I can sense the damage that the Trump era has done to the credibility of Church in America just by my own reaction to things.

I’ve been a believer for more than three decades. Bible College Grad. Used the Shepherd’s Guide anytime I needed to hire help.

And I’M disgusted.

Yesterday, I saw an ad for a Christian Academy for kids. A few years ago, I would have been drawn to look into it. But now when I see it, I can’t get the image of the Trump Evangelical, the folks who are sadly especially common among my white evangelical brethren, out of my mind.

When I hear people who are prominent in ministry talk about societal issues or even the Gospel, I can’t help wondering if they’re among the many who tolerated and even celebrated the evil of the last four years. I ask myself “should I bother listening to them?”

Here’s where I’m going with this. If I’m disgusted with the very term “Evangelical” at the moment - AND I AM ONE OF THEM - what does the world think? What do people who don’t know that Jesus Christ is Lord think? What about people who don’t believe that the Bible is God’s Word?

When you get to the point when you’re struggling to fight off having an instant negative perception of a group THAT YOU YOURSELF ARE A MEMBER OF, that’s when you get scared wondering what others might be thinking of your group.