The devil showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and said to him, “To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” Luke 4.5–7
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[This is the second Sunday in Lent. Lent commemorates the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness tempted by the devil.]
Once upon a time, 52.1 million white evangelicals found themselves wandering in a wilderness. They were afraid and lost, starving for something they couldn’t name.
And then along came the devil.
Pleased to meet you, white evangelicals. Won’t you guess my name? OOPS. Sorry. I forgot. You already know all about me. You read the Bible.
The devil led 52.1 million white evangelicals up a mountain and showed them the kingdoms of the world, all the razzle-dazzle, diamonds and diadems, continents and islands, gulfs and canals, capitols and capital, casinos and brothels.
Then the devil said to those 52.1 million white evangelicals:
To you I will give all their glory and all authority because it is all mine, and I can give it to anyone I please. If you worship me, it will all be yours.
Those 52.1 million white evangelicals gasped. They recalled those exact words from the Gospel of Luke and what Jesus had sternly said to the devil.
They knew the devil was bad news. Not to be trusted. Evil.
They dithered.
They recalled certain words from the Gospel of John pertaining to the devil.
You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
(You go, Bible!)
Every one of of those 52.1 million white evangelicals knew the answer Jesus had given to the devil, refusing to worship him:
It is written, “Worship the Lord your God, and serve ONLY God.”
That’s courage. That’s integrity. That’s faithfulness.
Unfortunately, 80 percent of those 52.1 million white evangelicals gleefully, without shame, replied:
DEAL!
We will follow you. We will swallow your lies. We will excuse your crudity and cruelty. We will adore you and hail you as king.
Jesus wept.
