Oh wicked evangelicals,
They made a pact with the devil,
For the promise of a state church,
A crown of gold, and a reprobate mind.
Oh foolish evangelicals,
How quickly they forget—
Didn’t they learn in Sunday school,
That satan never keeps his promises?
They chase the hymn of power,
Blind to the price they’ll have to pay,
Trading their souls for political sway,
Losing their faith along the way.
Their praises echo hollow,
A clamor of misguided hope,
While shadows of demons
Creep beneath their pews.
The cross they bear is heavy,
Burdened by betrayal’s weight,
Clinging to illusions and idols,
While truth and justice waits.
Oh, how history repeats—
The lessons they forsake—
That a promise made in darkness—
By dawn’s first light—will dissipate.
Edited by: ElRoyPoet © 2025
“Conceit” The Evangelicals Social Club
The Evangelicals had once been taught the word of God, but they had fallen into errors, neglecting to keep the commandments, prayer, and church ordinances. They had built synagogues and gathered on their holy day to worship in a way I had never seen before—standing on a high stand, raising their hands to heaven, and reciting this prayer:
“Holy, holy God; we believe that thou art God, and we believe that thou art holy, and that thou wast a spirit, and that thou art a spirit, and that thou wilt be a spirit forever.
Holy God, we believe that thou hast separated us from our brethren; and we do not believe in the tradition of our brethren, which was handed down to them by the childishness of their fathers; but we believe that thou hast elected us to be thy holy children; and also thou hast made it known unto us that there shall be no Christ.
But thou art the same yesterday, today, and forever; and thou hast elected us that we shall be saved, whilst all around us are elected to be cast by thy wrath down to hell; for the which holiness, O God, we thank thee; and we also thank thee that thou hast elected us, that we may not be led away after the foolish traditions of our brethren, which doth bind them down to a belief of Christ, which doth lead their hearts to wander far from thee, our God. And again we thank thee, O God, that we are a chosen and a holy people. Amen.” Alma 31:15-18
I saw their pride, wealth, and wickedness—their costly apparel, ringlets, bracelets, and ornaments of gold and silver—and their hearts were set on worldly things, lifted up in great boasting. They cast out the immigrants from the synagogues, esteemed as filthiness and despised because of their perceived worthlessness, especially by their priests.
To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Luke 18:9-14
The Evangelicals’ “Bad Rap“
You claim to possess a soul, yet your heart is a hollow chamber, echoing with the silence of abandoned faith. You speak of rebirth, but it’s a ghost—an illusion, a shadow that never takes hold. You kneel in prayer for peace, your lips moving in rehearsed devotion—yet behind closed doors, your true desire whispers: battle, dominance, the triumph of Israel, cloaked in sacred words.
You talk of love for neighbor, but cast out the vulnerable, shut the door on the immigrant—building walls where bridges should be. You swear the Bible is the inerrant word of God, yet spend more hours watching Fox News and listening to conservative radio, feeding on distortion and half-truths. You wear humility like a mask, a veneer over greed, praising riches while turning a blind eye to injustice—avoiding the poverty and suffering in your urban communities.
You seek righteousness, but walk past systemic racism, indifferent to the cries of the oppressed. You claim to follow the Savior, yet your actions build walls of exclusion, sow seeds of division—draped in the guise of faith, yet rooted in fear. You chase personal salvation, neglecting the brokenness all around you; your compassion as thin as shadow, fleeting as smoke.
You speak of moral virtue but ignore the ethical depths of your misdeeds. You profess belief in divine mercy, yet your heart is stone—cold to the pain of others—hardened by prejudice, cloaked in self-righteousness. You preach kindness but sow judgment, tearing apart the bonds of love and erecting barricades where there should be open arms.
You uphold the banner of truth but dismiss science—rejecting the evidence that challenges your shallow conspiracies, preferring comforting lies over uncomfortable realities. You claim to evangelize, yet turn away from the suffering within your own walls, ignoring the voices of the marginalized and the disenfranchised. You pledge allegiance to Christ but chase influence like a mirage—political power masquerading as faith, ambition dressed in religious robes.
You believe you’ve earned the gates of heaven, yet your actions reveal a different story—one written in shadows of bigotry, duplicity, and pretense. You talk of caring for creation but neglect saving the earth’s resources for the next generation—its rivers, forests, skies—the sacred gift you say you cherish, yet treat as expendable. You virtue-signal loudly but despise social justice—hating what you refuse to confront, blind to the division you cast.
You claim to love everybody, yet scapegoat the defenseless—LGBTQ+ souls, the oppressed, the down-trodden—casting blame where mercy should dwell. You speak of religious freedom but wield faith as a weapon, a shield for power, a tool to silence and divide.
So why would anyone take you seriously? Your words are echoes in an empty cathedral, shadows dancing on cracked stained glass windows—light obscured by self-interest, truth drowned in hypocrisy. Your faith, a flickering candle in a storm—barely illuminating the darkness you refuse to confront.
The Collapse of Freedom of Religion: A Shift from Faith to Authoritarianism
The evangelical church, at its core, is built upon faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. However, when it shifts its focus from spiritual faith to seeking influence through government power, it risks internal division and spiritual ruin. This shift often manifests in advocating for authoritarianism in government, attempting to establish a de facto state religion, and undermining foundational freedoms such as the First Amendment’s guarantee of religious liberty.
Matthew 12:25-30 emphasizes a vital principle: a government divided against itself cannot stand. Jesus states that internal conflict weakens any organization, whether a kingdom, city, household, or spiritual movement. When the church aligns itself more with political power and seeks to impose a particular religious worldview through government, it creates factions within its own ranks and beyond. The desire to establish a state religion—where faith becomes subordinate to political authority—contradicts the very essence of Christian liberty and the biblical call to serve Christ alone. Such efforts threaten to dismantle the First Amendment’s protection of religious freedom, replacing individual conscience with government enforcement.
Furthermore, Jesus describes a “strong man” whose possessions are being plundered only after he is first tied up. In spiritual terms, the “strong man” represents satan’s domain, which Christ came to defeat through spiritual authority. When the church turns to wielding government power—pursuing political influence and attempting to control societal institutions—it risks trying to do the work of Christ through human authority. This approach may resemble attempting to “tie up” the spiritual conflict with political force, but Jesus warns that true victory comes through reliance on the Spirit, not coercion.
Jesus states that whoever is not with Him is against Him, and those who do not gather with Him scatter. When the church becomes entangled in political battles—especially those advocating authoritarianism and the suppression of religious pluralism—it risks dividing itself from the core message of Christ’s love and freedom. Instead of gathering people into the unity of faith, it fosters division, strife, and even the suppression of differing religious voices, ultimately scattering its influence and credibility.
In summary, the evangelical church’s pursuit of political power—particularly through authoritarianism, the desire to establish a state religion, and the undermining of constitutional protections like the First Amendment—threatens to compromise its spiritual integrity. As Jesus warns, a kingdom divided cannot stand. When faith in Jesus is supplanted by the pursuit of worldly power and control, the church becomes vulnerable to internal strife and spiritual collapse. True strength lies in unity with Christ and reliance on His Spirit, not in coercive political influence. Without this foundation, the church risks falling, having forsaken its divine calling for the fleeting power of worldly dominance.
Op-Ed: If your mind is already made up, your emotions will defend your position to the point that others will accuse you of being stubborn or a lunatic, because you are perceived to be set in your ways.
The human brain resists change because once it has figured out how to process information into a narrative that makes sense, it considers the matter solved. The brain optimizes its processes by not revisiting solved problems to focus on new challenges — forming habits and mannerisms that allow us to complete routine tasks more efficiently with less conscious thought.
The brain sets up patterns and routines to conserve mental energy, and promote efficiency and adaptability, ultimately reducing cognitive load and decision fatigue, decreasing stress, and improving clarity. These automatic behaviors improve productivity, save time, provide structure, and stability in our lives.
After the efficient brain has figured something out, it doesn’t need to reanalyze it ever again; it is no longer a question but an answer. The brain does not have to revisit a previously answered question because it considers the case closed and categorizes it as an answer rather than a question. Answers cannot revert to questions; otherwise, the mind would become confused.
Introspectively, this scientific evidence implicates Christians when they backslide into “Christian nationalist” tendencies. When they claim that “Jesus is the Answer for the world, today,” does that mean they have already made a decision for Christ? Or are they still trying to make up their minds as to whether Jesus is the answer to their question of faith, or do they face lingering uncertainty due to the persistence of idolatry?
The adherence to “prosperity religion” reinforces a distorted view of Christianity that centers on material gain and personal success. This narrow focus on prosperity can act as an idol itself, diverting attention and dedication away from the broader teachings of Christ, such as compassion, unity, and social justice.
Scientific evidence suggests that evangelicals with Christian nationalist tendencies tend to resist new information and struggle to critically evaluate their beliefs. This resistance to change extends beyond religious spheres and has implications for society, leading to divisions and an inability to address complex issues effectively.
In order to combat this narrow-mindedness and promote a more balanced approach, Christians must maintain an open mind and engage in ongoing self-reflection. They should be willing to re-examine their beliefs in light of new information and different perspectives, avoiding the pitfalls of dogmatism.
Christians should actively seek out and listen to the voices of those with contrasting opinions on social, political, and theological issues. By actively seeking out and listening to a range of viewpoints, they can foster empathy, understanding, and cooperation, which in turn helps to bridge divides.
In conclusion, professing Christians must be cautious of falling into the trap of Christian nationalism because it will inhibit personal growth and promote a narrow and intolerant worldview. By maintaining an open mind and critically examining their beliefs Christians can better navigate the complexities of faith, share the gospel and respond to the challenges facing society in a more inclusive and compassionate manner.
“Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.” By: Benjamin Franklin
“Megachurches could take membership hits in the future if younger Americans feel they’re being forced to accept religion in public spaces, Andrew Chesnut, predicted. ‘I think evangelicals are going to pay the price for so closely hitching their wagon to MAGA. If you’re making kids pray in school, as I’ve learned anytime I make my kids do something, they’ll do the opposite.'” Excerpt from: 15,000 churches could close this year amid religious shift in U.S.
Commentary: If you let MAGA Republicans gain the upper hand, we will all become bondmen, and democracy will fail. We have no choice but to ensure that freedom prevails. Don’t believe their lies about having it both ways. You can’t support liberal democracy while selling your capitalist soul to autocracy. It’s a trick designed to weaken your conviction, destabilize your firm foundation, and make you overconfident, leading you to believe you won’t be affected by the slippery slope toward autocracy. Supporting autocracy undermines democracy—why is that so hard to understand? Communists, socialists, fascists, and Marxists often embrace one another because they don’t feel threatened by each other. They create the illusion of “honor among thieves.” The only way to save humanity is for truth and democracy to triumph over deception and autocracy. “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” and it’s coming to a theater near you.
Jesus came to earth to separate the sheep from the goats (Matthew 25:32). He did not come to bring peace, but a sword. He came to turn a man against his father, against his brother, a woman against her mother, against her sister, because no one can stand in the way of the worship of God. These are the consequences of his intervention. (Matthew 10:32–42). However, when Donald Trump became president, he also turned everyone against everybody else, and divided the country in order to conquer the minds of the evangelicals. Like other cult leaders before him, he became a fake savior for the Christian nationalists who were seeking an idol to worship (Exodus 32:1–9). So the real question is, who do you claim as your savior— Jesus who died for your sins, or a cult leader who deceives you into forfeiting your liberty for his sins? (Joshua 24:14–28). By the way, if you choose a populist leader or another authoritarian, you are stuck with them forever because once you relinquish your freedom, you will never be able to vote them out, even if you change your mind later (Matthew 25:31–46).
“Because people are gullible. Because people are easily influenced when you dangle materialism in their faces. Because people are unlearned. The Bible says in ‘II Timothy 2:15 that we are to study to shew ourselves approved so we can rightly divide the Word of Truth, but many people don’t and won’t do that.’ It may be easier to just listen to the pulpit then read a verse at night and in the morning than to actually study. But that also means it is easier for you to be deceived. And those false ministers who bring a fake gospel are skillful in manipulating scripture while making it sound good and feeding hearts filled with mammon—or even those with legitimate need.” Excerpt from: Black & White Christians Beware of Pulpit Money Changers and Con-Artists.
Poem Analysis: Historical Religious Hypocrisy and Political Corruption
The poem presents a scathing critique of evangelicals who, in pursuit of political power, make deals with malevolent forces, metaphorically depicted as the devil. Through vivid imagery and historical allusions, the poet underscores themes of spiritual betrayal, the corrupting influence of power, and the cyclical nature of moral folly.
Themes of Betrayal and Moral Corruption
At its core, the poem condemns evangelicals who prioritize political gains over their spiritual integrity. The opening lines, “They made a pact with the devil, / For the promise of a state church,” evoke imagery of moral compromise. Historically, this can be linked to the alliance between religion and monarchy in various European contexts—most notably the English Reformation and the establishment of the Church of England under Henry VIII. The monarch’s suppression of Catholicism and the creation of a state church exemplify how religious institutions have often been intertwined with political power, sometimes at the expense of spiritual truth.
The phrase “A crown of gold, and a reprobate mind” alludes to the temptation of material wealth and worldly authority, reminiscent of biblical warnings against greed and idolatry. The poem suggests that these pursuits distort faith, transforming it into a tool for political dominance rather than spiritual salvation.
Historical Parallels: The Use of Religious Justification for Political Ends
Evangelical and other religious groups have, at times, aligned with political regimes to their own detriment. For example, during the English Civil War (1642–1651), some factions of the Church of England supported the monarchy, while others aligned with Parliament and Puritan ideals. The rise of Oliver Cromwell’s Protectorate reflected complex intersections of religion and authority, often resulting in moral and political upheaval. The poet’s critique echoes this tension, warning of the dangers when faith is manipulated to serve temporal ambitions.
This critique is further reinforced by the history of the Crusades (1096–1291), a series of religious wars launched by European Christians. Justified as holy missions to reclaim the Holy Land, these campaigns often resulted in brutal violence, greed, and political manipulation. The Crusades exemplify how religious fervor was exploited for territorial expansion and wealth, betraying the spiritual ideals they claimed to uphold.
The phrase “They made a pact with the devil” resonates with how the Crusaders, driven by promises of divine reward, committed atrocities under the guise of religious duty. The papal approval of these wars illustrates a historical instance where spiritual authority was wielded to justify violence and conquest. The failed promises of salvation and eternal reward, much like those in the poem, reveal the peril of trusting deceptive spiritual promises motivated by worldly ambition.
The Deception and Blindness of Power
The lines “Didn’t they learn in Sunday school, / That satan never keeps his promises?” serve as a moral caution, referencing the biblical narrative of satan’s deception. This highlights the recurring pattern of leaders being deceived by their own ambitions. The poem suggests that these evangelicals are “foolish” for forgetting this lesson, implying a cyclical pattern of moral blindness.
Historically, political leaders have justified alliances with corrupt or malevolent forces, believing they can control or outwit them—only to be betrayed. For example, during the Spanish Inquisition, religious authorities believed they could wield divine authority without moral compromise, but their actions led to widespread persecution and moral decay.
The Crusades also demonstrate this pattern: initial religious motivations were overshadowed by greed, political motives, and brutal conquest. The Fourth Crusade (1202–1204), for instance, was diverted from its original purpose and resulted in the sack of Constantinople—a Christian city—under the banner of religious unity but driven by economic and political ambitions. These events exemplify how religious promises can be manipulated for self-serving ends, echoing the poem’s warning against broken promises and deception.
The Price of Power and the Loss of Faith
The poem warns of the “hymn of power” and “trading their souls,” emphasizing the spiritual cost of political entanglements. The imagery of “shadows of demons” lurking beneath their church pews suggests that corruption festers within religious institutions when they serve worldly interests. Historically, scandals involving religious institutions—such as the papal extravagances of the Renaissance or abuses leading to the Protestant Reformation—illustrate the peril of conflating faith with political power.
The Crusades serve as further historical evidence: ostensibly holy wars that, in reality, led to widespread suffering, economic gain for some, and moral decay within the Church. The papacy’s involvement in political affairs—such as the alliance of the Papal States with European monarchs—demonstrates how faith was often compromised for temporal power.
Historical Lessons and Repetition
The concluding lines, “How history repeats— / The lessons they forsake,” emphasize the cyclical nature of moral failure. The poet warns that neglecting these lessons leads to inevitable downfall. The phrase “a promise made in darkness— / By dawn’s first light—will dissipate” symbolizes the exposure and collapse of false promises rooted in deception.
The history of the Crusades exemplifies this cycle: initial religious zeal was later revealed to be driven by greed, territorial conquest, and political dominance, leading to disillusionment and moral decline within Christendom. The failure of these holy wars underscores the danger of conflating faith with political ambition and highlights the importance of learning from history to prevent repeating such mistakes.
This pattern repeats in history: regimes or institutions that compromise their integrity often face downfall. For example, the fall of the Roman Empire was partly due to moral decay and internal corruption. Similarly, the rise and fall of religious-political alliances—like the papacy’s alliances with European monarchs—serve as cautionary tales about moral compromise.
A Warning to All Christians
Through powerful imagery and biblical allusions, the poem offers a sobering critique of religious leaders who sacrifice spiritual integrity for political power. Including the Crusades as a historical reference deepens this critique, illustrating how religious fervor can be exploited to serve worldly ends, often resulting in violence and betrayal. The poem underscores a universal lesson: that alliances with darkness—literal or metaphorical—ultimately lead to betrayal and moral decay. It reminds us that true faith demands integrity, and history’s echoes warn us of the peril when faith becomes entangled with worldly ambition.
“The safest road to hell is the gradual one — the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.” By: C. S. Lewis
“And now, how much more cursed is he that knows the will of God and does it not, than he that only believes, or only has cause to believe, and falls into transgression?” Alma 32:19
“I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.” Romans 16:17-18
“These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.” Colossians 2:23
“If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.” I Timothy 6:3-5
“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!” Galatians 1:8-9
“In order for a government to become a christo-fascist regime, the church must allow itself to be swallowed by the state. In order for a government to remain democratic, the state must be kept separated from the church—so that they’re not tempted to swallow each other.” By: A. Freeman
“To the working man religion is true, because he needs hope in order to endure his lot in life; to the scholar, false because he’s arrogant; and to the authoritarian useful, so that he can control the poor man and shame the academic.” By: B. Bondsman
“It does not matter how well the Bible, or the Constitution was written: if those aspirations are not animated by the spirit that dwells in your heart.” By: ElRoyPoet
“It is we who nourish the ‘Soul Of The World’, and the world we live in will be either better or worse, depending on whether we become better or worse.” By: Paulo Coelho
“Though liberty is established by law, we must be vigilant, for liberty to enslave us is always present under that same liberty. Our Constitution speaks of the ‘general welfare of the people’. Under that phrase all sorts of excesses can be employed by [authoritarian] tyrants—to make us bondsmen.” By: Marcus Tullius Cicero
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