When You Gain the World
January 31, 2017
Tonight, some American Christians got what they wanted when President Trump nominated Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court, a jurist who many believe may help eventually overturn Roe v Wade.
To some, this was a kind of bargain. While they find Trump distasteful in many ways, to say the least, they nevertheless voted for him because on this single issue – abortion – they see the pathway to overturning a long-standing injustice in the US, one that has burdened our society with immorality and impending divine judgment.
To others, this was more than a bargain—it was a great deal. They like Trump. He’s a tell-it-like-it-is, no-nonsense leader who will overturn political correctness, bring back proper yuletide greetings, and will make American great again.
Either way, these Christians, including more than 80% of American Evangelicals, got what they wanted. And oh what a price they already have paid.
To further the cause of “life”--
The “Moral Majority” have turned their moral teachings on their head. No one needs another list of Trump’s moral and ethical evils. But his surrogates, even while wearing a cross around their neck, work to defend the indefensible and dismiss the indismissable. Some of the same voices who cried out against Bill Clinton, claiming he was disqualified from holding office, now cry out against “the media” and all the rest of us who wish to maintain that a president—if not representing what’s best about our country—must at the very least uphold basic standards of decency. People society could count on to hold a moral standard have become standard bearers for situational ethics.
The followers of Jesus, the Way, Truth, and Life, are now marked by a disregard for truth. From the sheer ignorance of spreading fake news to the relativism of “alternative facts,” their embrace of Trump undermines the very basis of their belief system. Al Mohler warned about this well over a decade ago, and his prophetic warnings have been trampled by the likes of Robert Jeffress, Jerry Falwell, Jr, and Franklin Graham as if pearls cast before swine. The epistemology of American Evangelicals rests completely on a particular view of Christian Scriptures, but even those Scriptures are now twisted and censored to support their political point of view. Evangelicals are shattering the foundations of their own belief system. We are witnessing people who claim to have the truth exchange it for a lie.
Those called above all to love God and neighbor ardently argue for their right to exclude their neighbors. Those called to serve ardently argue for their right to refuse service to neighbors they don’t approve. Those called to lay down their lives ardently argue for their right to bear arms. Those called to welcome the foreigner ardently argue that we should fear the foreigner. By their embrace of a particular political position, they have sacrificed the single most powerful means of engaging the world with their message. They have forsaken their first love and the love that emanates from Him through them to the world. They have abandoned the center of the Christian faith. In the name of life, they have sacrificed love.
Perhaps Trump’s Supreme Court pick will hold up his end of the bargain. But what a terrible bargain it has been. American Evangelicals may gain the world, but it seems they are forfeiting their soul.
Postscript February 1, 2017
Of evangelicals today, Ronnie Floyd, Southern Baptist pastor and former president of the Southern Baptist Convention said to The Washington Post, “The administration has been way over the top in giving them visibility and recognition that we can bring values.”
What sort of values -- that is the question.
In the same Washington Post article, the aforementioned Jerry Falwell, Jr said of evangelicals, “It’s a happy group of people right now.”
If we look to Jesus' guidance on happiness, blessedness, we learn --
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:3-12)
Yes, American Evangelicals may gain the world, but it seems they are forfeiting their soul.
To some, this was a kind of bargain. While they find Trump distasteful in many ways, to say the least, they nevertheless voted for him because on this single issue – abortion – they see the pathway to overturning a long-standing injustice in the US, one that has burdened our society with immorality and impending divine judgment.
To others, this was more than a bargain—it was a great deal. They like Trump. He’s a tell-it-like-it-is, no-nonsense leader who will overturn political correctness, bring back proper yuletide greetings, and will make American great again.
Either way, these Christians, including more than 80% of American Evangelicals, got what they wanted. And oh what a price they already have paid.
To further the cause of “life”--
The “Moral Majority” have turned their moral teachings on their head. No one needs another list of Trump’s moral and ethical evils. But his surrogates, even while wearing a cross around their neck, work to defend the indefensible and dismiss the indismissable. Some of the same voices who cried out against Bill Clinton, claiming he was disqualified from holding office, now cry out against “the media” and all the rest of us who wish to maintain that a president—if not representing what’s best about our country—must at the very least uphold basic standards of decency. People society could count on to hold a moral standard have become standard bearers for situational ethics.
The followers of Jesus, the Way, Truth, and Life, are now marked by a disregard for truth. From the sheer ignorance of spreading fake news to the relativism of “alternative facts,” their embrace of Trump undermines the very basis of their belief system. Al Mohler warned about this well over a decade ago, and his prophetic warnings have been trampled by the likes of Robert Jeffress, Jerry Falwell, Jr, and Franklin Graham as if pearls cast before swine. The epistemology of American Evangelicals rests completely on a particular view of Christian Scriptures, but even those Scriptures are now twisted and censored to support their political point of view. Evangelicals are shattering the foundations of their own belief system. We are witnessing people who claim to have the truth exchange it for a lie.
Those called above all to love God and neighbor ardently argue for their right to exclude their neighbors. Those called to serve ardently argue for their right to refuse service to neighbors they don’t approve. Those called to lay down their lives ardently argue for their right to bear arms. Those called to welcome the foreigner ardently argue that we should fear the foreigner. By their embrace of a particular political position, they have sacrificed the single most powerful means of engaging the world with their message. They have forsaken their first love and the love that emanates from Him through them to the world. They have abandoned the center of the Christian faith. In the name of life, they have sacrificed love.
Perhaps Trump’s Supreme Court pick will hold up his end of the bargain. But what a terrible bargain it has been. American Evangelicals may gain the world, but it seems they are forfeiting their soul.
Postscript February 1, 2017
Of evangelicals today, Ronnie Floyd, Southern Baptist pastor and former president of the Southern Baptist Convention said to The Washington Post, “The administration has been way over the top in giving them visibility and recognition that we can bring values.”
What sort of values -- that is the question.
In the same Washington Post article, the aforementioned Jerry Falwell, Jr said of evangelicals, “It’s a happy group of people right now.”
If we look to Jesus' guidance on happiness, blessedness, we learn --
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:3-12)
Yes, American Evangelicals may gain the world, but it seems they are forfeiting their soul.