Tag: Presidential Campaign

The Trump-scuse Scavenger Hunt!

Here’s a fun little Facebook game; I call it “The Trump-scuse Scavenger Hunt!” Scroll through your Facebook feed and look for the following infantile non-rebuttals to the latest Trump scandal (bonus points if it’s from a professing Christian):
 
– “That was [x number of] years ago! I have literally no evidence to suggest that he’s changed even a little since then, but I sure WANT to believe he has, so that’s what I’ve decided I believe now!”
 
– “That’s not what he meant at all! You’re letting the media spin your perception of this, even if you watched/listened to the raw, unedited recording devoid of commentary and drew your own conclusions, somehow this is the media’s fault! Because Donald said I couldn’t trust them, that’s why.”
 
– “We’re electing a national leader, not a Sunday school teacher! Back in the early 2000s when I lauded George W. Bush for his Christian faith and moral fortitude? Just messing around! That time I found Bill Clinton’s infidelities and moral failings to be so odious that he ought to be removed from office? Just a gag, man! None of that matters anymore!”
 
– “Hilary is no better! And as we all know, when faced with the choice to support (in both words and action) one of two individuals I find corrupt, repugnant, and unfit to lead, the only morally justified course of action is to suspend my convictions entirely and align myself with the one who’s the angriest at whoever I’m also angry at. Sure, my faith is important, but this is more important! Jesus forgave Peter for denying him three times; I should be able to get away with just the one, right?”
 
– “He never said that. What recording? That’s not true. Nope. You didn’t hear it with your own ears. You’re talking nonsense here, dude. Never happened.”
 
Find them all and win our fabulous prize package: complete loss of faith in your fellow humans, a creeping sense of existential dread lurking always at the back of your mind, and a brand new Blendermatic 7000, now available from The Sharper Image.

Trump and “Christians”

BibleTrump

A great number of people in this country who insist on labeling themselves as “Christians” have finally confirmed something I’ve suspected for a while now:

They’re faking it.

Why do I say that? Because the same people who wanted Bill Clinton booted from office for his infidelity have thrown in their lot with a twice-divorced, unapologetic, serial adulterer.

Because they ignore candidates who talk of working with their enemies toward the common good of the people who live in this country in favor of a guy who refuses to engage in civil discussion and instead goes straight to hurling insults a 5th-grader would find immature.

Because they have put their vocal support behind a crass racist who unironically quotes Benito Mussolini and talks in circles when asked if he will disavow the KKK (oddly enough, just before Super Tuesday). THE ACTUAL KKK.

Because, if they ever took a second to read the book of Proverbs (ya know, the one right near the middle of the book they claim to believe is the inspired and holy word of an omnipotent, loving creator), they would notice that just about every time it uses the word “fool” to describe someone you should avoid becoming, the descriptions of said fool fit Donald Trump almost eerily well.

Because the willful ignorance of scripture and theology that so many “Christians” have entrenched themselves in has gotten us to the point where the label of Christianity has become a foxhole for spiteful, bitter fools to scurry into, hoping it will mask the hate and darkness in their own hearts.

So I’ve got a request for those people: could you please start being honest with yourselves? Could you please just come out and admit that the driving forces behind your voting choices and political opinions are your own comfort and prejudices, and that it has nothing to do with what’s right, nothing to do with the Bible, and ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with Jesus? Because there are some of us out here who have actually read the Book and treat it like it means something. Because some of us are actually trying to model our lives on Jesus’. Because some of us are actually Christians, and we’re getting REAL tired of the rest of you slapping that label on yourselves and using it as a reason to vote for a self-aggrandizing pathological liar who doesn’t even know how to say 2 Corinthians right.

Or maybe there’s a better option.

Maybe we could do some introspection. I get it, we all have parts of ourselves that we’re terrified to confront. Prejudices, bitterness, rage, it’s all very uncomfortable to think about. But if you’re old enough to legally vote, that makes you an adult, and adults confront their problems, even internal ones, and we DEAL WITH THEM. That’s the only way we can grow as people. So if you support Trump and call yourself a “Christian,” take a second to really, honestly think about the yuuuuge disconnect between those two things. Take a second to ask yourself why you REALLY support Trump. And if it’s because “he says what’s on everyone’s mind,” honestly take a second to ask yourself:

Is my heart like Jesus’, or is it like Trump’s?

Because frankly, it can’t be both.