Many Evangelical Christians Feel Protected from Trump's Sub-Christian Words & Actions

Having been reared Christian I continue to be mystified how Donald Trump continues to receive the support of self-identified Christians. I know the backstory, the Cyrus Prophesy and all that, but I never imagined that their blind allegiance would be durable enough to survive this week's dramatic events involving a deranged supporter mailing pipe bombs to individuals and targets repeatedly vilified in Trump's endless rallies. 

As the Khashoggi debacle unfolded over the last three weeks (still in progress at this writing) I had no expectations that it would get much attention. Some of us pay attention to foreign policy but most Americans pay little attention to other countries until wars break out. 

But what some have called the MAGABomber story is different. This is a high-profile sequence of unbelievable events that even as they were unfolding were dismissed by Trump and many of his supporters as a false-flag operation orchestrated by his political enemies. Even now, with a suspect in custody and details of what he did are in the news, many Trump supporters continue to feed the false-flag narrative. 

A surprisingly large number of figures from the conservative establishment — commentators, radio hosts, a Trump family member, and other pro-Trump figures — shared, liked, hinted at, raised questions about or otherwise endorsed an evidence-less theory that this was a “false-flag” attack — one that was staged to advance the political goals of the very people it seemed intended to hurt (in this case, Democrats).

The Wikipedia article Snake handling in religion offers clues to why some Christians clearly feel Divine protection when they associate themselves with Donald Trump's venomous qualities. They deny it, of course, but their words and actions are in agreement with those who believe serpent handling dates to antiquity and quote the Gospel of Mark and the Gospel of Luke to support the practice:

And these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues. They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.(Mark 16:17-18)

Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. (Luke 10:19)

Another passage from the New Testament used to support snake handlers' beliefs is Acts 28:1-6, which relates that Paul was bitten by a venomous viper and suffered no harm:

And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita. And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold. And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand. And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live. And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm. Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.