Katelyn Beaty compares Trump evangelicals to Mark Driscoll

In an op-ed for the New York Times, Christianity Today editor Katelyn Beaty makes an interesting comparison between the kinds of evangelical leaders that follow Trump and those who might follow or resemble Mark Driscoll:

But there are evangelical leaders with whom Trump would feel quite at home. Like him, they are middle-aged men who refuse to submit to basic checks on their power and ego…

So long as there is growth, many evangelicals hesitate to address clear and troubling signs of egotism and even spiritual abuse…

The rise and fall of Mark Driscoll reminds us of the limits of such evangelical pragmatism. Leading a once-booming conservative church in Seattle, Driscoll resigned in 2014 over conflict stemming from his self-admitted anger and pride.

It’s a strong comparison I think, but I do wonder if this accounts for the legions of evangelical laypeople – not necessarily leaders – who are supporting Trump. Does this assessment neglect to address the empty politic that exists within the American evangelical project at large, that Trump is, perhaps, merely the final product of? In other words, does this let the evangelical politic off the hook somewhat?

As Jesus-centered people, what do you think of this?

[Read the whole article here.]