Whenever I take long-distance road trips by myself, I tend to dial in Christian radio. Not because I enjoy it, mind you. I don’t. Not by a long shot.
Rather, I use my driving time as an experiment in American religious ethnography — that is, the study of religious customs and culture. (I readily confess. I am an academic nerd of the first order).
I am always struck by both the growing number of right-wing talk shows and news broadcasts, together with the complete absence of anything resembling progressive, liberal or even moderate news reporting.
A few years ago I mentioned to a close friend that whenever the United States finally crosses the line and slips into a dictatorial, fascist state, our new American Fuehrer will have a large network of ready-made news media at his disposal, naturally complimenting the already servile corporate, mainstream news.
That fascist, propaganda outlet will be Christian radio, together with Christian television and online media.
I am no prophet, but my cynical musings continue to take shape. (Read this fascinating Politico article, “Church of the Donald: Never mind Fox. Trump’s most reliable media mouthpiece is now Christian TV”).
A few days ago, John Fea’s very fine blog, The Way of Improvement Leads Home, pointed out the development of Robert Jeffress’s “Path to Victory” website, which gives a good deal of attention to his many appearances on Fox News.
Jeffress is president Trump’s so-called “spiritual adviser” who, like many evangelicals today, has tragically confused the kingdom of God with partisan politics. This confusion is a cancer that has spread all throughout American evangelicalism. Sorting through this confusion is the primary motivation behind my book, I Pledge Allegiance: A Believer’s Guide to Kingdom Citizenship in 21st Century America.
Jeffress has the gall to describe his website as “a brand new ministry platform.” Whatever it may be, however, it is not Christian ministry. It reminds me, rather, of the false priests and prophets (who seem always to be in the majority, both in ancient Israel and in America today) condemned by the prophet Jeremiah.
“From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain…They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. ‘Peace, peace they say, when there is no peace. Are they ashamed of their loathsome conduct? No. They have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush.” (Jeremiah 6:13-15; also 8:10-12)
Again, I cannot help but recall the many ways that this very same 
confusion once worked to extinguish genuine Christian witness in Nazi Germany.
No, Trump is not Hitler. But history does repeat itself. Trump has successfully normalized abominable, inhumane, ignorant behavior, ideas and policies in our public discourse.
Men like Robert Jeffress are normalizing the betrayal of gospel truth for 30 silver pieces of glad-handing, White House receptions, photo ops and D.C. gossip about the many ways in which evangelicals continue to serve as the best useful idiots inside the beltway.
