A photo surfaced yesterday of Trump in the Oval Office surrounded by Evangelical pastors praying for him, with hands laid upon him. The biggest complaint I heard was regarding the separation of church and state, and while I agree that is an issue, that is not my main problem with it.

If a person wishes to seek counsel from a pastor, in private, with a pure heart and intent, that is for him to decide. However, that is laughable in this situation. This is Donald J. Trump, after all. These pastors were not there to offer counsel. They had an agenda (emphasis mine).

The leaders met with Jennifer Korn, deputy director and liaison from the White House, for a day-long meeting to discuss several issues, including the Affordable Care Act, religious freedom, pending judicial nominees, criminal justice reform and support for Israel. During their visit the leaders paid a visit to the Oval Office where Vice President Pence and Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, dropped in. About 30 leaders received invitations to the White House around a week and a half ago and included many of Trump’s faith advisory council from his campaign, including Florida megachurch pastor Paula White, South Carolina megachurch pastor Mark Burns, former Republican representative Michele Bachmann and Southern Baptist pastors Jack Graham, Ronnie Floyd and Robert Jeffress. (WaPo)

Trump is a self-admitted heathen. He does not attend church. The man cannot correctly name a single book of the Bible (Two Corinthians, anyone?). When asked his favorite verse, he quoted scripture from the Old Testament that was later reversed by Jesus in the New Testament. “An eye for an eye” became “turn the other cheek” when all things were put away and made new again.

Our president looks to himself for guidance, as he has stated more than once. He has the best brain, and he is the smartest person he knows. These are not “normal” pastors one would seek out for spiritual guidance, but megachurch leaders who rely on charisma and charm to bring in millions of tax-free dollars. They, and their flock, seek influence within the White House for “religious freedom” – or discrimination disguised as such, conservative justices, etc.

The Bible specifically states that you are to pray in private. There is no exception for media relations or pastors to release pictures to social media. That is just blatantly pandering to a base that so strongly desires to believe Trump is something he is not. According to Pew, over sixty percent of white evangelicals and white Catholics who attend church at least once per month approve of Trump’s job performance, compared to 39% of the general public.

It would be much easier to convince me Trump thinks he is a god than to convince me he believes in one. However, he obviously has no issue pretending in order to help his approval ratings. I am surprised lightening did not strike.

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