What the ….?

How much is too much? When do you finally say, “I’m as mad as hell and I’m not going to take this anymore”?

Before I launch into this philippic let me provide full disclosure. I grew up in a fire breathing, Bible thumping church. I watched cadence-driven, prancing and preening preachers pull rhetorical fire from the rooftop and end in a crescendo alter calling. I watched slayings in the spirit and the chaos of tongue-speaking. Over time I drifted to a more restrained theological view and became what some would call quite liberal in my views of God and the great religious leaders if history. This was a slow, even tortuous tossing through the tempest. But I sailed on to my own True North.

As a young man of 22 I ran for office as a Republican Precinct Committeeperson. Lost by 16 votes. Most of my life has been somewhat right of center.

Today, I believe and declare (a good Christian phase) that I was profoundly wrong and misguided. I ask God’s forgiveness for ever having been a Republican. And I believe and declare that many on the Christian right and those in the now spineless Republican party are standing in the need of prayer and baptism by the redemptive blood of epiphany. Many draw near to Christ in their words but their actions are far from him. Like Gandhi, I admire, if not love, the teachings of Christ Not so much Christianity as an institution or as portrayed by televagenism. I struggle with my faith. At three quarters of a century in a age I am a progressive in almost all things.

What caused this shift? Generally, the deep hypocrisy of the evangelical right and sprinting hypocrisy of the Republican party. More specifically, those who have been intoxicated by viperous Trumpian Kool-Aid.

How can any credible Christian espouse the faith-based values and humble, courageous speaking of truth to power that Jesus did and still support a leader like the current president? How can any supporter of the Sermon on the Mount ignore the rancorous, hurtful, incendiary rantings of a leader who seeks to crush all beneath him, who is driven by power and self-aggrandizement? Many say it is because he supports “Right to Life” and the packing of the courts with very conservative judges. I understand. But what is more important in God’s plan for our salvation: Banning abortion or free moral agency? What is more important in the search of justice: judges who all think alike or a plurality of opinions whose holders work to come to consensus?  I taught graduate school at a seminary and know of no scriptural basis for supporting the behaviors of the Evangelical Right. Let alone the GOP. If there is some please inform me of chapter and verse. You can even send it in the original Greek. If its in the Hebrew text you can send it in the original.

Regarding the late, great, GOP. What happened to you? You are the party of Lincoln. Now you are the party of a dysfunctional  despot who at his core appears petty, mean spirited and small -  who publicly bullies and humiliates people while many of you hang your head in shamed silence out of fear of being tweeted about. Whose judgement is more important to you? Theirs? History’s? God’s? Sooner of later your base will wake up mad as hell and unless they belong to the far, right they will give you what you have earned.

The pandemic is not this leader’s fault but his hapless and timid response is. Like all bullies and deeply insecure people this leader looks for or creates scapegoats. And the evangelicals and GOP enable it. Good God, people. Our cities are burning. Our nation is deeply divided by foolish and foul rhetoric that you seem to happily promote. Some of you get filthy rich by pretending to serve God or the public good. What good will come if you get your way and make our nation in your image? What will we look like? Few nations can long survive this. Why are you not joining those trying to calm things? Why are you not one of the blessed peacemakers? Where is your humility? Will our institutions be any less imperffect when you are through?

The Evangelical Right and spineless, corrupt GOP is why there is “mourning in America.”  I know not what course you will choose but as for me I will choose the teachings of the Jewish rabbi from Nazareth and not the hardline, judgmental doctrine you have institutionalized and ascribed to him.

I hate to break it to you this way but I have two pieces of news for you. The first is that you are not leading with truth, light, and love. You are destroying what was once great and promising. And you appear to have no shame about it. Many of you seem to take self-righteous pride in it. The second piece of news is in the form of a question. What does scripture teach about the course of nations who behave as our most important leader behaves? They tend not to do well.

Take heed. His judgment cometh.