When Blasphemy Doesn’t Break the Spell

What happens when Christians recognize the wrong and keep going anyway

My dear ones,

A poll dropped this week that the political press is treating as good news: even Trump voters rejected the Jesus image he posted on Truth Social. Nearly nine in ten Americans had a negative reaction, including 87% of white evangelicals.

I don’t think it’s good news. Not exactly.

Because the same poll found that roughly 70% of those same evangelicals still approve of the president’s overall job performance. They were offended. And then they kept going.

This piece is about what that means, and about the theological infrastructure that made the image possible in the first place. It’s also, at least a little, about the question repentance actually asks of us, which turns out to be more demanding than being momentarily embarrassed.

As a paid subscriber, you’ll find a downloadable PDF below, formatted for easy reading and sharing.

I hope it’s useful. I’m glad you’re here.

Be gentle and brave,

Derek