open mind but somehow I doubt it. By the way, is that a ribbon mic you are using?
Cdn here. Gross that u have pro trumpers in your family. Hope it ends well. You are out west. More pro trump bs possible there then here in quebec
In my teens,I was a flaming Evangelical. At 21,I had a long, painful, lonely crisis of faith. After studying Comparative Religion for decades,I decided to convert to Buddhist. It's a great ethical philosophy for animal lovers. I tried to explain it to a lifelong, Evangelical friend this way. For me to get back into that mindset is like trying to fit into my ten-year-old pants. Sometimes it's a good thing to outgrow your beliefs.
One of the biggest problems with the pro-life argument is that maternity mortality is up 64% in states that have some form of abortion restriction. You are literally killing women on the basis that you are saving children. There is nothing pro-life about it. It is not a binary choice when it comes to medical care and one of the most frustrating things about the Roe v Wade debate.
It is the exact same problem with the border debate. We are taking stances that are far to simple for the complexity of the problem.
The way to solve these tough issues is through bipartisan efforts something that someone like Trump will never understand with the winner take all attitude. Tearing down the system because you can't have your way is never going to solve anything.
Also just remember Biden is the actual Christian not Trump.
Your humility is the cornerstone of your wisdom and insight.
I felt “the change” in my Lutheran church over twenty years ago. I pulled my kids and left 15 years ago. I no longer wanted to be associated with them nor did i want my kids to become like them. Never regretted it
I thanked God this Sunday for giving my local church a pastor that preaches God's love and not hate.
I feel your pain and disappointment at many Christians for corrupting our faith with hateful politics.
It will dramatically harm Christianity in the long run.
Caring for life at every stage, I’m so glad to hear you say that! Being Pro Pregnancy and yet not being there to help young mothers, who were not prepared to raise a child and willing to put mothers at risk with a non-viable fetus,, and promotion of guns, which have become the number one killer of children has angered me immensely!
I am not an Evangelical. I stumbled upon your video and what kept me watching was your sincerity and I could tell you are in pain over the loss of your Christian community. I am not sure if you know this but it sounded like you are trying to understand what happened to your church this may help you understand. Rev. Robert Schenck testified under oath in front of the House Judiciary Committee in 2022 that the leaders of the church made a "Faustian bargain" with the Republican Party as part of their quest to overturn Roe v. Wade. The deal was that the GOP would ensure Roe would be overturned but in return the Church has to go along with the GOP on everything. Raw Story who is a trusted publication wrote the article. I know that I myself do not need a church to have strong faith and a strong relationship with Jesus. I wish you peace
I'm not American. Nor am I what many White Evangelicals would call a "Real Christian". I am a (sometime) member of a Church that Protestants have been calling (in their loving Christian way), for centuries, "The Whore of Babylon". My point is that I am a complete outsider and as an outsider I have some insights that might be useful.
The largest single Evangelical Denomination in the US, in fact the largest Protestant denomination, is the Southern Baptist Convention. This is a Denomination founded to defend Slavery that later became the mainstay of Jim Crow Segregation. While they uttered some words of "Regret" over those stances, they have never made Reparations and they have never done Atonement (both of those are Biblical terms that the SBC doesn't seem to know) for those Sins (or, if you prefer, EVILS). Even aside from the SBC, most White Christian Evangelicals (Trump's most fervent followers) have, long before the advent of Donald Trump as a political figure, deep roots in racism and racist statements, as amply demonstrated by Kristin DuMez in her book "Jesus and John Wayne".
So, when Donald Trump began his Presidential Campaign with overtly racist statements, and continued to make abhorrently racist remarks, White Evangelicals, who's "Tradition" has always been racist, discovered a political figure who, overtly, was happy to walk in the footsteps of Strom Thurmond and George Wallace (the GOP had covertly been doing so for decades).
Trump is a nasty person. He was a nasty person when Nixon's Justice Department convicted him of Racial Discrimination in the 1970s and he has never had a "coming to the light" moment. But, even if Trump never existed, the racism that undergirds much of US White Evangelicalism would still exist and would still find a way to surface, especially given the natural demographic changes occurring in the US.
Trump is, and has always been, preaching to the choir...
I think you are right.
Sad and painfully true.
Tell me you're Catholic without telling me you're Catholic. That said, their attitude and teaching on divorce and remarriage is the only thing that keeps me from joining you!
New to this channel, but I’m impressed with what I’ve seen. You’re very self-reflective and articulate. More importantly, you seem very amenable to change and looking for ways to better yourself, which is the sign of a humble human being. It’s important we can talk to and listen to each other, so thank you for making this dialogue easier to have. Great work!
Thank you. I can't even begin to thank you enough. I needed this so much.
As a European atheist, it’s always boggled my brain looking on from afar and seeing Trump - a guy who clearly has never even looked inside a bible, and whose actions clearly are not in line with Christian doctrine, to have much more support amongst evangelicals than Biden, a guy who is legitimately a man of faith.
thank you for giving voice to these issues
The most sane Christian conservative I’ve ever heard. As a democrat moderate, I like what this guy has to say!
God bless you and continue the good fight against the bad and evil.
The acronym WWJD comes to mind. Well, Jesus would not support a traitor, liar, cheat, philanderer who admires dictators and talks about turning his back on our allies.
Amen, sister.
The comments here are so calm and relaxing. Thank you, Pat, for giviing such a good example.
Most Christians I've known strike me as people who want to be led so they could avoid the ambiguity and questions that come with thinking for yourself.
That’s what my mom said, she was raised Catholic.
God bless you, Pat! My wife and I are as frustrated as you are with Christian Trumpers.
It’s amazing (and discouraging) how many lies and falsehoods I hear from Christians regarding Trump, election fraud, and January 6. Even from my own pastor. 😢
If Trump wins again, thank God my citizenship is in Heaven.
I grew up a lover of American history and studied both the good and bad as I saw opportunities to learn and grow to become the person Jesus wanted me to be.
We saw very early Trump was not only dangerous for our country but also potentially divisive for the church. Sadly,
this has proven true. Trump has even destroyed the careers of what few Republicans of integrity there were left. To support him, Christians are left to spin and lie for him.
Regarding your 3 topic All I can say is : Politicians should be prosecuted for practicing medicine without a license
So glad I found this channel. I left the Evangelical church in 2017. It was no longer consistent with what I believe. Thank you from southern MN.
Thank you for this revelation & testimony of an ongoing threat we face .
Rob Reiner has a new documentary out premiering Feb 16 called God & Country
You are a very sincere and thoughtful person. All I can say is that anyone who supports Trump is definitely an aberrant individual. We are so far beyond GOP vs Dems in this upcoming election. This is an existential crisis for America of the likes we've never seen before. I care about the future of our incredible country and Mr.Trump is in opposition to our incredible country. God help us. Dues ex machina.
Exactly. Take a clear position. The time for deliberation and thinking is over. We've had since 2016 to figure out what MAGA is about. We now clearly understand what the US Evangelical movement is about based on their history and political record. By this time, there should be no confusion as these people have shown us who they are.
@@careydepass130 Indeed. Thanks my friend.
Very astute assessment here. Really appreciated your analysis.
A Christian is a footstep follower of Christ. They believe that he came to earth to teach us, leave a model for us to follow, and that he died to pay the price for our sins, thus making him our Savior. My question is this, and I truly ask it in all sincerity ~ what is the difference in being a Christian and being an "Evangelical" Christian?
Thank you for you videos, your spot on insights from the few videos I've seen thusfar, for caring about following our Lord without compromise, rather than following any man.
As an atheist I thank you for speaking out and up on this! Their rhetoric is a main reason why I fled the church.
I'm a retired Catholic priest. I've faced similar issues with my Catholic heierarchy.
Wow. That was refreshing to hear. Liked and subbed.
My reading of Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" shows that, while he wasn't a strong believer, he used the Bible as moral examples everyone could identify with. I remember the quote from, I think, Exodus, how Moses was promising the end of kings, even while the Jews were clamoring for a king, "so we could be like other nations."
In that era, very often there was only one book around and that was the Bible.
thank you, sir. we need more evangelicals like you who have read and follow the Gospel!
Thank you for this. It’s affirmative of how I’ve felt for a long time. Praying T just goes away.
When people talk about the “sanctity of life”, they never mean the mother’s life. Theydon’t care about the already living, breathing human or that father/husband or their other children who NEED THEIR MOTHER.
And that is what’s wrong with that “opinion”.
Thank you for sticking to facts. I can relate. But when people start name calling I don’t want to be part of it. One commandment to love.
"Dragged" back in? The metastasized cancer never left since that fateful 2016 plunge.
Appreciate your candor and willingness to share your thoughts.
Thank you, Pat, for putting your heart out there. Our country will never heal if we aren't willing to bare our souls. I was once a Christian, and have much love for the Christian community, people who sincerely seek to love their neighbors. To me the problem is this: what is our relationship to G-d? Is G-d buried in a book, the most recent chapter of which was written 1900 years ago, or is G-d alive today? I sum it up as bad exegesis. Stop insisting on living in the 1st century, and see G-d alive in the beautiful world around you. Add to that world's beauty with your one precious life. Modern evangelicalism is bibliolatry.
Hi Win …biblio-idolatry…I agree. I thought I coined the term but perhaps you have as well or perhaps you have come across that term somewhere? I’m curious.
Anyway, I share your perspective. I’m working on becoming a volunteer for a group called “Recovering from Religion “. Are you involved in an online organization that you appreciate?
Anyway, cheers!
@@cipherklosenuf9242 Hi, Cipher. Well, I think you have unique claim to the term biblio-idolatry, a great word you've coined, and I think we think alike on this issue. I haven't been involved with any online organizations, other than subscribe to good TH-cam channels that don't dumb down Christianity, like this one. I get much inspiration from the 19th century transcendentalists, such as Ralph Waldo Emerson. Here is a bit from his essay called Nature, I recommend him and Thoreau and others...
@@cipherklosenuf9242 Our age is retrospective.
It builds the sepulchres of the fathers.
It writes biographies, histories, and criticism.
The foregoing generations beheld God and nature face to face; we, through their eyes.
Why should not we also enjoy an original relation to the universe?
Why should not we have a poetry and philosophy of insight and not of tradition, and a religion by revelation to us, and not the history of theirs?
Embosomed for a season in nature, whose floods of life stream around and through us, and invite us by the powers they supply, to action proportioned to nature, why should we grope among the dry bones of the past, or put the living generation into masquerade out of its faded wardrobe?
The sun shines to-day also.
There is more wool and flax in the fields.
There are new lands, new men, new thoughts.
Let us demand our own works and laws and worship.
@@WingraWonder Yes, I like those too.
Have you read Lucretius “On the Nature of Things”?
I've not read it. What about it makes you recommend it? Thanks. @@cipherklosenuf9242
Trump and his devotees have managed to put many nails in the coffin that the faith lays in.
Not faith…..organized religion
i think you are right on.
I just came upon your channel and was heartened to hear your heart-felt thoughts on the corrupting of American (not to mention growing numbers of Latin American and African) evangelicals and the need for America to find a middle ground on abortion. These are difficult times to be a faithful Christian in America, but one thing that will help us find the right path forward is to talk to one another, as you are doing here.
You are seeking many truths. I commend you for this. The majority of "Christians" in church actually are not saved Christians. Unfortunately, this may never change. Many of us recognize your willingness to speak truth.
And discussion of Trump also needs to connect him to Project 2025.
They are both scary, and terrifying together.
WORD !!!!
The problem with Christianity, and religion in general, is that it teaches you to accept things on faith, rather than based on evidence, and to be subservient. This is what opened the door to people like Donald Trump to take advantage of a group of people he could tell anything he wanted and they would believe him. Society would be much better off if people stopped having irrational beliefs.
People would be much better off if they understood what love actually is! we really can learn a lot from the life and examples of Jesus, and his teachings. If people really focused on what Jesus actually says in the Gospels, rather than on the institution men has build up afterwards- Then they wouldn’t be so easily fooled by someone who comes along claiming to be a Christian, when they have No good fruit in their life, and are actually teaching Hate!!
@@SalyLuz-hc6he Honestly, we really have no idea WHAT Jesus said or taught. There were absolutely no first-hand accounts of anything he did or said. One troubling thing is there is not one account of him speaking out against slavery. And having irrational beliefs, no matter what, is not ideal. Better to be a good person without irrational beliefs.
I was raised Independent Baptist. My grandparents raised my siblings and I and my grandfather was the preacher so yes I was raised in an evangelical home. When I was 40 years old I converted to Catholics mainly because they seemed to have a softer more loving Christlike approach to helping those that are less fortunate. They also seemed to be less judgmental. Fast forward to 2016 and Trump and all the different Christian denominations went crazy. I no longer attend church because I really feel no commonality with the other parishioners. I still am somewhat spiritual but not going to church and getting revived each week makes it difficult to have that connection with God. I hope someday to get back to church but as long as Trumps influence is still present within the church I cannot go back. This channel is awesome. Keep up the good work.
It is very puzzling as to why the All Powerful Creator of the entire universe and everything in it would be so utterly preoccupied with the petty politics and material economic desires of a select small group of followers on just one particular planet in a universe so vast that at the speed of light it would take 93 billion years to cross.
One thing I've thought for some time, is that the republican embrace of right to life/anti-abortion rhetoric was at least partly to bring more Catholics into their fold. As a lifelong Catholic, I am convinced that many Catholics were enthralled by the seeming achievement of a long-sought goal, and ignored all the QAnon conspiracy-laced lunacy and cynical power-grabbing that had co-opted them.
Very very true
The big church prosperity conmen already had a whole flock of people housebroken to fall for the next big grifter.
They started 'prosperity gospel' that taught wealth was a gift from God (when the Bible teaches the opposite). They said that people with money were automatically 'blessed', (when the Bible says the opposite) and trained people to pull out their wallets and pay up for a chance to be blessed themselves. They trained people to fall for the con, to have faith in the immoral and to believe in the irrational.
Patrick just found you here- thanks very much as faith is critical at this juncture.