Rev. Douglas Wilson is a silent influencer that should be on the radar.

He is the founder of the New St. Andrew’s College ( not to be confused with the one in Scotland, South Africa or Colorado- this is in Idaho) and this video from the school sums it up. Bring Me Men. Caution: this video will and should upset some readers. Hit the link then come back to the blog.

https://youtu.be/KQuwG01r_8I?si=g1Wzeg1QbTsQfyUW

This reminds me of the first time Trump wooed the right christian base with his spiritual advisor Paula White during the beginning of Covid. Trump spewed out misinformation on bleach killing Covid ( maybe before he actually got it) from this fringe group of Zealots. Paula White and the NAR prophets operating as Trump advisors. These were Prosperity gospel preachers fanatically devoted to wealth theology. The “spiritual advisors” calling down angelic warfare against Democrats. This was his first try. It was too much, too soon, and too visible as he held the bible upside down. In front of St. John’s mind you.

During the spring of 2020, I was tagged by the Spiritual Care Association to go to FEMA in Washington at the beginning of Covid. I was to set up a spiritual care program for FEMA workers dealing with Covid issues nationally and internationally while on lockdown. I had to study and pass the FEMA exams to be able to be deployed. I stood ready for two weeks, bag packed and was ready to be sent at any time. Then the bleach bullshit happened and FEMA responded by sacking the program. Smart on their side, why draw any more attention or misinterpretation to having spiritual care for their workers. Many people align chaplains with religion, when in fact we are about the journey of the individual of no faith and any faith during times of spiritual distress. Covid qualified as spiritual distress for front line workers, including FEMA employees.

Fast forward to Trumps second term and now his Christian Nationalism affiliation. Hegseth is member of the Christ Church, a tidy name for one of the parishes under the umbrella of The Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches ( CREC) and growing by the day with a new seed Chruch planted in Washington DC. Why does this matter?

Trump has gotten better at branding silently in the back, out of view. Bring in someone who appears to be authentic in his field- that would be Wilson. He has grown a “church” from an established religion and then instituted a college and has connected with others within the inner circle. That would be Hegseth. The video is choreographed for white male christians, Including the late Charlie Kirk. The women that buy into this, well shame on them. Trump has kept out of the limelight, letting Hegseth be the mouthpiece.

What got my attention was a small news piece showing Hegseth leading prayer at the Pentagon. The Pentagon already has a dedicated Chaplain’s office that provides spiritual care that is interfaith. “The office hosts services for various faiths, including Catholic Mass, Protestant Bible studies, Jewish services, and Muslim prayers, often in the Memorial Chapel.” according to the Pentagon’s site.

Here is the issue. Hegseth and Douglas Wilson preach a white, male, society of Christians that even Jesus would not be welcome. Remember Jesus was a Jew, an immigrant, spoke truth to power. He would not be welcome at the table that is being set.

This scares me because the more cloaked a message is, the more insidious. This is not democracy, this is the underscoring of an autocracy, a dictatorship. Not the America I wish to see.