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Elections have (Eternal?) Consequences [1]
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Date: 2025-02-14
We are all seeing and witnessing, with disgust and horror, the consequences of the Trump presidency. It is worse than most imagined and is only getting started. Before the election and now after the election I have been fixated on one question: “How could Christians vote for Donald Trump, and even worse follow and support him?” If even a simple majority of Christians voted for Harris then we would have had an entirely different reality.
No Accountability
I think these Trump Christians have gotten off way too easily, they aren’t criticized in the media and clergy are silent or worse, pro-Trump. There’s been a little push back with Budde’s brave Inaugural Sermon and the Church’s Petitions regarding immigration. The Pope made a couple “peeps” and that’s been about it. Of courses there plenty of coverage suggesting and expecting (fox news) that christians are still behind Trump.
This is a drop in the bucket, but let’s give them their proper Roasting here.
Not to lump all Christian Trump Voters in the same group
First let's sort out the people we are talking about, I’m only talking about the 50 - 60% of Christians that voted for DJT.
The Sheep - Jesus the Good Shepherd talks about His Sheep, these are good people that live simple lives, generally are poor and don’t have power or influence, or access to a lot of information. They go about their lives but are “good”. In today’s terms they are mostly non-voters but when they do vote it has mostly to do with who their neighbors, friends or cultural influences are voting for. I’m giving this large group a pass on judgement, they largely voted mostly geographically, blue state or red state.
The Goats - Cultural christians, christian nationalists, politicians, GOP activists. This medium sized group are MAGA first and mostly christian in name only, they may have some faith developed from their upbringing, but don’t spend much time in church and haven’t cracked a bible voluntarily in a decade.
End of Days Folks - Believe it or not there are actually Christians who purposely support Donald Trump because they think he will cause the end of the world. This is not a small group. The real problem I see from reading what they put down is that they actually support Trump and see him as a good thing that is unknowingly doing God’s will. The Bible is clear we are to oppose people like Trump. I definitely am targeting this group, this is a very dangerous thought, these people read the bible, they definitely “know better”.
The Pro-Life Bunch - The Catholic Church of America (not the world) has a stance that the Legal Protection for the unborn is the top priority issue for any practicing Catholic. Many Protestant denominations and pastors have the same view. This is an unfair stance to take in a country with only two parties, and as we are witnessing now, the pro-life party is now openly fascist. Looking at history the churches have shown a strong preference to far right allies. That’s a topic unto itself, but this one policy delivers a different group of Sheep into the wolves hands. This group is usually older and don’t think that they will personally experience the need for health care protections that RvW allowed for. Also it makes a religious opinion on when life begins, a political one, there’s plenty of biblical evidence to suggest that Christians should not seek a legal solution to a gray (opposed to science) area like this. I think for the most part this group uses “pro-life” policy as an excuse and they mostly like Trump for the guilty pleasures of: harsh immigration, white supremacy, and hating on LGBTQ community.
The Conflicted Christian Trump Voter - This is the group, they shouldn’t be conflicted, they are intelligent and have access to information. They know Jesus’ teachings and they are a numerous enough group to have given Harris the margin of victory. If pressed they’d probably act like Sheep or play the “pro-life” card but they know better, it would appear they chose Trump over Jesus. I’m going to talk about this group a lot so let’s give them the CTV acronym for Christian Trump Voter (CCV).
The Kingdom of God was on the ballot
Jesus wasn’t on the ballot, if He ran with a different name or gender he probably still would have lost to Trump.
Evil men have been on the ballot before, but even as a child of history I can’t think of any other situation where there was so much damning evidence on a candidate as DJT, and a free election where people voluntarily choose the bad candidate. Most bad guys came to power via inheritance or war. Hitler and Mussolini were still relatively unknowns who were representative of the predominant feeling of the other men with power, they were inevitable really. Trump is a singular phenomenon in many ways due to his celebrity, but he certainly harnesses every ounce of bad, anger and grievance that is in the general population.
This is significant, we are at the height of human civilization, in a free country, filled with a majority of Christians, who were educated from birth in the teachings of Jesus, and they voluntarily choose a man whom the bible clearly describes as a person we shouldn’t follow, and who is by definition “anti-christ”. We are immersed in a Judeo-Christian legal and cultural system, we learn from an early age what a villain looks like and acts like, and we are taught that lying is wrong and deceit is a sin. I’m sure most non-christians could still name all the 10 commandments, right and wrong is mostly natural law and baked into every human society. Trump’s popularity is very low outside of the US, they see his immorality and see him for the devil he is, but America’s blindness has to do with “ME”, a collusion of selfish people getting at least one thing or simple gratification out of the grief of others.
Christians Should Choose the Kingdom of God
The Kingdom of God isn't’ deeply described in the bible, but this is certain: Race, Gender, Age, Disability, Denomination, Politics, Rich or Poor, social status on earth doesn’t matter and those divisions become meaningless. What is preserved is our love and relationships. Do you want to spend eternity surrounded by assholes? No, neither does Jesus and more so, he wants people that want to be there, people who would have liked to build that Kingdom on earth if they could and tried, but were denied it by MAGA jerks. The other big thing about Heaven is that Jesus is Christ the King, a perfect and just ruler. By choosing Trump, the opposite of Jesus they show they don’t know Him and aren’t seeking to know him….so then who do they think Jesus is?
I’m pretty sure anyone who was shown heaven would want to be there, but that’s not how it works, Faith isn’t enough, the devil believes in God too, but he rejects God. Likewise there are plenty of regular people that don’t believe in God, but accept God through how they live. Christian’s should know, because we were told multiple times, for example, Matthew 6:19-21:
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
There’s not a lot of evidence CTVs care too much about the poor, immigrants, equality, the imprisoned, LGBTQ, muslims, jews, atheists or anyone outside their inner circle. And worst they may feel that they are supposed to hunker down and defend against those different groups. Quite the opposite:
Matthew 5:14-16, where Jesus speaks about being a light to the world:
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
We spread the faith by love and by being great, generous, forgiving and genuine people (friends), other people want to hang out with. That sure as hell, isn’t what’s happening with these folks, at least not beyond their circle.
People Overlook the Bad if they Get What they Want in return
Christian’s had various motivations to vote for Trump, some of it is “temptation”, he promises things that agree with base instincts, especially for white men and aggrieved people. But I will say with confidence that they were all “earthly reasons”. Maybe they don’t think it really matters to God? Most elections that is probably true, but this wasn’t a normal election. I’m going to say though the biggest reason is I don’t think they are really feeling the whole Kingdom of God thing, things are probably pretty good, there’s no challenges in their life, no reason to really care about others or dream of a place where they don’t have to fend for themselves.
I’m sure most readers can relate to that. Although YOU rejected Trump at the ballot box and so you are at least not tempted by the crap he’s selling. Perhaps that’s something to build on.
Repentance
The CTVs can repent, I think this is the best explanation for why this is even happening the way it is. Trump could have died, he’s still around. He’s a test, he challenges us to accept or reject his behavior and values. He separates the Sheep from the Goats at least, at least in opinion. Also with each passing day, some of these CTVs do come to their senses, their pride may keep that quiet. It’s too bad we all have to suffer for their bad judgement but it does seem that every generation needs to learn that fascism is bad on their own.
History Repeated
Last thing, Jesus was put on trial and there was an election, the crowd and Patriarchs asked for Barabas, who incited a small insurrection (sound familar), instead of Jesus. Jesus was a threat to their power and way of life…forget that he was good and sent from God, he was Woke and had to go.
And so Christianity did not start as a reformation of Judaism, but instead a new practice of faith with a whole new audience. (extending the history of Judaism though). As a lot of christians seem to be following a false prophet and his political/culture first heresy. Perhaps those who correctly reject that (YOU), would see that rejection, as possibly a voice inside suggesting to discover who the real Jesus is.
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