Easter Sunday has arrived. It is the day we Christians celebrate the resurrection of the Lord, our Savior, Jesus Christ. On this day we offer each other greetings such as, "Happy Easter," and "The Lord has risen." That's opposed to 48 hours ago on Good Friday, the day Christ was beaten, whipped, forced to wear a crown of thorns, then crucified. It is a death which is prolonged, extremely painful, and ultimately results in suffocation.
Despite its name, the Friday before Easter was and is anything but good. Most Christians, a lot of them anyway, spend that day in solemn prayer, reflection, and fasting. Some true believers will not even speak. Unless, of course you are Donald John Trump. He went on twitter two days ago in all caps and posted, "HAPPY GOOD FRIDAY EVERYONE."
Trump is supposed to be a Presbyterian. Now, I have a couple of Presbyterian friends, pretty close ones as a matter of fact, and I have yet to have either one of them wish me a, "HAPPY GOOD FRIDAY," in person, or via an email.
Well, Christianity is a pretty big tent and things can differ from sect to sect and even church to church within those sects. In addition there are some Christian churches out there which claim to be non denominational, or to, "cross denominational boundaries."
Many of these churches eschew ritual of any kind, regularly entertain their congregations with rock and roll music during their services, and the attendees are totally beholden to their ministers for biblical interpretation and teachings. There aren't any traditions, or historical backgrounds which can be fallen back on, except those words of the charismatic salesman in the pulpit.
Since they are normally stand alone enterprises they're also completely dependent on the money donated by their congregations and side endeavors such as gift shops, camps, and occasionally schools. In other words they need bodies in the pews on a weekly, if not daily, basis to continue operating. Not to mention finance the life styles of their founders and pastors which are sometimes not just comfortable, but, let's say, lavish.
Such lifestyles are not hypocritical to these shepherds of the flock, because they preach the gospel of prosperity. In their theology, the more fervently you believe in Jesus and give to His Church--because their particular church is God's, despite the name on the deed--the more God will reward you financially. The late, Oral Roberts used to put it this way, "If you have only a dollar give it to our ministry and God will repay you tenfold." Or something like that anyway.
Roberts once went so far as to tell his followers, if enough donations didn't come in to finish a tower he was building the Lord would call him home. The tower, a massive Tulsa skyscraper, was finished, but, as with everyone, Roberts eventually got called home anyway. He died in 2009 from complications of pneumonia.
All of this might explain a couple of things. First, these preachers running independent mega churches are arch conservatives who love the guy who wished everyone a happy Good Friday. On the surface they talk about the issue of abortion. They rail about how liberals want to abolish the tax exempt status of their churches. Knowing their congregations, they also warn that leftists will take away their guns, despite Jesus being a pro NRA type of guy. Not to mention all the founding fathers were devout, born again Christians--a twisted view of history with no basis in reality.
Most of all, however, the secret none of them will admit to is they see a little bit of themselves in Donald Trump. After all, he really likes to make money and spend it. So do they. He is the consummate businessman who used a million dollar donation from his Dad to build an empire.
They, in their own minds anyway, are empire builders too. The difference being their product isn't resort properties and hotels. No, it is a gospel of their own which is intended to make thousands. yea millions of people feel good. So good they're willing to pay scads of money for the divine assurance they are blessed. These beliefs and especially the donations fulfill God's unwritten promise to make people like Rodney Howard-Browne and Anthony Spell fabulously well to do.
In the end the greatest impediment to the aspirations of both Don Trump and evangelical preachers running mega churches is the federal government. All those rules, regulations, all that oversight, it fouls the process. It gets in the way. It interferes with the cash flow.
Now we may have a hint why goofs like Howard-Browne in Tampa and Tony Spell in Baton Rouge refuse to close their churches during the pandemic, despite the frantic edicts of governors and Don Trump himself. It isn't about the first amendment, the laying of hands, the baptisms, or bringing sinners to Jesus. It isn't even about the 13 magical machines in Howard-Browne's church, which, according to him, sterilize everything, including the congregation, or the anointed handkerchiefs handed out at Spell's which prevent the spread of COVID-19. No, it is all about the cash flow.
Indeed, to maintain a mega church, the rock band, the school buses, the ministries, and the swimming pool at the parsonage, there cannot be an interruption when it comes to income, no matter how dangerous it is for those who tithe. That's right baby, get 'em in the pews, get their money, then commend their good souls to God when they die.
It is, after all, the nature of the business.
4-12-20
You, sir, are a better man than I. I ran out of things to say about Trump and his ilk a long time ago.
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