The Perfect Storm: COVID-19, Conservative Evangelical Christians, the Economic Crisis, and Donald Trump

"And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in diverse places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.Matthew 24:6–8 (KJV)


This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://spectrummagazine.org/views/2020/perfect-storm-covid-19-conservative-evangelical-christians-economic-crisis-and-donald

Two thumbs up!! I believe we have some SDA organizations promoting what you have outlined!

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Am I the only one reading this that finds it ironic that Conservative Evangelical Christians rally around this president under the guise of “family values”, or to prevent “the encroaching immorality of liberalism”? Remember this, the last thing secular humanists want to do is impose religion on anyone. How about if we throw in the first original sin “Pride”? Isn’t Satan’s principal flaw, narcissism? Does anyone with two brain cells touching each other not recognize the biggest narcissist we have ever seen in public life? Didn’t Satan say “I shall be like the most high”? How far from that is “I am the chosen one”? So how does that square with family values, caring for the least of these, placing the needs of shareholders over even human life? Well, I guess we can let that one pass since corporations “are people” or, at least, according to our supreme court. I guess conservative Christianity is ok with this president’s 10 year old like tantrums and vindictiveness. I wonder if they actually watch his lashing out at reporters at press conferences or when he barred Romney from the Covad-19 committee because he voted his conscious.

I don’t have nearly as much trouble seeing corporate executives and wealthy investors supporting this president. But the irony is that there are a disproportionate number of the filthy rich (billionaires) that actually have come out against this president as a “con artist” or “charlatan”. Most of the very wealthy got to be that way by being very smart business men and they can see a phony a mile off. They, also have not filed for bankrupsy 7 times and left investors holding the bag for literally billions of dollars, which this man has done. Who do you think got stuck with that billion dollar loss that this man wrote off of his own taxes for the next 18 years? This isn’t generally a religious issue, but, isn’t that also immoral? Never mind the fact that this president even conceded that he used money from his charitable trust for his own purposes.

Does family values also exclude what this president called “locker room talk”. How about the 21 women who have spoken out about his actually doing what he said he did in that unscheduled interview with Billy Bush? If you want to hear more of this, try goggling an interview by this president on Howard Stern radio show…you might want to do it when there are no children present.

I don’t know if God would go so far as to hold us accountable for who we vote for when we face judgment day, but, since this is a representative government, and we are basically selecting people we want to represent what we want for ourselves, our family, our neighbors and our church, I think I would think things through a bit more carefully before I checked the box that said Donald Trump.

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at the time of this comment, remdesivir is showing the ability to halt covid-19 in vitro and in animals…dr. fauci says it’s shortening recovery times in people where it has been administered and studied…

we may have a real treatment on our hands, less than 100 days into the pandemic in n. america…if things pan out, this likely means covid-19 won’t actually trigger the end of the world, but has been a demonstration that end-time prophecy really can happen in a short time…

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I don’t rally around him for either of these reasons. I support him because he was willing to go up against political corectness.

Excuse me? They have pushed their view down conservatives throats for years. Here is a headline from Berkley, home of free speech from Nov. 2018

Christian student senator at UC Berkeley harassed for abstaining from pro-LGBTQ vote

The secular humanists are brutal in their prejudice. Note, she abstained, and was harassed and was going to be impeached, but the lawyers for the student body said it was illegal, she had a right to an opinion. But she was worried about safety.

So, yes secular humanists do force their thinking on others.

Trump is a narcissist, granted.

The unbalanced view expressed here is surprising. Economics has to be taken into consideration. Even the shareholders. I saw one headline by the NYT, I believe, “We need to close down for 18 months to 2 years.” Huh?? No livelihood for anyone? That is just stupid. The poor are being really harmed by this shutdown, and disproportionately so. I know because I rent apartments to them. The Trump economy was humming and the poor were really gaining. Now that is all gone, Blacks and Latinos will really loose. But of course, that is fine with the left. Your comments show your lack of care for their economic will being.

I might add that UV light has been used for some time internally, and H2O2, a disinfectant is taken internally, and some even give it IV. I don’t agree with it, but it is done.

So, yes,

And I will vote for him again. Thanks.

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Yes, Allen, I think you nailed it!!
The new left is now the old right.

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Knock yourself out. I disagree with most of what you’ve said, but I have learned a long time ago that no one’s mind is changed in these exchanges…and certainly not on this site.

Don’t know where you live, but I hope my vote will cancel out yours.

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By the way, that unbalanced view was intended. Obviously caring for the least of these is completely opposite of anyone who is only concerned about their wallet. I probably should have separated the two so that it wouldn’t be confusing.

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I went away but this bothered me so much that I had to come back and comment. You can find people on both sides harassing, but I think any person who gave it more than a passing glance would conclude that most liberal, or secular humanist, or non-religious people, are much more open minded. Most of them say that a person can be gay or hetro or trans or what ever they want. That everyone has a right to either abort or carry a fetus to term. That you can believe in a God or not. The very definition of liberal equates to being open minded. Conservative, in this instance, where we are talking about issues of faith or religion are not willing to allow two men or two women to marry, they do not want abortion, sometimes even if it means endangering the mother. I have experienced tremendous hatred displayed by an Adventist because I feel a woman has a right to choose. I am currently being shunned, because they told me so, by another Adventist because I have publicly stated in my SS class that I think we should be accepting of gays and lesbians who come to our church… My granddaughter had a Baptist friend who told her she was going to hell because she went to church on Saturday. Religious people can be very hateful. I would conclude from what I have seen, that they do not have a relationship with Christ. But that isn’t for me to decide.

I would be foolish to say liberals or atheist or even Democrat’s, never harass. This was my primary point: I certainly do not think that the Sunday Laws that SDA’s have been preaching for years, will be brought about by Secular Humanists, Liberals, atheist’s or Agnostics, period. Allen, I doubt that even you would argue that.

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when the sunday laws happen, the political distinctions we have now won’t matter, if they even exist…this is because at that time, people will either be filled with the HS, or possessed by satan…christ will have left the MHP, and human probation will have ended…it won’t matter who’s in the white house…

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Great article. It seems odd that some would miss what the article is describing because of some misguided loyalty to any president. As an Adventist Christian I’m a citizen of heaven. I live in Canada and render to Caesar what is Caesar. I try to be a good citizen but never once do I get that confused with the real prize. No Adventist Christian should be fanatical about any party. The sole purpose of our support should be for anyone who creates laws that allow us freedom of religion and the right to share the gospel. Our church is not American. It’s world wide. This article shows me that we have but little time to work and the much maligned end time view of Adventist’s is literally happening or the stage is being set for it to happen in an almost miraculous way that we have never seen before.

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Predictable as clockwork - inevitable, with the virus showing up in this dramatic fashion IN THE WEST would bring the return of the SDA historic horror stories of being chased into the hills by nuns and priests. Add the ego driven Trump, and we’re all set for SS lessons on the 2300 days; the Sunday laws, and etc. Ebola didn’t quite do it, nor did the numerous other epidemics and modified pandemics because they didn’t really impact the US; and US is the epicenter of God’s message and care.

The opening paragraph is right on the mark and rife for the Adventist message at this point in time - and I agree. We live in the end-time, as have other generations with their own pandemics (the plague) and authoritarian anti-God revolution (communist manifesto) - and atrocities (holocaust - even if the hunted were Jews). The SDA - centric message didn’t quite reach Marx or Hitler’s ear - although he was, after all a vegetarian which earned him some sort of support no matter how many Jews he killed. This time, like the “dark day” and the “falling of the stars,” pain reached the epicentre of “God’s people” so we should pay closer attention.

Here, it appears, “good and evil” have come to play out the cosmic conflict in the person of Donald Trump, and whoever is the liberal candidate (it doesn’t really matter). Come November, our choice will be the narcissistic personality of Donald Trump, and the narcissistic other (doesn’t matter who). I pre-judge the “other” as narcissistic as well, because it comes with the territory. So, which narcissist will we like better - I wonder?

Are we shocked that this president uses ideology in its religious form to garner votes? Even if he isn’t an astute politician, he does know how one gathers votes. You have to appeal to some significant block - if not the religious right, then maybe the pro-latino immigrant left - whatever works.

So, we don’t like the flamboyant, in-your-face Trump (and I have to agree), let’s get him GONE. So, we have the Russian connection - that didn’t work; how about the Ukraine phone call - that didn’t work; let’s just throw the kitchen sink at him and - impeach. That didn’t work either, despite “incontrovertible” proof revealed in the basement of the Capitol building. What luck, we have another chance. Nobody can handle that with a win. In the name of all that is humane, we can attack something.

There is a problem, however, the alternative isn’t looking too good and might even have to resign within the first four year term. No problem, let’s find a minority stand-in, preferably a woman. All that remains, is to hammer down on PERSONALITY; the health crisis; and the devastating economy left after the pandemic. To insure the economic devastation, let’s not show up in DC to deal with it until the ice cream is all gone. What we will be left with, is a devastated economy (Trump’s former bailiwick). The devious and unrelenting attacks haven’t worked. Maybe this finally will.

This is the politics of the “PERFECT STORM” - an alternative to the traditional SDA focus based on the 19th century religio-political conditions. This is the 21st century, and good and evil have possibly changed face. Evil doesn’t come out obviously flawed; but looks and sounds like a lamb - fuzzy and caring. In the name of social justice it will diminish the God-centered Constitution of the United States; and in the name progressive ideology it just might change the face of what used to be, DEMOCRACY. What the unintended consequences of that will be, only God knows.

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You don’t think the poor classes will be disporpotionately affected? Even the liberal press agrees with me on that. And it is caring for the least of these. They have gotten further under the Trump economy than the whole 8 yrs of Obama. You can’t just ignore that and say Trump is ignoring the least, etc.

The cake guy shows the error of your view. He did not agree with gay marriage, but was not forcing anyone to do one thing or another. He just did not want to be part of the celebration. The SCOTUS stated that the Colorado board was biased. All you have to do is read the transcript to see their hatred. They wanted to force him to make a cake. Bake a cake or we will put you out of business and fine you 10s of 1000s. You don’t have to agree with his position to see the prejudice displayed.

I am surprised you don’t see this. Look at the Covid situation. Complete lockdown. To save lives, of course. But control is complete. Can’t you see how some crisis would make the left pass a Sunday law for some benefit of some kind? The Left are the ones trying to control. Telling us what is best for us, and them making us do it. At the moment the religions right gets zero good press, and has ltttle power. Look at this very article! Give me a break.

Come on, Lindy. I have been called all manner of things, and experienced hatred. And I know Adventists are not generally like your instance. Of course some are, but I bet you are pretty vocal in your condemnations as well.

Look at what the Christian Senator experienced. Called before a group of the student body, one after another standing up and condemning her. That is the left when they are aroused.

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Pelosi: Pelosi visited San Francisco’s Chinatown on Feb. 24. To view videos of her visits two months later is almost jarring, as she strolls arm-in-arm and walks amid a crowd. She made clear the point of her visit was to show it was “very safe to be in Chinatown,” which had been hit hard by a drop in tourism after reports of the virus emerging from China.

Pelosi also downplayed he threat. As did De Blasio:

“New York City’s Chinatowns are open for business!” de Blasio said on February 13, saying Asian American businesses are suffering due to fears about the coronavirus, but “those fears are not based on facts and science. The risk of infection to New Yorkers is low. There is no need to avoid public spaces.”

Have heard great criticism of Trump, that he threw away help by not getting on top of this sooner. Even Fauci downplayed it on Feb 29:

“I’ve said that many times even on this program,” Fauci stated in that interview. “You’ve got to watch out because although the risk is low now, you don’t need to change anything you’re doing. When you start to see community spread, this could change and force you to become much more attentive to doing things that would protect you from spread.”

You know, Mcmurphy, it is hard for me to accept criticism of Trump when the whole situation was quite unknown at that time. He is not a prophet. He can’t see the future, just a De Blasio, and Fauci and Pelosi can’t. But he is never given any slack. Th posts drip with prejudice.

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I read your link. There is some murkiness about it, and since we do not have the book in front of us, it is hard to tell. Trump did close off china in January. Here is one comment form the end of the note. BtW, it is the Washington Post., a pretty biased source, although you would not think so I am sure.

Two days later (Feb 27), Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar testified before a Congressional committee that the risk to the public remained “low,” and that the coronavirus would “look and feel to the American people more like a severe flu season in terms of the interventions and approaches you will see.”

And that is what it actually is, a bad flu. Most affected are elderly, and NY has done the worst job of it, sending infecteds back to nursing homes. Republican Florida was more sabe about handle the crisis. hs a much better per capita rate, and with plenty of elderly.

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McMurphy. The GOP has no monopoly on lobbiests. The Dem House had all kinds of stuff they tried to add to the bill that passed. Can you see around those rose colored glasses? Both parties have lobbies. Although there may be about the same, Trump has no need himself. Doesn’t not need the money. What was Obama charging for a speech/. $500,000?

The Washington Post? They got a Pulitzer for the Rusian Collusion story, and it was all fake! Shows what kind of paper they are. Just an arm of the DNC.

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Exactly this. The church entire should be shouting this message from the mountain tops. Why aren’t we? This period of time has done more to cement my beliefs as an Adventist then any other. Back in 2015 when I first came back to the church, at first I still scoffed at the idea of the end times where church and state united to limit religious freedom. I no longer do.

Working on my lesson and I bumped into this verse. You obviously agree that Trump is a narcissist and incredibly prideful.

Prov. 16: 5 Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord…

Great choice Allen

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Yah Right…who are you kidding Allen. This “bad flu” as you call it has killed more Americans in a little over 6 weeks than the entire 10+ year Viet Nam war. Remember how much attention that got? Well, you probably were in favor of it. I am a Viet Nam War vet. I can tell you it was a total waste of life for absolutely nothing. At least this war is about trying to save lives, not kill hundreds of thousands of Viet Cong.

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I see, So did you vote for Clinton, the adulterer? Bush1 was certainly a more honorable man.

Proverbs 6:32 But a man who commits adultery has no sense; whoever does so destroys himself.

So you voted for a man with no sense?

My point is that both of us do not vote for a man for his character necessarily, but the policies he stands for. I held my nose and voted. I assume you did the same with Clinton. To be so “righteous” about your choice and condemnatory for mine Is showing just a bit of bias.

Flu can be pretty deadly. But this is like a bad flu year:

From the CDC about the flu season 2019-2020 before Corona;

"This year’s flu season is shaping up to be possibly less severe than the [2017-2018 season], when 61,000 deaths were linked to the virus. However, it could equal or surpass the [2018-2019 season’s] 34,200 flu-related deaths.

Overall, the CDC estimates that 12,000 and 61,000 deaths annually since 2010 can be blamed on the flu. Globally, the [World Health Organization] estimates that the flu kills 290,000 to 650,000 people per year."

So, in 2018-2019, flu killed about 34,000, about half of Viet Nam’s dead. and overall estimates are up to 61,000 (17-18). So, we are. at this point, around a bad year. I compared it to a bad year. Now it looks like it will be worse than a bad year. But I am not that far off. The press comparing it to Viet Nam is for shock value, not so much to be truthful.

I am not sure contempt is required.

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