“Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the king's horses and all the king's men
Couldn't put Humpty together again.”
Clearly, we must now have proof that Jim is dementing in his doddering. He’s now speaking of himself in the third person and muttering nursery rhymes. While my coherence is open to debate, nursery rhymes are often more profound than they seem.
There are a few interpretations, for example, of this rhyme. A couple involve historical events. But there’s also a broader philosophical reading of the rhyme, suggesting that it speaks to the irreversible nature of certain events. It might symbolize how certain actions or decisions, once taken, lead to outcomes that cannot be undone and highlighting the fragility of situations, people, or power.
Evangelical Christianity in the United States over the past decade has experienced a significant transformation, one that has eroded its influence and moral authority. This change has societal shifts in its genesis but can largely be attributed to the co-option of the faith by political figures, particularly Donald Trump. He has used Evangelical Christianity not as a guiding light for ethical leadership but as a vehicle for power. This has resulted in profound and perhaps irreversible damage to the religion's standing in American culture.
Trump's approach to Evangelical Christianity has been to wield it to silence dissent and foster division, rather than to inspire unity or compassion. This isn’t merely a matter of political disagreement but represents a distortion of what Evangelical Christianity fundamentally stands for. Trump has undermined its core teachings of grace, love, and humility, by aligning the faith so closely with a particular political agenda,
Evangelical Christianity has historically served as a refuge for those seeking solace and a reminder of something greater that encouraged individuals to strive for goodness. It offered a framework through which communities could come together, support the less fortunate, and emphasize kindness.
The increasing politicization of the faith has transformed it, instead, into a battleground where loyalty is measured not by adherence to the teachings of Jesus, but by political alignment. Churches have become spaces where individuals fear speaking out, lest they be labeled as unpatriotic or unchristian, with the focus shifting from love and forgiveness to confrontation and dominance.
This transformation has alienated many lifelong believers and led them to question their place within their own congregations. For many folks, the divergence between the message of love they know in their hearts and the rhetoric they hear from the pulpit has become too wide to ignore. They have, as a result, lost trust in organized religion while still holding onto their personal faith in Jesus. This represents a profound tragedy. Christian experience ceases to be a source of healing and instead becomes a force of division when faith becomes weaponized for political purposes.
The question now is whether Evangelical Christianity once lost can ever truly be found again. The damage inflicted upon the religion's influence may be irreparable for those who still cling to their Christian faith while feeling alienated by the actions taken in its name. The language of Evangelical Christianity that was once associated with compassion, sacrifice, and grace has been appropriated by people promoting nationalism and intolerance.
Terms such as 'spiritual warfare' are now used to cast those with differing views as enemies, rather than as neighbors deserving of love. Calls to 'reclaim the country for Christ' have become synonymous with exclusion and marginalized those who do not fit a narrow definition of belonging. This rhetoric translates into real-world actions and policies that harm vulnerable populations and encourage a culture of cruelty, where compassion is dismissed as weakness.
The most devastating aspect of this shift is the loss of foundational values. There was a time when, despite ideological differences, there was common consensus on basic principles such as that kindness mattered, that honesty was virtuous, and that the poor and the marginalized deserved care. These values were not just religious tenets but essential components of a functioning society. By allowing Evangelical Christianity to be reduced to a tool for political maneuvering with its focus on 'winning' cultural battles these fundamental values have been diminished. Evangelical Christianity as a result becomes instead of being a beacon of hope and moral clarity a symbol of division.
Trump for many initially represented a promise to restore Evangelical Christianity to a position of cultural importance and end the so-called 'war on Christmas', reversing what some perceived as an erosion of Christian influence in public life. His use of “God words,” emptied of their real meaning has been done in the service of a pursuit of power that has only further eroded the credibility of the faith. Evangelical Christianity's influence by aligning so deeply with a figure whose behavior often contradicts basic moral decency has not been restored but compromised and stripped of its spiritual depth.
This is not solely an indictment of Trump himself but also of those who have followed him on this path. Pastors who used their pulpits to endorse divisive rhetoric, church leaders who conflated their political ideology with divine mandate, and individuals in the congregation who chose silence over dissent have all contributed to this crisis. When faith is reduced to unwavering loyalty to a political figure it stops being a source of moral guidance and becomes an ideology, a rigid, divisive force rather than one that brings healing and understanding.
For those who still hold onto their Christian faith, the fundamental loss has been deeply personal and painful. The teachings of Jesus centering on love, compassion, and service to others, must be remembered and prioritized. It is time to ask whether we truly live by those principles. Are we willing to extend kindness to those who look, think, or live differently from ourselves? Are we allowing faith to guide us towards acts of love, rather than allowing political allegiances to push us towards hatred and division?
The damage done has been profound. Whether Christianity can survive is a big question mark. Evangelical Christianity can still be a force for good, a source of unity and moral strength, but only if we are willing to reclaim its true essence. Faith must be about love in its purest form, not power, not dominance, but recognize the humanity in every individual. It must return to the core message of compassion that says, 'You are my neighbor, and I am here for you.'
If we are willing to let go of fear, resentment, and the urge to dominate, maybe Evangelical Christianity once again can become a guiding light. It is time to be the Good Samaritan and not just to those who like us, but to anyone in need, embracing the spirit of love that lies at the heart of the Christian faith.
It's not surprising that our Democratic Republic is in decline. Compared to other forms of government over the last few hundred years, we’ve had a pretty good run. It’s also not surprising where our economic system has taken us. Capitalism’s ultimate end, without strong government regulation to keep the playing field equal, comes when all the money moves to the top, and all the economic benefits accrue to a relative handful of billionaires. But Christianity seemed on its face, because of the bedrock values of compassion and love that Jesus taught, to be less likely to be corruptible. In fact, it was the easiest of all. Ten years and one unlikely billionaire, and it has been transformed.
I’m not sure it’s likely that we can reverse what appears to be an inevitable continued decline in Christian influence. Like with poor Humpty Dumpty, the damage may be impossible to repair. But if the influence of Evangelical Christianity on culture can be restored to one of genuine positivity and moral leadership, we must ground that restoration in the message of Jesus, not in the perverse whims of corrupt politicians.
“When we lose sight of live and let live
Forget your soul is made much richer by the love that you give
If you’re living just to make a living that’s all there is
And when your lying - slowly dying will you look back and grin”
From the song ‘Money Ties’ by the artist Ren
The views expressed in this editorial are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of Polk County Publishing or its affiliates. In the interest of transparency, I am politically Left Libertarian.
