Trump’s religious adviser is a familiar face in Florida

Let’s be honest, when it comes to religious conviction President Donald Trump makes Vladimir Lenin look more observant than Pope Francis.

So should anyone be all that surprised that in his continuing efforts to woo America’s evangelical community he has brought Florida-based television preacher Paula White into his administration to advise his Faith and Opportunity (emphasis on “Opportunity”) Initiative.

What would Jesus do? A well-timed forehead slap, perhaps?

Locals hereabout will recall White’s time in Tampa where she served as co-pastor, along with her now former husband Randy White, of the Without Walls International Church.

Not only was the church without walls, it was also without much of a bookkeeper, too, since the ministry eventually declared bankruptcy, despite hauling in as much as $150 million between 2004 to 2006. Well, salvation doesn’t come cheap.

How do you blow through $150 million in alms? God only knows. And maybe the IRS.

White has since been the senior pastor of City of Destiny near Orlando, which might otherwise be known as the Mission of Moolah, offering the noted theologian an opportunity to sermonize her prosperity gospel to a whole flock of worshippers.

Along with other gospel grifters such as Joel Osteen, Kenneth Copeland and T.D. Jakes, White is a loyal acolyte of prosperity theology, which holds God wants his faithful to achieve wealth and health.

So much for: “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” — just as long as these lazy moochers don’t apply for Medicaid assistance.

Little wonder then that the High Priest of Palm Beach tapped White to assist him in convincing his evangelical lambs he really is a very prayerful chap.

Certainly, White will have her work cut out for her establishing Trump’s biblical bona fides.

Despite having all the moral comportment of Ernst Stavro Blofeld, Trump was embraced by the evangelical wing of the Republican Party in 2016, largely on the candidate’s professed opposition to abortion and a promise to move the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.

That was very nice, although all these breast-beating evangelicals, who so fervently defend the sanctity of life don’t seem to give a sackcloth or an ash about caring for all these children after they are born when it comes to health care, or education, or gun violence. And there was precious little gnashing of teeth over defending family values as immigrant families were torn asunder.

Clearly White has the ideal pastoral pedigree to become Trump’s in-house Mother Teresa of tithing.

She retreats to her own mansion for meditation. And best of all, she owns an apartment in one of Trump’s pricey New York properties. She not just a White House confidant. She’s a customer, too. Perfect.

You’re probably thinking: Wait a minute. Across this vast land, filled with countless thoughtful, committed, compassionate men and women of deep, abiding spirituality representing an array of religious convictions, the very best Trump could come up with was someone who regards the Good Book as little more than a stock prospectus?

The New York Times noted White might incur a tax problem if she does not fully divest herself from City of Destiny, since mingling her White House political work while still involved in the Orlando operation could threaten the church’s tax-exempt status.

Apparently White will serve Trump as an unpaid advisor, which does seem awfully charitable.

After a stint as Trump’s soul whisperer, it is entirely likely White will be able to parlay her White House penance into lucrative book deals and enhanced speaking fees. Maybe Vladimir Putin will call for some spiritual guidance.

For blessed are the opportunists, for theirs is the kingdom of Ka-Ching.