Where was Idleman?

Recently, Pastor Shane Idleman wrote an opinion titled, “Pro-Trump & No-Trump Christians – Can They Be United In 2020?” Idleman states Donald Trump is not racist: “…the lie that Donald Trump is a racist has driven fear-based voting…white Christians are viewed as Republican racists when in reality it was the Republicans who fought against slavery…” Regarding Trump’s character: “Yes, character counts but President Trump doesn’t set the spiritual climate of our nation, we do.”

Dr. King’s Letter from Birmingham jail, shows he would be disappointed today: “But despite these notable exceptions, I must honestly reiterate that I have been disappointed with the church… But the judgment of God is upon the church as never before. If today’s church does not recapture the sacrificial spirit of the early church, it will lose its authenticity, forfeit the loyalty of millions, and be dismissed as an irrelevant social club… Every day I meet young people whose disappointment with the church has turned into outright disgust.” White evangelical church fits this mold.

Trump’s comments can be construed as racist, “… comments about Mexican immigrants, his open hostility to N.F.L. players protesting police brutality and his earlier “birther” crusade against President Obama, claiming falsely he was not a United States citizen.” “…Why Black Worshipers Are Leaving White Evangelical Churches,” New York Times, March 2018

Idleman writes about Republicans fighting against slavery long ago, but remained silent while Obama and his wife were called racist names. Idleman remained silent when the Christianity Today editor wrote about Trump’s character: “None of the president’s positives can balance the moral and political danger we face under a leader of such grossly immoral character.” The white church today fits King’s letter. Guy Marsh, an atheist, has spoken more about morality in the past four years than Idleman. Vincent White Lancaster