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With Iowa's supposed evangelical "kingmaker" unable to influence the outcome, the Iowa caucus demonstrated how weak the Christian Right has become.
Bob Vander Plaats is the most influential Christian Right leader in Iowa. His support had been considered essential to winning the Iowa caucus. In 2016 he (supposedly) boosted Ted Cruz to victory. But his pick this year, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, lost to Donald Trump by 30 points.
In a chapter for an edited book about evangelicals and the Trump administration that will be published March 5 I argue that Christian Right political power peaked in the George W. Bush administration and was weak during the Trump administration. The results of the Iowa caucus lend additional support to my thesis.
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When I say "weak," I'm not referring to the ability to mobilize voters. The Christian Right can still do that, I assume. Instead, I'm referring to the ability to influence policy. The power to exert its will on the political process, in other words. I provide several examples in the chapter of the Christian Right being able to do that during the Bush administration but not the Trump administration. For instance, the Christian Right has been among the strongest supporters of refugees and helped formulate and implement current programs, but was unable to defend against Trump's decimation of our refugee programs.
The leaders of the Christian Right — Vander Plaats, Family Research Council's Tony Perkins, Mike Huckabee, and the like — are now just second lieutenants, taking orders from the top. The top leader of the Christian Right is Donald Trump. Incredible but true — a guy who pays hush money to porn stars and was found guilty of rape by a jury is now the leader of an evangelical political movement.
How did we get here? Answering that would take more than a blog post, but a couple thoughts come to mind. First, in order to convince Christians to support a man who bragged about sexually assaulting women, many Christian Right leaders argued Trump was chosen by God to bless America. After that, how could they oppose God's chosen? Second, rather than discipling Christians to become more like Jesus in their approach to politics, the Christian Right has been discipling Christians to become loyal Republicans. In doing so, the movement became a tool for the Republican Party, and now that the party has been taken over by Trump, it's a tool at his disposal.
What Else We're Reading
Daniel Bennett: "What the hell is wrong with these people?" On the inevitability and pitfalls on evangelical "othering"
And this is where we must be self-aware. We have to be willing to read, hear, and learn from people with whom we’re predisposed to disagree, especially our brothers and sisters in the church. This doesn’t mean refusing to debate, correct, or voice opposition when we disagree. We don’t have to buy what others are selling. But if we don’t engage at all, and in good faith, we’re not treating our brothers and sisters as made in God’s image. We can identify errors in others, but only when we actually engage with them.
It’s comfortable for us to instinctively dismiss people not fitting into our own silos or echo chambers. But for Christians called to abandon the habits and tendencies of the world, we should strive for something richer and more inclusive.
AP: "AI-powered misinformation is the world’s biggest short-term threat, Davos report says"
False and misleading information supercharged with cutting-edge artificial intelligence that threatens to erode democracy and polarize society is the top immediate risk to the global economy, the World Economic Forum said in a report Wednesday.
In its latest Global Risks Report, the organization also said an array of environmental risks pose the biggest threats in the longer term. The report was released ahead of the annual elite gathering of CEOs and world leaders in the Swiss ski resort town of Davos and is based on a survey of nearly 1,500 experts, industry leaders and policymakers.
Politico: "Why the World Is Betting Against American Democracy"
As voters cast ballots in the Iowa caucuses Monday, many in the United States see this year’s presidential election as a test of American democracy. But, in a series of conversations with a dozen current and former diplomats, I sensed that to many of our friends abroad, the U.S. is already failing that test.
The diplomats are aghast that so many U.S. leaders let their zeal for partisan politics prevent the basic functions of government. It’s a major topic of conversations at their private dinners and gatherings. Many of those I talked to were granted anonymity to be as candid with me as they are with each other.
Forbes: "Texas Blasted As ‘Cruel, Inhumane’ By Homeland Security After Blocking Rescue Efforts For 3 Migrants That Drowned"
Texas denied federal agents access to a section of the southern border where they were trying to save migrants who eventually drowned in the Rio Grande, the U.S. Homeland Security Department reported, drawing fierce criticism, with Homeland Security blasting the state’s policies as “cruel, dangerous, and inhumane.”
Events
Pastors and ministry leaders: Join one of our “Politics, Polarization, and Peacemaking” conferences on January 29 in Phoenix or February 15 in Orlando.
Mending Division Academy
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Mending Division Academy is a set of 6 courses for small groups or individuals. Each course deals with a topic that has been a major driver of division in American churches.
When Conspiracies Divide Us: Confronting Misinformation
When Crises of Faith Divide Us: Confronting Deconstruction
When Journalism Divides Us: Confronting Our Media Consumption Habits
When Polarization Divides Us: Confronting the Perception Gap
When Politics Divides Us: Confronting Political Idolatry
When Social Media Divides Us: Confronting Our Internet Habits
American Values Coalition is a non-profit, 501c3 organization. Please consider showing your appreciation for the work we do providing this newsletter and other resources by making a donation.
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