During Donald Trump’s inauguration on Friday, five Christian leaders and one rabbi will offer readings and prayer for the new administration. At first glance, the standout among those religious figures might be Rabbi Marvin Hier, the first Jewish leader to pray at a presidential swearing-in since Ronald Reagan took the oath of office in 1985.

Still, President-elect Donald Trump’s decision to choose a Jewish leader isn’t particularly surprising, since his daughter converted to Judaism and his son-in-law’s parents have a longstanding relationship with Hier.

The more controversial picks may be the two Christian leaders who preach the so-called prosperity gospel. According to Brian Fikkert and Steve Corbett, the authors of “When Helping Hurts,” this form of theology “teaches that God rewards increasing levels of faith with greater amounts of wealth.” This belief typically incorporates preaching from the pulpit that true believers must open up their pockets if they want God to shower them with abundant blessings.





Who else will be speaking?

Paula White, Trump’s spiritual advisor

Trump has confided in Paula White as his spiritual advisor for over 14 years. White is the only woman speaking at the inauguration and will chair his Evangelical Advisory Board during his administration. As the senior pastor of the non-denominational church New Destiny Christian Center, she previously hosted her own show, “Paula White Today,” on Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), a global Christian TV channel.

“I can absolutely tell you that Mr. Trump has a relationship with God. He is a Christian, he accepts Jesus as his Lord and savior,” White said in an interview with POLITICO last year.

According to the interview, Trump first noticed her while he was watching Christian television. He says she’s “fantastic.”

Prior to New Destiny, White co-founded Tampa, Florida-based Without Walls International Church with her now ex-husband, Randy White. In 2007, Iowa Senator Charles Grassley, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, launched an investigation into the financial practices of the churches led by the Whites and some of the country’s other big televangelists like Benny Hinn and Joyce Meyer.

The findings of that investigation suggested White had a lavish lifestyle. For example, the Whites owned a $2.6 million, 8,000-square-foot waterfront home with a concrete pool and spa in Tampa, according to property records cited by the Senate Finance Committee. White and her then-husband also purchased a $3.5 million condo in (none other than) Trump Tower in New York City, an “insider” told the Senate committee. An “insider” familiar with the church also told the committee that the Whites received housing allowances for both residences.

The Whites also each received compensation of more than $1 million, an insider told the Senate committee. That’s despite the fact that the church itself seemed to be in financial trouble.

In August 2008, Without Walls International defaulted on a $1 million loan due to a credit union and had to file for bankruptcy, the Senate report noted. While the Senate committee ended the probe without penalizing any of the churches involved, the investigation did bring to light some unsavory allegations.

Earlier this month, theologian Michael Horton criticized White in an op-ed in the Washington Post, noting: “Televangelist White has a lot in common with Trump…Both are in their third marriage and have endured decades of moral and financial scandal.”

In response to attacks like Horton’s, White said, in an interview with CNN’s Erin Burnett, “Yes, I have gone through divorce, yes I’ve gone through things. I believe marriage is an absolute sacred institution of God…These are things that happen in life. Not everything is perfect in my life but I don’t think everything is perfect in anybody’s life. And that is why we need salvation. That is what redemption is all about. Thank God for his goodness or we’d all be in trouble.”

We also reached out to White for comment on criticisms of the prosperity gospel but did not immediately receive a response.

Despite the criticisms, White has a huge following, and a sort of celebrity status (she’s now married to Jonathan Cain, the keyboard player for the band Journey).

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