I feel like I’ve gone through some similar experiences and observations as you, as the church I grew up in was nothing like these politically indoctrination camps masquerading as churches. We didn’t talk politics; we talked about using the guidance in that collection of texts to help each other in life’s struggles and to avoid hurting each other. I think you did an excellent write-up about what that looks like, for outsiders who only see the made for TV “churches” and might think that’s what it all is. I’m glad you took the time to share all that for the people who will read it.

There were definitely plenty of people, even in our quaint little congregation, who took it all literally, though. I’ve reflected on what I got out of that chapter in my life, and while I think it probably influenced me for the better, I still have some regrets sometimes and still feel like the people that stayed behind in that world are stuck in an echo chamber where they’ll probably blissfully never think past whatever cherry-picked interpretation of it suits their world view. Sometimes I’m inclined to defend the actual message of Christianity from the political indoctrination camps, but my ambivalence usually makes me just leave it alone.