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One God, Two Sermons, Two Belief Systems; Which Is Yours? [1]

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Date: 2025-01-23

Episcopal Bishop of Washington Mariann Budde has been both praised and attacked after her sermon this week calling for Donald Trump to show mercy as he begins to install the hate-based policies that have endeared him to the MAGA crowd.

Budde had the audacity to make this plea during the National Prayer Service on Tuesday which Trump, his family, and his Vice President J.D. Vance attended.

Righteous indignation has always been the GOP’s go-to play when they’re rightfully called out for something. I don’t know if it’s a result of their deep-seated beliefs or the denial process. It’s just what they do.

Anyway, I was looking around on line and I found the text of a sermon given by Rev. Robert Jeffress, a Southern Baptist and Trump supporter, prior to Trump’s first inauguration in 2016. I think the contrast between Jeffress’s and Budde’s sermons is striking and tells us a lot.

Let’s look at some excerpts from both of them.

Jeffress: “President-elect Trump, I remember that it was exactly one year ago this weekend that I was with you on your Citation jet flying around Iowa before the first caucus or primary vote was cast. After our Wendy’s cheeseburgers, I said that I believed that you would be the next president of the United States. And if that happened, it would be because God placed you there.

Budde: “In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now. There are gay, lesbian, and transgender children in Democratic, Republican, and Independent families, some who fear for their lives.”

Jeffress: “When I think of you, President-elect Trump, I am reminded of another great leader God chose thousands of years ago in Israel. The nation had been in bondage for decades, the infrastructure of the country was in shambles, and God raised up a powerful leader to restore the nation. And the man God chose was neither a politician nor a priest. Instead, God chose a builder whose name was Nehemiah. And the first step of rebuilding the nation was the building of a great wall. God instructed Nehemiah to build a wall around Jerusalem to protect its citizens from enemy attack. You see, God is not against building walls.”

Budde: “The people who pick our crops and clean our office buildings; who labor in poultry farms and meat packing plants; who wash the dishes after we eat in restaurants and work the night shifts in hospitals. They…may not be citizens or have the proper documentation. But the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals. They pay taxes and are good neighbors. They are faithful members of our churches and mosques, synagogues, gurudwaras, and temples.”

Jeffress: “President-elect Trump, you have had your share of critics from the day you announced you were running for president, but you’ve confounded them at every turn. First, they said you couldn’t win the nomination, but you ended up garnering the most votes of any Republican in history. Then they said that was a fluke, but you couldn’t win the election. And you handily defeated your opponent. And now your critics say you can’t possibly succeed in your agenda.

Nehemiah had his own share of critics. Two of his chief antagonists were named Sanballat and Tobiah. They were the mainstream media of their day.”

Budde: “I ask you to have mercy, Mr. President, on those in our communities whose children fear that their parents will be taken away. And that you help those who are fleeing war zones and persecution in their own lands to find compassion and welcome here.”

Jeffress: “Mr. President-elect, I don’t believe we have ever had a president with as many natural gifts as you. As you know, the reason I endorsed you within weeks of your announcement that you were running was because I believed that you were the only candidate who possessed the leadership skills necessary to reverse the downward trajectory of our nation.”

Budde: “Our God teaches us that we are to be merciful to the stranger, for we were all once strangers in this land. May God grant us the strength and courage to honor the dignity of every human being, to speak the truth to one another in love and walk humbly with each other and our God for the good of all people. Good of all people in this nation and the world.”

***

So, we have Jeffress, a Trump fanboy, pressing his lips so hard against Trump’s ass that he probably needed Chapstick afterward. Praising the hell out of Trump and raising him to biblical level – maybe he was still excited about getting to ride on his plane and eat cheeseburgers at the same time -- and Budde speaking on behalf of those who stand to suffer under the new administration’s policies.

I don’t know about you, but Budde defending immigrants, refugees, and the LGBT community seems a whole lot more Christian that Jeffress’s hero worshiping and exalting someone like Trump. Then again, religion has become more of a convenience than a guiding light for a lot of people. Something they can twist to fit their very unchristian worldview.

In the aftermath of Budde’s speech Trump has understandably attacked her. Seems to me that someone chosen by God would be much more charitable to someone with such obviously Christian views.

Then again, God works in mysterious ways. A concept proven by the fact that Trump has yet to be struck down by a lightning bolt and Jeffress is still going around supporting him. I’ve given up hope of understanding “God’s plan” here on earth. Maybe it’ll all shake down in the afterlife.

As for Budde, I know whose church I’d be going to if I was still a churchgoer. She courageously gave voice to the voiceless. She spoke truth to power. She’s a hero in my book. I’m sure that if there’s a Heaven there’s a place there reserved for her and folks like her

As for Jeffress? May God have mercy on this soulless Trump bitch.

***

Thank you for reading my post. You can see my other writings on my blog: Musings of a Nobody. Please share and subscribe for free via email on its home page.

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