Evangelicals are no longer making excuses for supporting Donald Trump despite his un-pious behavior

Evangelicals are no longer making excuses for supporting Donald Trump despite his un-pious behavior. Instead, they are now fully embracing his hedonism as a Christian virtue, seeing it as a sign of masculinity and power. This shift in rationalization is concerning, as it creates a permission structure for Christian men to act like Trump and justifies sexual sin as a natural consequence of being a "warrior."

In a recent Politico interview, sociologist Samuel L. Perry argued that many evangelicals view Trump's sexual appetites as a sign of his masculinity and worthiness to be used by God. This thinking is dangerous, as it glorifies the law of the jungle and rejects the biblical teachings of overcoming our carnal nature.

The Bible advises against fulfilling the lust of the flesh, and being a man involves sacrifice and suffering. The example of a Christian father lifting his paraplegic son onto the toilet is a true act of masculinity and heroism, unlike Trump's selfish and hedonistic behavior.

It's puzzling how some Christians can view Trump as a hero when his actions are antithetical to Christian values. This new rationalization is a far cry from the initial comparisons to King David, which at least acknowledged Trump's flaws while emphasizing God's ability to use imperfect vessels. Now, it seems that some evangelicals are embracing Trump's sinfulness as a badge of honor, rather than encouraging him to repent and change his ways.

This development is a departure from the teachings of civilization and Christianity, which emphasize transcending our natural desires and overcoming our sin nature. By glorifying Trump's hedonism, some evangelicals are sending a harmful message that being a real man involves indulging in carnal appetites rather than sacrificing and suffering for others.