Live blogging the Faith & Freedom Coalition breakfast with J.D. Vance

Vance, a Catholic, is going to have to win over the Christian Right. (Although I have no doubt that they will all vote for him anyway). This morning he takes his first shot at this important GOP constituency. It’s time to bend the knee to Ralph Reed.

I’m watching so you don’t have to:

Paula White is speaking. Talking about the good old days of the court evangelicals. She talks about “laying hands on Trump” and praying for him. White-Cain says that God answered their prayers on Saturday. “We witnessed a miracle.” It’s Ephesians 6:11 politics. (White actually quotes Ephesians 6:11, mentioning the “full armor of God.”

Ralph Reed introduces Vance. Praises him as a champion of “unborn life, the family, and workers.” Says he is a man of “deep and profound Christian faith.” In a strange mix of Ben Franklin and Jesus, Reed says that Vance’s story teaches us that there is nothing one can’t do without Jesus Christ.

Vance says he wants to “integrate” his faith into presidential politics. He offers no specifics in the speech.

Says that Trump’s “last second turn of the head” in Butler, Pennsylvania was a “miracle.”

Vance talks about his “Mamaw.” He and Mamaw went to church a few times a month. Mamaw liked to watch Billy Graham. But Vance’s faith was shallow and did not hold-up when he got to Yale. Vance said he was an “atheist” at Yale. Says it was “arrogant” to think this way. Now he has come “back to Christ.” After he got married and had kids, he returned to faith. Said his wife thinks his return to Christianity made him a better father and spouse. Vance calls it “grace.” All good so far.

Vance said he was baptized as a Catholic in 2018 or 2019. “I love being part of a faith community” and “taking my kids to church every Sunday.” Vance’s wife is Hindu.

Vance addresses the “rumblings” that the faith community is being ignored. Says that the “faith community” has a “place at the table.” Vance, like Reed, treats the Christian Right as a lobbying group–just one more seat at the table. Vance reminds people how much Trump delivered for evangelicals. Says Trump deserves a “little bit of grace and a little bit of trust.”

Says the character “Jules” (Samuel L. Jackson) in Pulp Fiction is his “favorite theologian.” Vance says that the world is made up of “small little miracles.” Said he woke-up the morning of his speech with a sense of anxiety after only two hours of sleep. He prayed, “Jesus, please help me,” and then slept soundly for another three hours.

Vance is definitely no theologian, but I think what he said resonated with Reed’s crowd.

Ron Johnson, U.S. senator from Wisconsin, is now speaking. Says that Trump’s “life has been changed.” Trump “has a new lease on life.” Calls it “providential.” Quotes Lincoln (who was quoting the Bible): “A house divided cannot stand.” Calls for national unity under Trump. Johnson is not particularly inspiring.

Michael Whatley, head of the Republican National Committee, takes the lectern: “There has been no organization, and frankly no man, who has done more to advance” the Christian Right agenda than Ralph Reed. Says “I am a Christian” and my country “needs to do better.”

Side note: Earlier this morning I heard Sean Hannity on Fox News quote John 15:13 and apply it to Trump and his the attempt on his life.

Please note what is going on here. The Faith & Freedom Coalition really has very little to do with faith. The Christian Right is a political movement–a wing of the Republican Party. This “Prayer Breakfast” has nothing to do with exalting God or petitioning him on behalf of the nation. This is all about Donald Trump. It is a form of idolatry.

Whatley says he is proud to be the “most pro-life president in the history of this country.” Says Trump is the most “pro-life” president in American history. Tries to calm fears of those worried about the GOP. Says that “as long as I am chair” the GOP is going to be a pro-life party. Gets a nice round of applause.

Reed is now introducing Glenn Youngkin, governor of Virginia. Youngkin says that we need to thank the Lord for giving us the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Said that what happened to Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania should teach everyone that “there is a Lord and Savior and it is Jesus Christ.” Says that if Trump were president there would be no wars, no crime, and the greatest economy in the history of the world. The Christian Right really does see him as a messianic figure. Trump brings a “spirit of freedom and a spirit of hope.” Youngkin wants people to “do the work” to get Trump elected. He sounds like a preacher telling the congregation to leave the sanctuary and spread the gospel of Trump. He quotes Isaiah: “Who shall I send?.” He asks the audience to stand and say, “Send us.”

Now Mike Johnson. Ralph Reed said when Johnson was picked as Speaker, “there was an angel in the whirlwind.” Compares Mike Johnson to Peter and John in Acts 4: “And the council recognized them as having been with Jesus. What is impressive about Mike Johnson is that he as ‘been with Jesus.'”

Johnson praises the unity in the GOP right now. Says “unity” is a biblical theme. Quotes Matthew 12 “house divided” language and applies it to the GOP.

Now he is talking about “providence.” As most on the Christian Right, including Al Mohler of The Southern Baptist Seminary, Johnson seems to understand the providence of God and His purposes. He is now referencing to the George Washington “bullet” story during the French and Indian War. This is pure David Barton. I address this in Was America Founded as a Christian Nation?: A Historical Introduction. Johnson says that the George Washington event took place “fifty miles away” from Butler, Pennsylvania. He suggests that this was “providence” as well.

Johnson is now telling a story about Trump calling him and invoking providence after Johnson’s boys nearly drowned and were saved. He has a decent Trump impersonation. The audience loves it.

Johnson gets close to spiritual warfare politics. Says that we are not in a battle between Democrats and Republicans, we are in a battle of competing “world views.” In other words, this is not about politics, it is about God and America vs. the Democrats. And Trump will help us win the battle.

After Johnson is finished, Ralph Reed says that the “presence of the Holy Spirit is moving on these speakers.”

Kristi Noem, governor of South Dakota, is up. She says that the “presence of the Lord” is in the ballroom. I guess when you talk about Trump, the third person of the Trinity shows up. She says that as she watched Trump on Saturday, “the peace that passes all understanding” came over her. Noem tells the story of how Christianity changed her life: “We are not just called…to argue our points…we are out there to win hearts and minds….” Says 2 Timothy 1:7 got her through 2020. She challenges people to see themselves “as God sees them.” She seems to imply that if people do this, we can take back the country. So go out and vote for Trump.

Jentezen Franklin is now up. He is a megachurch pastor in Georgia and a court evangelical. Reed says his daughter is a member of Franklin’s “free chapel.” A revival broke out in this church in October (it was actually scheduled). Reed says he attended some of those revival meetings.

Franklin is talking about a sermon he once preached on Leviticus 8. It focused on the Old Testament practicing of placing blood on the ears, thumbs, and right toe of priests. He compares this to Trump in Butler. He says Trump’s ear was bleeding, he touched his ear with his thumb, and his shoes fell off. Says that God stepped into Trump’s shoes on that day so that He could rebuild America. Franklin says that God has given Trump a new ear–he is now listening to God. God has given Trump a “new walk.”

My feed just got cut. I assume the prayer meeting is over.