Having been raised by good Southern Baptists, I went to church every Sunday, heard and memorized stories and verses, and got at least a sense of what Jesus was all about. As I got older, I could pick out the missteps congregants made (including my parents) and sometimes point them out. As usual with dealing with our humanity, I saw less conflict in my behavior. I did struggle with scripture and verse, especially with the conflicts of death and alienation.
During my conflicts with my faith, I searched for other schools of thought and different ceremonies and doctrines to find something that resonated with my soul. Initially, this was with different protestant religions (Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopal). Later I checked out the Catholic, some Baba devotees, Budda teachings, and other gurus. I found great solace with the Quakers, especially the meditations. I can now acknowledge all as having value, and I am comfortable that I can freely say, “Jesus is my guy.”
In surveying my friends who have varied and different spiritual beliefs, it seems that many of us are miffed at the radicalization of our organized religions. I have numerous friends who are Muslim and many who are Jewish and are frustrated with the state leaders who are perpetuating that war. I am also miffed at the seeming insistence of my Christian friends who seem determined to be persecuted. Examples follow…
Some recent postings from my Christian friends have included statements like “First time in 70 years, no prayer in the capital on National Day of Prayer.”
“WHAT?” I thought. I have participated in National Day of Prayer on many occasions. So I looked it up. Here I found a YouTube video of two hours of National Day of Prayer 2024 in Washington, D.C.
It seems that someone, somebody, or some organization is trying to misinform Christians of what is going on. Why would they do that?
Here is another one. “Facebook has censored the Lord’s Prayer.” It has not. You can post Lord’s Prayer on Facebook all you want to and Facebook will not take it down.
https://www.reuters.com/article/fact-check/facebook-has-not-banned-the-lords-prayer-idUSL1N2TX1HF/
If you are Christian, you have likely seen these posts as well, and may well have believed them.
Then more recently a dear friend posted a video that said that only “that guy” was talking about Jesus being the savior and he was the only politician who was talking about his faith. I listened to much of both the Republican and the Democratic Conventions, and numerous politicians used their faith to guide them, giving specific examples of what that faith looked like for them.
Somebody, something, or some organization wants to put a wedge not only between Christians and other religious groups but also between Christians who believe some specific something that does not seem to match Christ's message and the rest of us.
I am not here to deny anyone’s Christian beliefs.
It seems however that this Christian movement is saying that if I don’t vote for “that guy,” I am denying that he is a Christian. No, I am not. I am not on earth to judge whether “that guy” is a Christian or not. What I might think on the matter makes no difference. That is between him and God.
Then some Christians have questioned my being a real Christian if I don’t vote for “that guy.” Making whether I vote for someone a measure of whether or not I am a Christian is not only wrong but absurd. I can believe that a candidate is a Christian and still not vote for him.
Let’s look at the devout presidents of the past. Richard Nixon was a Quaker, and used Billy Graham, one of America’s greatest pastors, to justify his illegal actions. Billy Graham later stated that becoming involved in partisan politics was one of his greatest regrets.
I don’t think anyone has ever doubted Jimmy Carter’s faith. Indeed, he has been and continues to be the greatest example of a politician who never lost focus on his faith. Nixon was ousted because of his actions. Carter did not win reelection for a second term. But he never lost his focus on his faith.
The Christian Right has focused on having The Ten Commandments present in many public places including schools. That comes from the Old Testament. What about the Beatitudes that Jesus Christ gave us in Matthew 5?
He said:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
If whoever is trying to create a wedge between us succeeds, then the Christian Right will continue to think they are being insulted and persecuted. Maybe that is why someone is making up that stuff, to have the Christian Right believe that is the way they get to heaven. It is more likely they think that is the way to get to power, using heaven as a “carrot and stick” method.
It seems that the Christians are determined to be persecuted, even when they are not. And it seems they want to persecute others in the view that Christ would want that. I don’t get it. My personal experiences of Jesus Christ in my life do not invite persecution. And my experiences do not invite me to persecute others in Christ’s name.
John 13:35 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples; if you love one another.” They will know we are Christians by our love.
That does not sound like someone who would separate children from their parents at the border to “teach them a lesson” for fleeing to the US.
I’m still not voting for “that guy.”