There's been a fault line that has been visible, which has separated what I call "Covenant Christians," those whose theology, doctrine and Christian practice reflect the acknowledgement of Jesus as the criteria by which the Christian gospel is interpreted from scripture and practiced, from the intrusive influence of white, Christian nationalism that is based on legalistic fundamentalism combined with extremist right wing politics.

Proof? I John 4. The Apostle's words define the difference. He speaks authoritatively of what is required for a human being, created in the image of God, to be Christian, as opposed to being antichrist, and uses that exact word. He defines them simply, but thoroughly, enough that it's obvious. Christianity rests on the acknowledgement of Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah, the Savior. A quick test of the spirits, as instructed by the Apostle, shows the pseudo-Christian MAGA cult doesn't pass that test.

It also doesn't appear to be a coincidence that cases of sexual abuse by pastors and church leaders seem to be soaring in those sections of conservative Evangelicalism that also embrace the extremist right wing politics of Trumpism, nor are some of their misogynystic practices excluding women from church leadership, or the fact that conservative Evangelicals are the single most segregated branch of Christianity in the United States. Find the fault line, and you'll find these kinds of moral issues on the right side of it. Of course, no one is perfect, but the Southern Baptist convention is having a terrible time resolving a sexual abuse crisis in its churches uncovered about five years ago by the Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News. The atmosphere in most of the churches that have withdrawn from the convention doesn't tolerate that kind of behavior. It seems to sift out the personal kingdom builders and dictator pastors.

The claim that God sometimes uses flawed individuals to achieve his will is not applicable on this side of the resurrection. And while those who like to compare Trump with King David try to make this point, the fact of the matter is that the biggest difference in this comparison is that David was repentant from his sins, and submissive to God, while Trump loudly proclaims that he has done nothing requiring God's forgiveness, and he does not submit to God's grace. There is no way God would ever use a morally bankrupt, sexual deviant, antichrist like that. That's just another sign of how far away from the Christian gospel Trump has taken himself and his followers.

According to his own narrative, Jesus has already established his Kingdom, a spiritual one, based on the practice of Christian faith through the values he preached and lived by. He never intended to establish a "theocratic" nation on earth, similar to the way in which the Old Covenant established. Salvation, which was what both of these kingdoms existed to provide, is quite different, needing neither the power and influence of the United States, or the leadership of a worldly demagogue like Trump.