President Trump - God's Instrument of Rebuke?

Depending on who you ask, someone will always say the current President is God's way of "rebuking" America. If you asked a disaffected conservative, they would say Barack Obama and the ill-advised involvement in the Syrian civil war were God's rebuke. If you asked a wary liberal, they would say George W. Bush and the meltdown of the economy were God's rebuke.

I myself am neither liberal nor conservative: that's at least one idol with which I don't struggle. Being that a Christian's views should be based on Scripture, there are some things, in worldly eyes, about which I'd be called "conservative," while other views I have might be seen as "liberal." I believe dogmatically following the man-made conservative or liberal way on any issue, without discretion, is extremely unwise. And you know you're being dogmatic when the religious zealot calls you dogmatic. Chris Rock once said, "Anyone who makes up his mind about an issue before he hears the issue is a fool." The word of God agrees: "He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him" (Proverbs 18:13).

There's nothing wrong with calling one's self a liberal or a conservative. But it's when we turn these things to idols that blur and distort our view of Christ that they become stumbling blocks to we who are called to be His servants.

There are many American Christians who have been deceived into thinking that Christianity and conservatism are mutually inclusive; who think voting Republican is a fruit of the Spirit; who think the Gospel was written by the five evangelists: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Tucker Carlson. These are the idolaters who, I believe, God is rebuking by putting Donald Trump in the office of President of the United States.
Before I'm strangled with a red necktie, note that I do not believe it is "conservatives" God is rebuking, and not "Republicans." Rather, I believe the Trump Administration is God's way of chastening those who worship these things. Those who would do what's best for the red elephant before sacrificing of themselves for the Gospel. Those who look away from, shrug off, or make excuses for the racism, xenophobia, hatred, unfairness, and un-Christlike "values" inherent in many of their political beliefs and talking points, be they obvious or subtle, all for the sake of their red idol. These are the people who I believe are being rebuked with the administration's ineptitude and disregard for the sanctity of human life. They have attached themselves to ungodly ideas, and they must choose to let go, or put them above what is right and good.

(Keep in mind this isn't just possible for idolatrous conservatives - those who worship liberalism could very well find themselves rebuked by an Oprah Winfrey presidency.)

Why would a Donald Trump presidency be a blow from God?

I believe God has shown us, 'this man is all of your hypocrisy, your empty use of My name, and the harm you do; this is what you serve, more than you serve Me.' There is already a cringe-fest of embarrassment which America, more specifically its conservative bases, has suffered and will continue to suffer during President Trump's time in office, and the year-plus of the campaign rhetoric of the mogul and those working in his administration. These things will be a sore blemish to the GOP for the next fifty years or more. President Trump's wild, unproven accusations and ignorant claims, his blatant attempts at deceit, his inability to handle criticisms with Twitter tantrums, and unscrupulous ties and conflicts of interest are a blueprint for how not to govern with the best interests of the American people at heart. Those who call themselves Christians, and lean toward "the right," who recognize the folly, ineptitude, and moral corruption of this regime and its ideologies, will refuse conservatism as their savior. They may remain "conservatives," but they will refuse to serve it as an idol. They will say, much as I've said often in my own wanderings from God, "what have I done? I've got to get back to my Father's arms." "Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it" (Hebrews 12:11).
They will, much like me with each of my idols which God has destroyed, despise it and be glad their hearts are fettered to Christ and not to lifeless isms and ologies. "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28).

And those who don't - those who stubbornly refuse to see any evils done by this administration, their sight being blinded by the red insignia they worship - will be seen by history as the uncaring and ignorant, as pitifully deceived, their actions an embarrassing scar on the already weary face of America. These are the ones who made excuses for the recorded conversations in which Donald Trump bragged about sexually assaulting women. These are the ones who shrugged off his refusal to rebuff the endorsement of the Ku Klux Klan. Those who lauded him as brilliant for not paying his taxes, while bemoaning the fact that their own taxes support the "welfare moms" they despise. Who praised him as a Christian, yet ignored the fact his own casinos include strip clubs. Those who claimed they were voting "pro-life" when they voted for a man who doesn't care for the lives of refugees and immigrants. In idolatry they did all of these things.
It's not just "secular" eyes who will look at them in embarrassment and pity - it's the eyes of future followers of Christ. Christians of future generations will cite the current idolaters' actions as examples of what is not Christlike. Today's idolatrous conservatives will be synonymous with hypocrisy and worldliness. They will be bywords among believers and non-believers alike.

Even if, by some miracle, President Trump somehow becomes another Roosevelt (either/or), the fact will remain that so many who proclaimed Christ and His instruction blinded their eyes to scandals, lies, and follies, all for the sake of their golden calf. The end does not justify the means in our idolatry.

A rational question would be, "What about all of the people being affected by Trump's actions? Immigrants, refugees, minorities, the less fortunate? They weren't 'worshiping the red elephant.' Why would God put Trump in power as a rebuke to idolaters, but allow others to suffer, too?"
I would point to the prophet Jeremiah, who prophesied at a time when Judah was engaged in idol worship to the point of sacrificing their own children in fires to false gods. This was a detestable thing, which God would punish by allowing Judah to fall into the hands of the invading Babylonians. Jeremiah was faithful to God, obedient to the point of mocking, imprisonment, and other hardship, all to proclaim God's word. But Jeremiah also suffered as a result of the Babylonians' invasion: not only did it break his heart to see Jerusalem destroyed, but he himself was eventually taken from the land he loved, forced into exile in Egypt, though he hadn't bowed the knee to the false gods his countrymen had served.

God places in power all those who have it. I often said when Donald Trump's inauguration neared that if the Christians of the early Church could pray for Nero, if the Protestants of England could pray for Queen Mary, then I can pray for President Trump. This is a good and holy thing, as the apostle Paul instructs that "supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence" (1 Timothy 2:1-2). There are those who embrace these words when a Republican is in office, yet curse the life of the other guy; those who demanded respect for Bush as "my President," but cursed Obama for his crime of being a black Democrat. The same are hypocrites, and I don't want to fall into that sin and curse President Trump as being beyond redemption. To do so would be an insult to Jesus' sacrifice on the cross.

I don't care what hashtag is trending - Donald Trump is my President. "You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people" (Exodus 22:28).

When instructing us to pray for our leaders and not to revile them, Scripture does not, however, teach us to agree or embrace their every decision or decree, especially should they go against the holy word of God. Scripture does not teach us to remain silent about a leader's wrongdoings or when he or she speaks against what is right and good. And we're not called to pretend things aren't going terribly wrong. It's entirely possible to believe and trust in a God who works amazing miracles, and still be a realist.

I believe an essential task for American Christians today is to proclaim Christ in a way that separates His truth from "Republican Christianity," from the idols of conservatism and miscellaneous other ideologies of man and not of God. The world ignorantly draws its caricature of Christianity from those who claim Christ but bow down to the red elephant, whose strength to proclaim Christ depends on who's in political office, who receive their gospel from Breitbart, whose savior is Senator Combover, R-Oklahoma, who vows to put the Ten Commandments back on the schoolhouse walls.

The world's view of Christianity is drawn from those who think Jesus and Fox News are inseparable. Brothers and sisters in Christ, we must shatter this illusion. What is the best way to show Jesus to others? It's not by debates, nor by funding Creationism research rather than assistance for single parents. Not even video footage of the Resurrection would prove Jesus to anyone - the only way to show Him to another is to love them. "Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time" (Colossians 4:5). Let our every word and comment on social topics be sprinkled with the salt of grace and patience, but also with the starkness of truth, and let our every thought and deed be linked to the Scripture. We are to be God's image bearers on Earth - may that image not be marred in unbelieving eyes by the idols of Fox & Friends, InfoWars, or even on the other side of the spectrum by NPR and the Huffington Post.

Y'know What? America Is Great!

Y'know, I'm no jingoist (thank you, Word of the Day app), but even in our country's present dismal chapter, I've had it with America bashing.
It disappoints me that, in the past several months, I've seen many people handling their/our social media access about as well as President Trump handles his. These are mainly people I respect for their intelligence and insight. But in burning anger and disappointment, much of it rightful, they've become just as impulsive and hasty in their words as the President when expressing their feelings online. It's very disheartening. During last year's campaign, I assigned most of the irrationality to the more rabidly conservative among us. In the time since Trump's inauguration, I'd say it's 50/50 for both right and left.

I suppose what got my goat the worst - other than the campaign slogan "Make America Great Again," as if it weren't already - was the lusty, bitter cry that "America is not great! It was never great!"

In the past several years, God has taught me to be grateful for my country and my rights, while being careful not to turn it into an idol - I bear the cross, not the flag, and the Scripture is God's word, not the Constitution. I can say I love my country, and not have to blindly follow or agree with everything that happens in it. But there's a difference between being grateful yet aware, and just being obnoxious, pretentious, and ignorant, impulsively denouncing anything "American," while stuffing its luxuries in my face.

I would have some nerve to bitterly claim America is not great, yet denounce the travel ban and immigration policies - if I think America sucks, why would I want anyone to come here? And it would be incredibly pretentious of me to curse my country, yet expect to be protected by the Bill of Rights. In America, you can be an ungrateful, ignorant jerk, and have the right to be one without fear of a firing squad. That's one of the reasons America is great. I fudging love this place. America is great! That's why I want people to come to here, especially those in need. George Washington once said, "America is awesome. Or my name isn't George Washington."

I saw many people bemoan the ugly parts of this country's history, saying they'd rather live in Europe...because no European country has eras of its history it would like to forget. I'm grateful I live in a country where so many wonderful people vow never to forget the hideous things others have done in our past and present, and strive to provide a future and present where their children won't know segregation, lynchings, unlawful taking of their property, and the myriad of other things that stain our history. I'm grateful to live in a country with so many who are willing to fight those who long to return to those ugly days. I'm glad Christ teaches me redemption, that what is impossible with men is possible with God. I'm grateful I can proclaim that I'm thankful for my country and can't wait to see what improvements we make together - I don't have to hang my head in shame and mutter "Well, I kinda like America..."

America will always have people and events that maim its image. But it's not America's "image" I'm concerned about - I'm concerned about those who have been hurt by the sins of my fellow countrymen. I'm glad to live in a country where progress is possible: I won't resign to hopelessness. 

God bless the USA, and God bless you and me. 

How To Spot Fake News (7 Simple Tips)

There's been a lot of talk about Facebook taking steps to weed out "fake news." When we think of the subject, we often think of political news. Though this blog describes fake news made for political agendas, there is a lot of fake news out there that isn't political - "Milk is Bad For Humans But the Big Dairy Corporations Don't Want You To Know It Because the Moon Landing Was Fake!" - but can still be scrutinized with the following tips. So, here are some characteristics that can help you spot a fake news story, or an opinion piece that calls itself news. Little things we often don't consider:

1. The article's headline is in all-caps.
2. The "news site"'s Facebook page has a profile picture of Ronald Reagan, often displayed in front of an American flag.
(This is sometimes also true with a picture of Bernie Sanders in front of an American flag, but it's far more common with President Reagan's mug...I can't fathom why that is.)
3. The article's headline is a run-on sentence. Ex: "Obama Bans the Word Christmas From Military Christmas Ceremonies to Destroy the First Amendment and Sacrifice America to Muslim Agenda Hey Mickey You're So Fine You're So Fine You Blow My Mind Hey Mickey"
4. The article's headline has more than one exclamation point. Or in many cases, a single exclamation point.
5. Multiple spelling errors.
6. A news article's headline should sum up the event it describes in the most succinct way possible, not give vague clues and hints as to what the reader will read: "You'll Never Believe What Kind of Scandal Ted Cruz is Involved In," or "Lindsey Graham Just Scored a Victory For Lower Taxes in the Most Epic Way Possible." These kinds of headlines are also strongly suspect.
7. The article's story has not been corroborated by a source not displaying the above symptoms. This is very important. In fact, it should be your only tip.

The First Amendment is a great blessing we enjoy in our country, but it does not protect against slander. And, as I learned from watching Judge Mathis, in order for something to be slanderous, it must 1.) be proven to be untrue, and 2.) cause damage to the reputation of the person it addresses. I urge us all to think of that the next time we're about to share a "news" article without at least a Snopes check.
The inevitable reply to that might be, "I think the fact-checkers should be fact-checked." Yes, I too find facts to be terribly inconvenient when they rain on some little part of my agenda. Like when I didn't believe in peanut butter. I was confronted with undeniable evidence that peanut butter exists, and I checked the fact-checkers, desperately trying to prove them wrong, even if it took unscrupulous articles to pacify my denial. But, "facts are stubborn things."
Peanut butter is real.

"I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak." -Matthew 12:36

A Thing is a Thing, Not What You Think About That Thing

There's a copy-n-paste post going around the ol' Facebook that, to paraphrase, asks people the question, "If my faith in Christ does no harm to you, why are you so against it?" I tend to avoid copy-n-paste things, but one comment on such a post caught my eye:

"lol this is so dumb. Your faith is the biggest argument against equal rights for the LGBT community, the reason why planned parent hood is being defunded , religion is the reason for all of the war in the world. Dumb, gullible, ignorant and oppressive. That's the harm it brings"

What the person who wrote this comment failed to realize is that the Christian faith in itself is not to blame, but people who misunderstand and misuse it.
One doesn't need faith to harm people - Hitler had no faith in any deity, yet he persecuted gays, much like Che Guevara, also an atheist. Not to mention the Marxist atheism that led the likes of Stalin to kill and imprison countless religious Russians. Rather, it is the misuse of a faith (or lack thereof) that causes harm. If a Christian tries to legislate morality by instilling their belief into law, that is misuse of that faith. I cannot support the decision to outlaw gay marriage due to my religious belief, which does not condone it. Concerning any similar situation, how can I hold non-believers to a standard that even I, a believer, can't live up to? That's why I need Jesus, after all.
There are exceptions of course: if a faith teaches against things that are universally agreed upon (well, sort of) by everyone of all faiths and lacks of faith: like murder, robbery, rape, etc. On the flip side, if a faith, condones and encourages something dangerous, like blowing up things in order to bring people into submission to their deity, then that faith must then be considered harmful.

But even the Bible does not teach that faith is something to be imposed on people, but must be a choice. The Crusades, the Inquisitions, were all wrong. So, again, it's not the faith that brings harm - it's those who misuse it. If I claimed Christopher Hitchens was risen from the grave and wanted me to oppress gays, when that's clearly not true, it would be no reflection on Mr. Hitchens - it would be only the result of my own deluded, erroneous use of his name. Likewise with Christianity.

A simple way to put it: a thing is a thing, and not what people say or think about that thing.

God is Everywhere

I'm glad God is everywhere at once. Not only because He comforts earthquake-stricken New Zealand while at the same time numbering the tears of victims of Boko Haram and aiding the hungry in Amarillo, but also because He occupies every piece of a broken heart.
I'm glad God sees everything. Not just because He sees the cash given to a single mother by an anonymous Samaritan while at the same time seeing the corrupt handshakes and intentions of a politician, but also because He sees each time we fall to our knees, alone in our apartments, with no human audience to weep for us.
I'm glad God weeps with us.

"If God sees all and is everywhere, why doesn't He make these things stop?"

God not only sees the evil that we choose to do, but He also sees the good we choose not to do. He sees the hungry in Amarillo. And, He sees us throw the "junk mail" from the High Plains Food Bank and the Salvation Army into the trash can. And, He sees the votes we willingly cast for the corrupt, turning a blind eye to their crimes in the name of our golden calves - the red elephant or the blue donkey.
"Was your mother sent away because I divorced her? Did I sell you as slaves to my creditors? No, you were sold because of your sins. And your mother, too, was taken because of your sins. Why was no one there when I came? Why didn’t anyone answer when I called?" -Isaiah 50:1-2 (NLT)

I thank God that He allows us the choice to do good. What kind of story would the story of humankind be if we only did what is right as autonomous creatures? What a glorious and gritty story it is, that we have the grueling task of choosing good, that we have laughter in relief when good prevails, that we have tears in sorrow when we're afflicted.

And what better eye to form the characters, to write the story, to watch it unfold, as the God who took part in its ugliest, most painful point on the cross?

"I can never escape from Your Spirit!
    I can never get away from Your presence!
If I go up to heaven, You are there;
    if I go down to the grave, You are there.
If I ride the wings of the morning,
    if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
even there Your hand will guide me,
    and Your strength will support me."
-Psalm 139: 7-10 (NLT)

Talkin' Lowdown Amarillo, Texas Street Preacher Blues

There's a fella here in Amarillo, Texas whose days are filled with street preaching via megaphone, spewing the basic "everyone but me is going to hell" doctrine of those like Westboro Baptist Church and others cut from their blasphemous cloth. The man's basic message is that, even if you think you're a Christian, and think you're saved, you're actually not a Christian and are going to hell if you've sinned after accepting Christ.
People with this false doctrine build their argument, like any false doctrine, on Scripture misunderstood, twisted, or taken out of context; passages like 1 John 3:6-9, which says, "Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God." What the man with the megaphone doesn't realize is that this sin refers to the unrepentant, habitual sin of those with an empty proclamation of Jesus, who attempt to trample on grace, rather than live under it. This doesn't refer to true Christians - and what is a true Christian? A true Christian is not someone who suddenly becomes perfect, but someone who acknowledges that their sin is great, but abides in the truth that the love and grace of Jesus Christ is greater.
Also, Amarillo's megaphone preacher forgets the Holy Spirit's words through John just one chapter earlier: "My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous" (1 John 2:1).

Paul writes to us in the epistle to the Romans that sinning because you're saved, shrugging it off and saying "God will forgive me" is not right: "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?" (Romans 6:1-2)
So, what is the truth of the matter? Are we literally unable to stumble once saved, our DNA changed as well as our hearts? Does God put us in a moral straight-jacket that makes it impossible to err? Or, has the precious blood of our Savior Jesus also covered the sins and mistakes we make as Christians? To suggest that the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross is good for some of a believer's sins, but somehow becomes ineffective, powerless against those after his or her conversion, is to suggest something as powerful as the blood of our Lord is fickle and limited by a believer's time and circumstance.

In arguing against the belief that true Christians do not sin, I would point to two incidents in the life and ministry of Paul. In the second chapter of Galatians, we read of a dispute between Paul and fellow apostle Peter. Paul describes confronting Peter, and even Barnabas, on a matter of "hypocrisy." This event obviously took place after the resurrection of Jesus, and during the apostles' ministry. So, then, did Peter's stumbling render him unsaved? Not a true Christian? And if so, why would God, sovereign over His word to us, allow two of his epistles to be part of this book we came to call the Bible?

The other example from Paul comes from the second epistle to the Corinthians, where we read of Paul's instructions to the church at Corinth - a church that was often plagued with sin and erroneous ideas about Jesus - concerning a brother who had done wrong and strayed (2 Corinthians 2:5-11). Paul instructs the church there not to shun or ostracize the brother, but to comfort, love, and forgive him. This is just what the Holy Spirit does to each of us when we, like the straying brother at Corinth, wander from God's direction.

Like many people who shout things on the street, I suppose it might be ineffective to confront megaphone man with these truths; for his mind seems made up, and a wall built over his heart. And with such people, the Proverbs give us sound advice: "Go from the presence of a foolish man, when you do not perceive in him the lips of knowledge," and "Though you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, Yet his foolishness will not depart from him."
If you argue with a brick wall, who looks foolish? You, or the brick wall? The Proverbs also tell us, "He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself, and he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself. Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you."

But - Jesus tells us "the things which are impossible with men are possible with God." And it is Jesus who took upon Himself the shame and hate of sin - and sinners - on the cross. Before we knew Him, we scoffed at Him, hated Him, scorned Him to shame. But His mercy and grace are unfathomable, as they should be, for they belong to a God who is often so impossible to comprehend, to grasp, to understand. This is why He came to us in the form of that lowly Servant, our ladder to heaven like the one dreamed by Jacob at Bethel.

I won't say this megaphone man gives preachers a bad name - that's impossible, for a true preacher of the word is under the name of Christ. We must pray he receives love from even those at whom he spews the venom of ignorance, and gentle rebuke, done only out love and a desire for him to see how mighty the works of Christ truly are.

My Disastrous Date With Anna Kendrick

Why I was asked on a date by Anna Kendrick was at first a baffling mystery to me, but one I dared not question. And though the truth was revealed that she had mistaken me for Bradley Cooper, a common occurrence, I swallowed my hurt and tried my best to enjoy our fancy, way-beyond-my-budget dinner at Olive Garden.
Despite our date being purely based on mistaken identity, I thought it was going well. Ms. Kendrick even seemed to enjoy hearing my opinions on the failure of Grover Cleveland's second term as President. But, here's where I f*dged up: as I do with any pretty lady I meet, I instantly fell in love, and began to spout overly-flowery praise of her beauty. My gaucherie was at its worst ("gaucherie" is today's word of the day at dictionary.com).
I declared how much I admired her blue bob hairstyle, chubby cheeks, and how lovely she looked in her red bell sleeve dress. The problem with my words, aside from the forwardness, was that Anna Kendrick of course does not sport a bob haircut, her face is proportionate to her thin frame, and she was actually wearing a Radiohead t-shirt and slacks.

The lovely Anna Kendrick.

As stupid as my gaffe was, we do this very same thing with God. We describe Him as something He is not - nay, we insist He is something He is not - we give Him characteristics we want Him to have, all to fit our preferred version of Him. Jesus' followers did this even when He walked the earth as flesh - they wanted Him to be some militaristic leader who would deliver Israel, by force of battle, from the grip of the Roman empire. But He was not. And when they realized this, many turned away from Him. Just like we do when we realize Jesus doesn't fit into the mold of a poster child for our personal agendas and biases.

We describe Him as a hippie, just a nice man with nice teachings, another Buddha, anything we want Him to be. Anything but what He truly is - the only true God, the Savior of mankind who died for our sins and rose again, the God who calls to us to follow Him and leave behind our fleshly treasures and prejudices.
We try to ham-fist our cultural expectations into the meanings of the words of Jesus and those through whom He worked wonders. For example, we see the strength of Elizabeth and Mary as a symbol of feminism; we misconstrue Jesus' words to the rich young ruler as an endorsement of socialism; we see His words "the worker is worthy of his wages" as an endorsement of capitalism; we see Jesus' message that marriage is sacred and children are precious as a banner for conservatism; we make "do not judge" a mantra for liberalism.
We try to force-feed our idolatrous, worldly isms into our perception of God, what we want Him to be.

We do no differently than I did by imposing chubby cheeks and a blue bob on Anna Kendrick.