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babylonsister

(172,488 posts)
Sun Nov 16, 2025, 10:33 AM Yesterday

Pastor's 'MAGA vs. Jesus' TikTok Series Dismantling Right-Wing Theology Draws Millions

http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/bill-berkowitz/115444/pastor-s-maga-vs-jesus-tiktok-series-dismantling-right-wing-theology-draws-millions

Pastor’s ‘MAGA vs. Jesus’ TikTok Series Dismantling Right-Wing Theology Draws Millions
by Bill Berkowitz | November 16, 2025 - 5:53am



Reverend Dr. Caleb J. Lines, the pastor at University Christian Church in San Diego, California, had heard enough bull-puckery from MAGA Christians about their interpretation of the Bible. According to The Daily Dot’s Rachel Kiley, Rev. Lines has created “a series of videos in which he uses Bible verses and Jesus to rebuke MAGA talking points.”

“The teachings of MAGA are simply incompatible with the teachings of Jesus Christ,” Lines says, so he established a “MAGA vs. Jesus” series on TikTok. And the series is drawing millions to his videos. The videos are short-form, social-media friendly (TikTok, Reels, etc.), often framed with Lines holding signs or delivering direct statements like “MAGA says real Christians support Trump.”

In “MAGA vs. Jesus,” Rev. Lines “goes through MAGA talking points and fires back with Bible verses that contradict them,” Kiley reported. “In his most popular video, which has racked up over 5.5 million views, Reverend Lines tackles abortion, cancel culture, the need for manly men, and ‘fake news.’”

snip//

In one video, refuting the notion that “real Christians support Trump,” Rev. Lines cites 1 John 4:20: “Those who say they love God but hate their neighbor are lying.”

“You cannot follow Jesus Christ while actively supporting politicians or policies that hurt your neighbor. You know, like cutting their food aid or their healthcare,” he says.

In these days of rising Christian nationalism and new and powerful religious movements like the New Apostolic Reformation, Rev. Dr. Lines is doing … dare I say it … God’s work!
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Pastor's 'MAGA vs. Jesus' TikTok Series Dismantling Right-Wing Theology Draws Millions (Original Post) babylonsister Yesterday OP
Hope Reverend Dr. Caleb J. Lines reaches millions more people democrank Yesterday #1
Rather than posting the 10 Commandments in multigraincracker Yesterday #2
Or just about anything from the Gospels Wednesdays Yesterday #8
Yep, but whom am I to judge? 😊 multigraincracker Yesterday #12
This is basic "What did Jesus say?" 101. patphil Yesterday #3
That's my favaorite part of the Bible. thucythucy Yesterday #4
My favorite. multigraincracker Yesterday #5
We need to snip that part out of the Bible. Permanut 14 hrs ago #16
John Fugelsang is doing the same thing with his book "Separation of Church and Hate". YodaMom2 Yesterday #6
Atheists find it just as abhorring. We are united. twodogsbarking Yesterday #7
That's a non-secure website. You should at least warn people. nt pnwmom Yesterday #9
I wasn't aware that might babylonsister Yesterday #11
I merely pointed out an issue with that site some people would want to know, pnwmom Yesterday #13
Another good one to spread far & wide on social media. KS Toronado Yesterday #10
I share a lot of his reels proud patriot Yesterday #14
I'm delighted to see public theologians take on the heresies of the Christian Nationalists. summer_in_TX 16 hrs ago #15

democrank

(11,941 posts)
1. Hope Reverend Dr. Caleb J. Lines reaches millions more people
Sun Nov 16, 2025, 10:41 AM
Yesterday

Obviously a man of conscience. I deeply appreciate his message.

multigraincracker

(36,711 posts)
2. Rather than posting the 10 Commandments in
Sun Nov 16, 2025, 10:47 AM
Yesterday

schools, I’d rather see the Beatitudes, and I’m a nonbeliever.

Wednesdays

(21,339 posts)
8. Or just about anything from the Gospels
Sun Nov 16, 2025, 01:18 PM
Yesterday

Funny how the ones who say they love JAYYYZUS don't really pay much attention to his actual words.

patphil

(8,500 posts)
3. This is basic "What did Jesus say?" 101.
Sun Nov 16, 2025, 11:31 AM
Yesterday

And yet the MAGA's can't see it.
It goes right along side the broader teaching, "Whatsoever you do to the least of my people, you do unto me".

thucythucy

(9,006 posts)
4. That's my favaorite part of the Bible.
Sun Nov 16, 2025, 11:48 AM
Yesterday

Funny how right wingers somehow never mention that particular passage.

multigraincracker

(36,711 posts)
5. My favorite.
Sun Nov 16, 2025, 12:10 PM
Yesterday

“If you wish to follow me? Sell everything you own and give to money to the poor”.

Permanut

(7,761 posts)
16. We need to snip that part out of the Bible.
Mon Nov 17, 2025, 03:31 AM
14 hrs ago

Otherwise Kenneth Copeland, Jesse DuPlantis, Creflo Dollar, Joyce Meyer, Benny Hinn and Joel Osteen would have to sell their private jets and use the proceeds to feed hungry children.

That won't do.

YodaMom2

(137 posts)
6. John Fugelsang is doing the same thing with his book "Separation of Church and Hate".
Sun Nov 16, 2025, 12:19 PM
Yesterday

He takes on MAGA and Christian nationalism directly with scripture that either directly contradicts or seriously undermines their claim that their beliefs and policies are grounded in their supposed “Christian” faith. And he does it with gentle humor.

For those who aren’t familiar with Fugelsang’s background, his father was a Franciscan brother and his mother was a nun when they met, so John was steeped in Catholic teachings from birth. He like to say his “father the brother and mother the sister” married, had him, and now he does comedy because he can’t afford the therapy.

babylonsister

(172,488 posts)
11. I wasn't aware that might
Sun Nov 16, 2025, 03:17 PM
Yesterday

be an issue for some as I go there daily. No need to scold me.

pnwmom

(110,153 posts)
13. I merely pointed out an issue with that site some people would want to know,
Sun Nov 16, 2025, 03:43 PM
Yesterday

before they clicked on the link, not after.

summer_in_TX

(3,936 posts)
15. I'm delighted to see public theologians take on the heresies of the Christian Nationalists.
Mon Nov 17, 2025, 01:25 AM
16 hrs ago

Like Reverend William Barber, Benjamin Crump, Zach Lambert, James Talarico, and several more I follow.

Thanks for introducing another.

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