Adlai Stevenson was the Democrat nominee for President in 1952 and 1956. JFK came very close to being his running mate in 1956....and it has always been considered that missing out....and thus missing out on the defeat....made him the likely nominee in 1960. Stevenson was a Unitarian....thus not a Christian....but he knew enough to make this comment on Norman Vincent Peale...."I find the apostle Paul appealling.....and I find the apostle Peale appalling." Even Stevenson knew that Peale's gospel was not the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Donald Trump was somewhat of a churchgoer in his early years....introduced by his father....but the church was Norman Vincent Peale's church in New York City....and the gospel of positive thinking. Peale's book....The Power of Positive Thinking....may be the only book that Trump has read cover to cover. Psychologists took aim at what was considered a psychology cult....and Christian ministers warned that this was not Christianity. Robert Schuller was of this variety and Joel Osteen is only the latest.
Trump spoke over the weekend at a 'faith summit' in North Carolina. Paula White....Trump's chief spiritual advisor....another purveyor of gross heretical teachings was present....as was Ben Carson....whose life journey was simply incredible. He embraced the Seventh Day Adventist faith of his grandmother while living with her for two years during a tumultuous childhood. There was a day in the church when we recognized the various cults and more than problematic denominational sects. We all may not have been experts....but we knew enough to discern major problems. That is all gone today as evidenced by this faith summit....and many other political faith gatherings and organizations.
Donald Trump gave an abbreviated rally speech at the summit....extolling Norman Vincent Peale....and the attendees didn't seem to care a bit as they applauded....while chanting at times....USA USA USA. This is what evangelicalism has come to! We are blind today to the wolves....and the antichrists....and the false prophets!
Evangelicalism would not be what it is today had not Donald Trump....an antichrist....of which the apostle John warned....who had come out from among us...lured us into following him through flatteries and false prophecies....drew us away from trust in Christ....and changed us within and without.
Note: This is very good news....John MacArthur appeared at the evening service....and spoke for about six minutes....giving an update on his health.....giving his opinion on an issue that had come in the church and evangelicalism....and speculated that he might be back in the pulpit is four to six weeks. Each week I had been praying for him to return....to preach the gospel....and to warn. Now for the not-so-good-news....John MacArthur had been the loudest minister on the national scene over the decades....warning of false prophets in the church. Just Google....John MacArthur....Beware Of False Prophets. That series of programs is from 1980 or 1981....and it has been rebroadcast many times since then....but when the pandemic came....and they attempted to close his church....this stalwart minister of the gospel....made a series of serious mistakes.....all revolving around politics. He denied the pandemic....(I heard it with my own ears folks)....and said in an interview just before the last election that any true believer will be voting for Donald Trump....which essentially kicked me out of the kingdom....and also questioned the faith of men like John Piper. OK....we all make mistakes....no one more than me....but in that same interview that I just mentioned....he again strongly implied to put it mildly....voting for the false prophet that he had missed. John MacArthur's serious health problems began on the first day of this year. may God restore him to his pulpit in these tumultuous times....permit other strong voices to be on the national scene....and stir up all of His faithful shepherds....while opening the ears of all of us.....all to His glory alone!
