#367: The Christian Movement That Is Threatening Our Democracy with Matthew D. Taylor

Today’s conversation gets a little political. I’m talking with Matthew D. Taylor about his book The Violent Take it By Force: The Christian Movement that is Threatening Our Democracy.

That title may sound like an angry rant against anyone who voted for Donald Trump. Some sort of desperate ploy by a Democrat to take a cheap shot. It is absolutely not that. America is a democracy. Every US citizen has a right to vote for who they want to vote for. This is not a critique about Donald Trump or anyone who voted for him.

What we’re talking about a sect of Independent Charismatic Christianity that has become incredibly influential in the last 25 years and has wedded charismatic spirituality with a messianic understanding of Donald Trump. And these are the leaders who are closely connected to the White House today.

What does this have to do with worship? Well, it shouldn’t have much of anything to do with worship but it has been interesting to see Christian worship music and some of the more influential worship movements become so aligned with President Trump. When worship hits the mainstream in such a significant way, it’s worth studying why. Is it a religious revival or is worship or Christianity being used as a tool for empire? 

Topics Covered:

• C. Peter Wagner and the alliance between church growth and charismatic theology
• The New Apostolic Reformation and why it’s important we understand it
• A definition of Dominion Theology
• The Seven Mountain Mandate and how popular this ideology is
• Why not all charismatic/pentecostal movements and theology are dangerous
• Paula White and the prosperity Gospel
• The proper context of Mathew 11:12
• The problem with partnering American politics with Christian extremism
• How we got to where we are today with “apostles” and “prophets”
• Why charismatic Christianity is so fixated on revival
• Che Ahn and his network’s merging with the American Militia movement
• The story of Donald Trump and the Christians instrumental in his rise to power
• The Sean Feucht saga and what we can learn from it

Resources Mentioned:

• Show Sponsor: Planning Center
• The Violent Take it By Force: The Christian Movement That is Threatening Our Democracy by Matthew D. Taylor
• Matthew D. Taylor Substack

Show Sponsor: Planning Center

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