I make no claims to superior morality or even of profound knowledge on all that I see, read, and understand as I look at our society and our politics. Nor do I speak out of hatred for or disdain for the kind of church we grew up in. But, in loving humility, I cannot see how “good fruit” can come out of corruption. Donald J. Trump is the epitome of corruption, a “crime boss” in political power. As I read recently, “Don’t forget: Trump was essentially named an unindicted co-conspirator (“Individual 1”) in a scheme to make hush-money payments to a porn star who alleged she’d had an affair with him while he was married to his third wife, who had just given birth to their son.”

 

This is not “fake” news. It, however, is the kind of information about a politician that would normally bring harsh condemnation from Christians of every ilk, and especially evangelicals.

 

Surely, you must have doubts about such allegiance. Why not make a break from this illogical and embarrassing point of view that is impossible to defend? You’re Christians! You love Jesus. Can you imagine, for example, any of the teachings of Jesus at the Sermon on the Mount illustrating the behavior, the attitudes, the words of Donald Trump?

 

One expectation of the church of my youth and early adult years was that members try to "win others to Christ." We often heard reference to the scripture that said if Jesus be lifted up he’ll draw all people to him. It’s not happening. People are being lost to Christianity because of the strong support for Trump by people like Franklin Graham, Jerry Falwell, Jr., and so many ministers and evangelists in “conservative” churches.

 

Note this quote by a, yes, Christian author who laments this and expresses his concern:

 

“But as a starting point, evangelical Christians should acknowledge the profound damage that’s being done to their movement by its braided political relationship—its love affair, to bring us back to the words of Ralph Reed—with a president who is an ethical and moral wreck. Until that is undone—until followers of Jesus are once again willing to speak truth to power rather than act like court pastors—the crisis in American Christianity will only deepen, its public testimony only dim, its effort to be a healing agent in a broken world only weaken.”

 

Sometimes I simply have to write what I think rather than try to say it. Honestly, it pains me to see those I love seemingly embrace such thinking.

 

And I do say all this with love!

 

Howard