The Real Jesus — One; David French — Zero – Opinion

David French is one among the most memorable names to ever have walked this earth. Like the French, he immediately surrenders, in French’s case anything vaguely resembling defending conservative principles and practices, whenever a butterfly sneeze’s worth of opposition floats in his general direction lest he be thought unseemly by The Washington In-Crowd. French belongs to NeverTrump Inc.’s elite section. This small, noisy, and irritated flea circus of obnoxious denizens are constantly drifting from one grift cry OMB (Orange Man Bad), and criticizing their supporters with so much monotony it could make an Mariah Carey Christmas album feel like John Coltrane.

French’s latest philippic is imaginatively titled Deconstructing White Evangelical Politics. Since this is only the 374th or so time French has gone off on a “You can’t be a Christian and support Donald Trump” jag, apparently he has assumed the role of the apostle Paul writing to the church in Philippi (“Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you”). It is a minor thing that Paul the Apostle, not French, has something to share. Who can worry about these mundane issues when MAGA is all around?

French begins by asking this question.

The most fundamental question in American politics is: Are white evangelical politics primarily a result of consistent theological convictions or primarily a function of culture, tradition and history?

The problem lies in the details. We live in a society where our technology/social media overlord wannabes daily pound us with the mantra that the old ways, i.e., Christianity and its social tenets, are to be discarded in favor of embracing the “new” way of thinking. There is nothing new about preaching everyone deserves acclaim for who they perceive themselves to be, but that’s beside the point. Is it possible that evangelicals on any level of politics or spirituality can be considered to be important? They are not of any significance, so how could the question have any relevance?

The next step is the slam.

Is it possible that white Evangelicals tend to gravitate to political posts with little or no connection to theology? Instead, what if they’re shaped by far more mundane (though still quite powerful) cultural forces that ultimately have little to do with faith and then MisinterpretationTheological as well as cultural?

Hmm. Let’s see here.

Although there will be minor disagreements between evangelicals on theological matters, they all agree on the core doctrines. To spend eternity with an incorruptible God, all people must be saved from their sins. Christ, who came down to Earth and gave His life for us all as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Christ rose physically from the grave, dispelling the notion that physical death is the end of the world. Faith in Jesus is the only way to Salvation. The Bible is God’s only inerrant Word. These are only a few highlights.

Now, let’s look at Biblical social interaction elements. Logically, if you hold the Bible to be the Word of God then you should live your life according to its teachings. What’s the Bible telling us? Give your best to one another. Protect the weak. Help the needy and poor. Teach others about Jesus Christ. Respect each other and treat them as you would like to be treated. Take responsibility and be responsible. Don’t blame others for your shortcomings or failures. Remember, we are all created in God’s image, we are all equally guilty of sin, and we are all wholly dependent on God’s grace. Therefore, be humble.

You can see it sounding like conservative principles.

French is not your only option.

The answer is quite simple—the theological convictions of Christian conservatism were put to a profound stress test, and the convictions failed. Partisanship prevailed. Populism was the winner. Some ways the South did win.

Your Bibles, manners, and evil Southerners! Dare you!!

French continues with the standard “How could Christians support Trump when he’s such a MEANYPANTS?!” diatribe. Oh, I don’t know. The same way how back in the day, the ruler of a country had an affair with one of his most loyal general’s wife. He had her get pregnant. He tried to cover it up by calling the general back from the battlefield while “suggesting” maybe he take some R&R (hint hint nudge nudge wink wink) with the Mrs. The ruler ordered his general to return to battle with the orders, which, unbeknownst of the general, ensured his death. Following the unavoidable, the ruler married his grieving widow, hoping that all would be convinced the baby was prematurely born. This is a stark contrast to anything Trump has done or spoken. Yes, King David was the ruler, and God considered him to be a man after God’s own heart. Evidently, God forgives sins regardless of the approval or disapproval of Washington’s elite. Trump and King David are not being compared. God works through who He chooses. He’s very God-ish that way.

Next, French rails against white evangelicals refusing to surrender to COVID hysteria and rejecting taking the assorted vaccines, which, as everyone knows, are 100% safe and effective except when they’re not. Actually, given the various vaccines’ alarming shortcomings, isn’t it ironic on a level that Alanis Morissette would approve how the supposedly anti-science Bible-believers have a better grip on the science involved than the scientists we’re supposed to trust?

French continues on with his usual list of accusations against evangelicals, which reads more like an anti-Christian manifesto than anything conservative. While he doesn’t explicitly state it, French makes it very clear that he views himself as the true arbiter for Christianity and politics. It is likely to surprise any other Christians who may disagree. Who are we to challenge David French in The Gospel According To David French?

It is hard to imagine how the French would react if they had met Jesus Christ during His earthly ministry. Long before Twitter was invented, the One Who said nasty things. The One Who could flip over tables, whip people and send them running. Only The One who was able to give authority over humanity, individually and collectively. The One to Whom sinners and prostitutes flocked because He gave them the love “polite” society denied. It’s no stretch to envision French going full Pharisee on Jesus. As to how Jesus would respond … while French’s condescending elitist fluff and nonsense is fair territory for criticism, aside from that? I’m not going to tell you.

Apart from bringing up Jude 1,9.