If you’re one of the Christian folks shouting from the rooftops that there is this new “cult” called Trumpism in the Christian church, please take a look at the image on this post. Trump is just one of many in a long line of politicians that are all too happy to use the church as a hammer for their own personal gain. But is this really the problem in our churches right now? In many pastors’ minds, that depends on what the word “is” is…

I think this is actually a symptom of a different problem within the church.

Organized religion has been playing a shell game for decades now. The powers that be in these institutional structures have their own agendas, and they are often not Godly ones. In fact, they are very similar to political ones if we want to face the truth. In order to keep coffers full and maintain power, church organizations have executed strategic “platforms” just like politicians. They often use language that sounds religious and biblical, but they are designed to create momentum towards certain outcomes that benefit their organizations and increase their influence, all while keeping church goers asleep in the pews. Here are a few:

• Seeker sensitive movement

• Purpose driven movement

• Spiritual formation

• Critical race theory

What do these movements have in common? Well, I can tell you first what they don’t have in common and that’s a biblical worldview and a desire to build God’s Kingdom. What they do have in common are things the bible warns against:

• Love of sin

• Materialism

• Mysticism

• Atheism/Marxism

What results have we enjoyed as a result of these agendas coming out of recent church leadership?

Biblical illiteracy

Decline in church attendence

Divorce rate the same as non-Christians

Pro-choice Christians

Pro-LGBTQ Christians

We need church structures that follow the bible in all things, not ones that structure themselves as businesses and large political organizations. We need churches that focus on biblical discipleship that teach faith working through love – Galatians 5:6