A White in Trump's Orbit

Paula White, famous in part for  speaking in tongues during sermons, has been appointed by President Donald Trump as head of a White House Faith Office. The controversial figure

played a key role in Trump's evangelical outreach, serving as the chair of his evangelical advisory board during the 2016 campaign. In 2017, she delivered the invocation at Trump's inauguration, becoming the first female clergy member to do so. In November 2019, Trump appointed her as his special advisor to the Faith and Opportunity Initiative at the White House.

The selection has been slammed by many right-wing supporters of the President who, while gravely misguided politically, seem to have a clue about Christianity. White

is a proponent of “prosperity theology,” which teaches that God rewards the truly faithful with material wealth and personal success.

Critics say that by blaming financial woes on a lack of faith, prosperity theology can be used to exploit vulnerable churchgoers. Many Christians consider it a form of heresy, according to The New York Times.

Some of Trump’s Christian MAGA supporters took to social media to express their disappointment in the president’s pick.

“Even though President Trump is enforcing laws that line up with our values, that doesn’t mean he has any clue what biblical Christianity is or why it matters,” Christian podcast host John Mason wrote on X. “Paula White is a known heretic and known false teacher who has no regard for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Scott Ross, a Texas-based leadership coach and self-described “Orthodox Christian,” called the move “an abomination.”

“Paula White, head of Trump’s White House Faith Office, is no Christian leader,” he wrote. “She preaches the heresies of Word of Faith & Prosperity Gospel, both utterly opposed to authentic Christianity. Worse, she has lived a life of scandal, with multiple husbands, twisting the Gospel for profit.”

White-Cain, who is twice-divorced, is currently married to Journey guitarist Jonathan Cain

Yet, the appointment may be precisely because she "is no Christian leader." Before her appearance at the Rose Garden on May 7, 2020, White 

asked that "wicked" leaders be removed from government positions. She commanded the coronavirus to "be done, to be gone.... We say it is enough! Die now, coronavirus 19! We command right now that this virus stop. There will be no more spread, in the name of Jesus."

In the USA, there had been approximately 75,000 deaths from Covid-19 when White beseeched God to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. As of earlier this month, there were 1,221,863 individuals for whom the cause of death was Covid-19 or for whom it was listed as a contributing cause. Unfortunately, her plea was either not heard or not heeded.

Nonetheless, there is a facet of her ministry in which the very wealthy White excels, in that

White’s prosperity gospel theology (a label she rejects, and that many mainstream theologians regard as a form of charlatanism ) makes her a good fit for Trump. She says that God “gives you the power to acquire wealth to establish His covenant,” but that first you need to give wealth to God, though her organization: “Give your very best as a first fruits offering and watch God's unlimited blessings pour into your life and your family. WATCH IT! WATCH WHAT GOD WILL DO! I BELIEVE…”

Five years ago, researching an article for Mother Jones, Stephanie Mencimer wrote

Just out of curiosity, I recently made a prayer request through her website, asking her to pray for a family member. I got an email in return promising that White and her prayer intercessors would “deploy the Blood of Jesus on your behalf for your peace.” White also thanked me for “agreeing to pray for President Trump and his family on June 2nd.” Apparently, the form letter hasn’t been updated since last summer. Less than an hour later, I got another email from White asking me to send her a “favor seed” of $50 or more so that she could “Activate supernatural favor” on my behalf. “Favor will make you a household name overnight,” she writes knowingly.

A proverb from Solomon (probably): "Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor." According to the prophet Micah, "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love merc .and to walk humbly with your God. "Jesus' half-brother James is credited with writing "But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble'". And Paul (Romans 12:16) warns "Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited." 

And- well, you get it.  An impressive performer, White and Trump have much in common, and not because she is a "White." Called to be humble, live in harmony, and associate with people of low position, Paula White pals around with Donald "I am the Chosen One" Trump. Scam artist meets scam artist.

           

  

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