I was driving through rural Georgia recently. The land is beautiful. The people are friendly. The sky is blue. Lots of people have flag poles with the American flag on them. Increasingly, I see Trump 2020 flags underneath the American flag. It actually is noticeably new and something happening in rural areas across the country.
Scripture must be our guide in all that we do. And yes, there are people who have combined America + Jesus to form a different version of Christianity.
I think both sides are so overwhelmed with political pressure to respond to biblical issues, that after awhile it becomes hard for people to distinguish between that which is overtly political and that which is completely biblical, including the gray space in between.
So, if anything, people need to have a life of prayer as well as Bible study that gets applied PERSONALLY first, before reading and praying about the bigger picture of what's going on in the nation. My public response needs to come out of my personal reflections.
I think you're right, Erick, in the sense that white evangelicals should be sensible careful in their reasons for supporting Trump. After all, they're supporting this person despite his corruption, his habitual dishonesty, his personal immorality, his erratic temperament, his failure to read more than a page of anything, his falling for ridiculous conspiracy theories, his withdrawing from international agreements, his disengagement from allied nations, his pandering to dictators (even China until recently), his betrayal of allies such as the Kurds, his violations of the Constitution, etc.
So despite all that, if they believe Trump is the least worst between him and Biden, then so be it. If he wins, at least he can still get the judges he wants from the Federalist Society list, assuming the GOP can keep its Senate majority.
Totally agree! The Church is fighting a spiritual battle like none other in our lifetime. We are fighting the powers and principalities in high places. Our fight is not carnal, but with the Holy Spirit leading we can pull down strongholds and anything that would exalt itself above the name of Jesus. Jesus is definitely the answer.
Nicely worded and presented. Too many Christians forget that faith is belief in the "not now and not yet" based on the truth of the "now and yesterday." Love the organization of the ideas!
Ok, I just subscribed. I've been freeloading for long enough. Since I do read WashPost every day, I decided that you, Erick, represent the counterbalance that I should consider every day that goes by.
The reason I finally conceded to subscribing is this: the faith-based rationale you tossed out this morning is the best representation I have yet seen of my own position on these trump-dominated developments.
But now that he has so clumsily alienated so many of us with his own manipulative, power-obsessed attack on Lafayette Park at the dear price of violating protesters' constitutional right to peaceably assemble for purposes of redress of grievances against our human .gov.
Oh and by the way, I write novels and music; you should check them out some time. http://www.careyrowland.com.
Thanks for the well-balanced work you are doing in the Kingdom of God and .gov of Man. Oh and one more thing: I will be voting for Joe. Hate to break it to ya. Read 'em and weep.
Put not your trust in the great, in mortal man who cannot save. His breath departs, he returns to dust; on that day his plans come to nothing. Psalm 146, 3-4.
I am short on hope. I don't see Trump as a savior. I just considered the alternative, held my nose and voted -- as I will in November. As you have said, at least he's not coming after me. We can't keep the progressives out forever and until we have real leaders who respect the rule of law, it will be wash, rinse, repeat every 4 or 8 years.
I’m with dmk! Eric, most readers of your “confessions” don’t see Trump as a savior, but as a shield.
We’re kinda at a British Churchill vs Attlee election choice in 2020. The socialistic progressive tsunami is coming. The question is how long conservatives can hold it off (I’d like one more SCOTUS appointment from Trump.).
So, yes Jesus Is The Answer.
And, 2 Chronicles 7:14
King James Version
14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
But at the same time, I’m signing my “Declaration of Independence” with my Trump/Pence vote.
I do not share your assessment that many of Trump is a man receiving “public loyalty and private revulsion.” I see too many who take glee in his reprehensible acts and statements. It’s more a guilty pleasure than revulsion. If anything, it’s feigned revulsion, performative revulsion.
I also fear we’re going to be discussing 10-20 years from now how the church lost its way during this time and how so many turned away from it as a result. We’ll be lamenting the continued aging of the congregation as young adults reject what they see as a hypocritical church drunk on power and committed to a political party and not Jesus.
O boy Erick. You're gonna fire up a lot of folks with this one, LOL. Though, you and I are the same age with a similar upbringing. I agree - Where you stare, you steer - Focus on Jesus, only.
It is true that cannot save anybody in the Christian sense - as only Jesus can do that. But it is also true that Trump did at least delay our country heading down the road to an extreme progressive agenda, including the Green New Deal, abolishing ICE. completely open borders, abortion up to and past the point of birth, and now defunding police. The reason people fly Trump flags is that want to see the progressive agenda delayed at least another 4 years by reelecting Trump. They want to see another 4 years of constitutional friendly judicial appointments and a booming economy that brings back manufacturing jobs sent to China over the past 2 decades. The people who voted for Trump in 2016 voted for him because he promised political policies they support in a way that no GOP nominee since Reagan had. And it wasn't Trump who led to Obama being a 2-term President and giving the Democrats control of the House/Senate, but the same set of GOP establishment types who are now coming out against Trump to the great applause of the progressive media, which will only last until their candidate is on the ballot. Trump's support is not based on people viewing him as a religious savior, but rather a politician who promised to implement policies they support and who followed through on keeping his promises after he was elected (unlike the many Presidents who promised to move the embassy to Jerusalem. If Trump wins in 2020, and the GOP nominates a moral Christian who supports Trump policies in 2024 (like Mike Pence), it will be clear to everybody that Trump's base will follow a candidate who supports Christian policies, and who fights back against the progressive media that opposes them.
He Cannot Save You
LOL "...ostentatiously hump the President’s leg with reckless abandon. "
Well stated from a christian perspective. Keep up the great work Erick!
So you are good with socialism?
Am edified by reading Erick's column above and the comments below.
Scripture must be our guide in all that we do. And yes, there are people who have combined America + Jesus to form a different version of Christianity.
I think both sides are so overwhelmed with political pressure to respond to biblical issues, that after awhile it becomes hard for people to distinguish between that which is overtly political and that which is completely biblical, including the gray space in between.
So, if anything, people need to have a life of prayer as well as Bible study that gets applied PERSONALLY first, before reading and praying about the bigger picture of what's going on in the nation. My public response needs to come out of my personal reflections.
I think you're right, Erick, in the sense that white evangelicals should be sensible careful in their reasons for supporting Trump. After all, they're supporting this person despite his corruption, his habitual dishonesty, his personal immorality, his erratic temperament, his failure to read more than a page of anything, his falling for ridiculous conspiracy theories, his withdrawing from international agreements, his disengagement from allied nations, his pandering to dictators (even China until recently), his betrayal of allies such as the Kurds, his violations of the Constitution, etc.
So despite all that, if they believe Trump is the least worst between him and Biden, then so be it. If he wins, at least he can still get the judges he wants from the Federalist Society list, assuming the GOP can keep its Senate majority.
Totally agree! The Church is fighting a spiritual battle like none other in our lifetime. We are fighting the powers and principalities in high places. Our fight is not carnal, but with the Holy Spirit leading we can pull down strongholds and anything that would exalt itself above the name of Jesus. Jesus is definitely the answer.
Nicely worded and presented. Too many Christians forget that faith is belief in the "not now and not yet" based on the truth of the "now and yesterday." Love the organization of the ideas!
Ok, I just subscribed. I've been freeloading for long enough. Since I do read WashPost every day, I decided that you, Erick, represent the counterbalance that I should consider every day that goes by.
The reason I finally conceded to subscribing is this: the faith-based rationale you tossed out this morning is the best representation I have yet seen of my own position on these trump-dominated developments.
But now that he has so clumsily alienated so many of us with his own manipulative, power-obsessed attack on Lafayette Park at the dear price of violating protesters' constitutional right to peaceably assemble for purposes of redress of grievances against our human .gov.
Oh and by the way, I write novels and music; you should check them out some time. http://www.careyrowland.com.
Thanks for the well-balanced work you are doing in the Kingdom of God and .gov of Man. Oh and one more thing: I will be voting for Joe. Hate to break it to ya. Read 'em and weep.
Loyal soldiers vs. Flying monkeys. Perfect!
Put not your trust in the great, in mortal man who cannot save. His breath departs, he returns to dust; on that day his plans come to nothing. Psalm 146, 3-4.
I am short on hope. I don't see Trump as a savior. I just considered the alternative, held my nose and voted -- as I will in November. As you have said, at least he's not coming after me. We can't keep the progressives out forever and until we have real leaders who respect the rule of law, it will be wash, rinse, repeat every 4 or 8 years.
I’m with dmk! Eric, most readers of your “confessions” don’t see Trump as a savior, but as a shield.
We’re kinda at a British Churchill vs Attlee election choice in 2020. The socialistic progressive tsunami is coming. The question is how long conservatives can hold it off (I’d like one more SCOTUS appointment from Trump.).
So, yes Jesus Is The Answer.
And, 2 Chronicles 7:14
King James Version
14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
But at the same time, I’m signing my “Declaration of Independence” with my Trump/Pence vote.
I do not share your assessment that many of Trump is a man receiving “public loyalty and private revulsion.” I see too many who take glee in his reprehensible acts and statements. It’s more a guilty pleasure than revulsion. If anything, it’s feigned revulsion, performative revulsion.
I also fear we’re going to be discussing 10-20 years from now how the church lost its way during this time and how so many turned away from it as a result. We’ll be lamenting the continued aging of the congregation as young adults reject what they see as a hypocritical church drunk on power and committed to a political party and not Jesus.
O boy Erick. You're gonna fire up a lot of folks with this one, LOL. Though, you and I are the same age with a similar upbringing. I agree - Where you stare, you steer - Focus on Jesus, only.
It is true that cannot save anybody in the Christian sense - as only Jesus can do that. But it is also true that Trump did at least delay our country heading down the road to an extreme progressive agenda, including the Green New Deal, abolishing ICE. completely open borders, abortion up to and past the point of birth, and now defunding police. The reason people fly Trump flags is that want to see the progressive agenda delayed at least another 4 years by reelecting Trump. They want to see another 4 years of constitutional friendly judicial appointments and a booming economy that brings back manufacturing jobs sent to China over the past 2 decades. The people who voted for Trump in 2016 voted for him because he promised political policies they support in a way that no GOP nominee since Reagan had. And it wasn't Trump who led to Obama being a 2-term President and giving the Democrats control of the House/Senate, but the same set of GOP establishment types who are now coming out against Trump to the great applause of the progressive media, which will only last until their candidate is on the ballot. Trump's support is not based on people viewing him as a religious savior, but rather a politician who promised to implement policies they support and who followed through on keeping his promises after he was elected (unlike the many Presidents who promised to move the embassy to Jerusalem. If Trump wins in 2020, and the GOP nominates a moral Christian who supports Trump policies in 2024 (like Mike Pence), it will be clear to everybody that Trump's base will follow a candidate who supports Christian policies, and who fights back against the progressive media that opposes them.