It came as no surprise that the religious right was none too pleased at the Women’s March. But the reasons that a number of fundie luminaries denounced it were staggering, even by religious right standards. Depending on who you watch, it was either influenced by witchcraft or driven by demonic influence. So if you stand up for women being respected and stand against a president who actually gloried in disrespecting and objectifying women, you’re influenced by dark powers. It made this longtime religious right watcher wonder–how is that possible?
Well, now I have part of my answer. According to a pastor who is one of the most rabid supporters of Donald Trump, any form of opposition of any kind to Trump is a bad thing. A really, really, bad thing. Specifically, it’s a Satanic thing.
Rick Joyner of MorningStar Ministries was one of the first religious right big shots to bow before the Orange Calf. As early as March, he was arguing that Trump was just like Jesus and his disciples. For that reason, he suggested that mature Christians ought to throw their weight behind the Donald. After the election, he doubled down on his claim that Trump was just like the disciples.
How can anyone possibly think a guy who finds it acceptable to to plaster a private cell phone number on social media, mock the disabled, condone violence at his rallies, and degrade women bears even a passing resemblance to Jesus? Well, Joyner took to Facebook on Wednesday to declare that anyone who even dares ask that question is working for Satan. People for the American Way’s Right Wing Watch got a clip.
Joyner, proudly wearing a “Make America Great Again” cap, marveled at the rough ride some of Trump’s nominees are getting in the Senate. He then made it clear that he was outraged at the outrage over Trump.
“The behavior of the left after this election is mind-boggling. It’s not only undemocratic, it’s unfair, it’s unjust, it’s unhinged, it’s undignified, it’s immature.”
Joyner was dumbfounded by how “childish” some of Trump’s opponents were acting. Later, he suggested that he had an explanation for it.
“This boisterous, absolutely out-of-control rage that’s coming on our country, I think it is Lucifer. Just saying.”
Joyner reminded his followers that when Satan is kicked out of heaven, “he comes to Earth with great wrath.” But, he said, he’s showing that wrath “because we’re winning.” As Joyner sees it, Satan is “coming with great rage” at being dislodged from his previous strongholds, “and all those he can control are going to manifest his rage.” He believes, though, that “the victory is not far off,” because it won’t be long before “the glory of the Lord” appears–and it will cause nations to turn. Watch the whole thing here, if you can stand it.
Okay, Rick. I’ll play. Where were you during all the years that people were peddling conspiracy theories that President Obama was a closet radical Muslim? You want to talk about undemocratic and undignified? That’s about the only way to describe this backdoor attempt to gut both the First Amendment and the constitutional ban on religious tests. Oh, that’s right–you yourself pushed that line, so it must be okay. And if you’re concerned about unhinged behavior, where were you when Trump helped drive the birther nonsense?
Unless I heard you wrong, Rick, you’re saying our anger at Trump’s almost-hourly outrages in office is inspired by the devil. So you mean to tell us that when a president willfully uses an unsecured cell phone that literally can’t be updated, we can’t call that out because we’d be doing the devil’s work? And are you telling us that when a White House effectively declares war on the press and the First Amendment, we shouldn’t say anything lest we be inadvertently helping the devil? And when a president disables recording equipment when calling the leader of a country suspected of compromising him, we should keep quiet rather than help Satan?
I could go on. But Joyner seems to think he can have it both ways. When he openly trolled in one of the most pernicious smears against Obama, it was perfectly fine. But when we dare speak against Trump, it’s Satanic. I’ve seen my share of contortions and distortions from the religious right over the years, but this is one of the worst. I say this as a charismatic/pentecostal Christian who opposes Trump because of his faith, not in spite of it.
Joyner would like you to think that he and his followers are winning. Sorry, Rick, but you’re in for a rude awakening. At this rate, Trump is headed for a landslide defeat in 2020–that is, if he lasts that long. It’s more likely that he will be forced to resign or be impeached and removed before then. Regardless of when Trump goes down, if you seriously believe that opposing him is Satanic, then you and the rest of the religious right will deserve to go down with him.
(featured image from Joyner’s Facebook)
