In Believe Me: The Evangelical Road to Donald Trump, I wrote a several pages on the so-called INC (Independent Network Charismatics) prophets. Lance Wallnau is one of these “prophets.” Here is what I wrote about him:
Early in the 2016 campaign, Lance Wallnau received a similar word: “Donald Trump is a wrecking ball to the spirit of political correctness.” When Wallnau’s prophecy caught the attention of Trump’s evangelical supporters, he was invited to attend a meeting with the candidate and other evangelical leaders in Trump Tower. As Wallnau listened to Trump talk about his desire to give evangelicals a more prominent voice in government, he sensed that God was giving him an “assignment”–a “calling related to this guy.” One day, while he was reading his Facebook page, Wallnau saw a meme predicting that Trump would be the “45 president of the United States.” God told Wallnau to pick up his Bible and turn to Isaiah 45. On reading the passage, Wallnau realized that, not only would Trump be a “wrecking ball” to political correctness, but he would be elected president of the United States in the spirit of the ancient Persian king Cyrus. In the Old Testament, Cyrus was the secular political leader whom God used to send the exiled kingdom of Judah back to the Promised Land so that they could rebuild the city of Jerusalem and its holy Temple. Wallnau was shocked by this discovery. “God was messing with my head,” he told Steven Strang, the editor of Charisma, a magazine that covers INC and other Pentecostal and charismatic movements….From this point forward, Wallnau would become an outspoken supporter of Donald Trump.
Recently Wallnau showed-up on the Jim Bakker television program to hawk his Cyrus-Trump prayer coins. According to this piece at Esquire magazine, Wallnau said that the coin is the “point of contact” between God and people praying for Trump’s success. And guess what? This coin can be yours for only $45.00. Here is Jack Holmes at Esquire:
This truly is the Golden Age of Grifting, and the nation’s Evangelical leaders have not passed up the opportunity. The “White Evangelical Christian” designation has always been a proxy for traditionalists who believe America’s rightful social order is the racial and gender hierarchy of approximately 1956. Donald Trump has merely laid this bare by earning their support despite being the most comically heathen man to ever step foot in the White House. What principles of Jesus Christ does the president embody? The better question might be which of the Seven Deadly Sins—pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath and sloth—does he not represent? It’s all part of the Great Unvarnishing, as the acidity of Trump’s public persona has worn on the top coat of paint many people have applied to themselves, gradually exposing what lies beneath. It’s not about Christian Values, it’s about money and power. Unless it’s about something else.
And for those Trump evangelical supporters with deeper pockets, you can get an entire “Cyrus Trump Bundle.” It includes the Cyrus-Trump coin, a booklet by Wallnau describing his prophecy, and DVD of Wallnau conducting a religious service. It’s yours for $450.
As I argued in Believe Me, the Independent Network Charismatics are a very large, growing, and largely overlooked segment of American evangelicalism. Wallnau is one of their leaders.
John,
Your question, “What principles of Jesus Christ does the president embody?” is misplaced within the King Cyrus context. You might just have irrelevantly asked, “What were the personal traits of Abraham and Moses which were followed by King Cyrus?” If Americans were intent on electing a spiritual leader, they would not vote for Trump or any of the current Democrat candidates either.
James
Post Script in agreement with Dr. Fea———
Dr. Fea’s critique of the shameless charismatic hucksterism such as the selling of magical coins, cloths, bracelets, and other talismans is right on. I had always thought that one of the conditions for Jim Bakker’s parole was that he stop engaging in this type of behavior; maybe I did not read the terms of the court’s judgement carefully enough. The profit margin on the $450.00 bundled package must leave a more than ample commission for Bakker. After all of the personal trials he has suffered, one would like to think they had caused him to amend his earlier ways.
I’m just waiting for the coin of Trump and Jesus, with Trump in the superior position and a joint halo around both their heads. Like that portrait of Mobutu Sese-Seko when he was President-for-Life of the Congo.
You mean like a magickal charm?
Like these same Evangelical jokers denounce my church’s statues and icons of saints?
(The same church that collated the Bible they worship?)
“When coin in Wallanu’s coffer rings…”
Looks like Jim of Jim & Tammy fame is hawking more than overpriced buckets of CHRISTIAN dried beans and rice for The Tribulation.
I think many Americans DO see him as a spiritual leader. I personally know people who otherwise are sane, that consider Trump to be a godly leader.
Some use a logic that has come from seeing so many spiritual leaders compromised by moral failure and their coming to accept it as necessary evil in any flawed human being.
There are also biblical “heroes” such as Abraham, Jacob, Moses, and David that had moral failings.
It seems to enable them to accept the idea of Trump as God’s special instrument, and more, as one who is actually obedient to God despite him saying and doing so much that they admit they wish he wouldn’t.
Something I have pondered a lot lately is the “cart before the horse”. Many American Christians, in my opinion, are politically conservative Republicans first, and Christians second. They live and think out their faith as it melds with the political conservative viewpoints.
If there is a necessary compromise, it is the tenets of the faith that have to be modified.
Hence, for instance, we can see refugees from Central America as “others” akin to Canaanites.
And we can see the United States as a kind of God’s special annointed kingdom on earth when nothing in scripture tells the church to expect or build such a geopolitical entity.
Unicorn,
I am not here to slam Roman Catholicism; it has a lot to commend it. In fact, it has certain advantages over Protestantism. But let me ask you how you see the difference between the sort of superstitious thing charismatics promote and the sacramentals of the R.C.C? The advocates of both types of product “lines” claim that grace is somehow being mediated through a material object.
As far as the composition of the Bible, you are on somewhat thin ice. The Deutero-Canonical books in Roman Catholic Bibles were not officially recognized until the Council of Trent. They have never been recognized by Protestantism.
James
Jeff,
Obviously, I cannot comment on your associates who see Trump as a spiritual man. I personally know of no Trump political supporters who view him as a flawed but a seeking “man after God’s own heart.” All of the imperfect characters in the Bible you mentioned were not like Cyrus or President Trump despite their failings. Specifically, God was the central focus of their lives; they simply had weaknesses which are common to us as believers today.
As far as the U.S. being God’s special instrument in the world, a percentage of Christian people starting with the Puritans have believed that, but many have not. It certainly isn’t Biblically provable.
James
“The Deutero-Canonical books in Roman Catholic Bibles were not officially recognized until the Council of Trent. They have never been recognized by Protestantism.”
They were translated and included in the King James Version of the Bible until about 1850.
I grew up with the same misinformation about the Deuterocanonical books but the truth is more complicated. Within the Catholic Church, there have always been a wide range of thoughts on their value for believers, well before and after the Council of Trent. Within Protestantism, there were gradual challenges to their canonical placement until they were phased out under the lame excuse of saving money on publishing costs.
Most American “Christians” are heretics whose belief systems are closer to radical Sunni Islam than anything in historically grounded Christianity!
What kind of drugs is Lance Wallnau taking?! I hope these drugs never become commonplace, but I fear if people read his writings, then enough people will want whatever drugs he takes that it will be a public health crisis.
Wrong James! There are plenty of Bibles in the Christian West predating the Protestant “Reformation” in which the Deutero-Canonical books are to be found. Many of the Holy Fathers mention these books authoritatively. The Eastern Orthodox Church dogmatically defined the Deutero-Canonical books of the Old Testament back in the 8th or 9th century- interestingly enough when it and the Roman Catholic Church were still in Communion with each other. So, the Patriarch of Constantinople who was then part of the Roman Catholic Church took care of that for you Protestants.
Another thing James, I grew up Lutheran, and the Deutero-Canonical books were in my day and still today frequently read in Lutheran services. This is also true for Anglican/Episcopalian Churches. So what you say applies only for Calvinist heretics.
I have to check for quotes but thought his own Christian VP has described him in glowing spiritual, Christian tones.
But I could be wrong.
“Most American “Christians” are heretics whose belief systems are closer to radical Sunni Islam than anything in historically grounded Christianity!”
Everyone is a heretic to someone else. Your comparison between “most American Christians” and Sunni Muslims is interesting—what do you base your comparison on?
Justin,
The Deutero-Canonicals were never considered “scripture” in the original KJV in 1611 nor were they accepted in 1553 by the original Thirty-nine Articles of Religion. Please see Article VI which states, “…the Church doth read for example……but yet doth it not apply them to establish any doctrine…”. All of English-speaking Protestantism has followed this example.
As far as the Roman Catholic attitude to these books, the point is that they were not officially accepted until Trent. Please read St. Jerome on the subject.
James
Christian,
I stand by my original statement.
Please see my posting above to Justin. Anglicanism ruled these apocryphal books out in 1553 with the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion. Article VI lists them specifically as non canonical. The KJV was released in 1611.
As far as the Eastern Church, there are yet a few more books which are officially accepted. Some of the Orthodox communions allow for even more.
James
Christian,
As someone who has extensive experience with Traditional Anglicanism, I am well aware of the reading of these apocryphal books in services. This is done within the context of Article VI of the 39 Articles of Religion which does not take them to be inspired. Please do a search on the 39 Articles.
While I have never been a member of the Lutheran Church, I do know that these Deutero-Canonicals are not viewed as inspired scripture by Lutheranism. I am sure you are familiar with the legend about Martin Luther becoming so frustrated trying to understand Esdras that he threw it into the Elbe River. Whether that actual tale is literal or not, it reflects the attitude of orthodox Lutheranism.
Since you seem to be interested in this subject, you might have also noticed that while Roman Catholicism does officially accept these disputed books, they are not given the practical attention which other Old Testament books are given. I have probably listened to as many Catholic Bible teachers as you have, and the Deuterono-canonical volumes are referenced far less than the standard books which are accepted by Protestants and Jews. I realize that my observation is anecdotal, but I will stand by it. Furthermore, if you browse around in the bookstore of Roman Catholic seminaries, you will note far fewer commentaries on these books. While the RCC officially accepts them, practically speaking, they are not given the attention of the standard Old Testament works.
James
Jeff,
I would be surprised if you could find such a quote from Mike Pence. He has far more discernment than that. He might have somehow tied Trump’s programs to national righteousness, but as far as Donald Trump personally being a spiritual man, I don’t think you can locate anything.
James
Christian,
WOW! That’s a new one. I read some pretty wild religious material, and I think you are in a camp of your own here.
For starters, Sunni Muslims are unitarian in their basic view of God. Orthodox Christians in America are trinitarian.
James
Sick sick sick. A cheating husband, a lying “president”, a traitor who obstructs justice and spits on our Constitution — give the $45 to homeless vets, people still suffering in Puerto Rico, animal welfare groups for all of God’s creatures that Trump’s have slaughtered. #ImpeachTrumpPence
Our icons in Catholicism don’t celebrate evil. trump and his cronies are the personification of evil. I am positive that NEVER in their lives have they asked themselves “What would Jesus do?”
That’s fair Maureen.
“Please read St. Jerome on the subject.”
Thanks for that useful recommendation. I’ll go revisit St. Jerome. You go brush up on Athanasius and Augustine. That’s what I said man–there were and are a multitude of opinions about them within the Catholic Church, including the very very early opinion that they were important sources of information for believers. It sounds like you’re defining ‘scripture’ in the fundamentalist/inerrant line of reasoning, whereas I was speaking a little more broadly, as someone more interested in the whole scope of the tradition and not just one branch.
As a friendly tip, it’s super weird to cite “English-speaking” Protestantism as if that counts as “real” Protestantism. Not a good look.
Justin,
I cited English-speaking Protestantism because Christian S. or one of the other respondents mentioned that the Anglican tradition sometimes used the non canonical, apocryphal readings as a part of the liturgy.
As far as patristic witness to the Deutero-Canonicals, my only point was that Roman Catholic official teaching was not official until The Council of Trent. Obviously this was over 1,000 years after The Council of Carthage which established canonicity accepted by all Christian communions.
James
Maureen, Who said that icons celebrate evil of that Wallnau’s coin celebrates it either? I can’t understand the basis of your statement.
https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/politics/2017/december/exclusive-lsquo-president-trump-is-a-believer-and-so-am-i-rsquo-pence-confirms-trump-rsquo-s-christian-faith-to-news
I don’t think a whole lot about this news media operation, but the video is the VP speaking in an interview.
Jeff,
I give you credit for finding the link. Touche’ In my opinion, however, Mike Pence’s definition of “believer” within this context might be rather elastic. At least, I hope it is.
James
Well, I understand Pence is a Christian. He knows what it means when he calls someone a fellow believer.
I don’t know the man. I would hope he isn’t saying it to further the hoodwinking of the public, especially members of the body. But either that is what he is doing, or he is another victim of what wealth and power can do. Corrupt.
James, for starters, most American Evangelical and Fundamentalist Protestants, with Dr. Fea being a notable exception, are Mammon worshippers, as this blasphemous “prayer” coin demonstrates. The worship of Mammon is NOT Trinitarian!