I don't see anything particularly political in that essay; it's pretty tame. No discussion of any particular legislation or candidate, or political party, nothing. Too bad whoever is advising him is so timid.
Well said, Reverend. Too many who proclaim to be Christian have developed selective memory the teachings of the New Testament. The guest columnist speaks the truth. Thank you for giving the pastor voice.
This message needs to be amplified. I think that Democrats have turned the other cheek in this outrageous political climate. The words of hate can seem to drown out the messages of peace and love. The practice of nonviolent civil disobedience needs to be revisited. A scene is stuck in my head of disability protesters being hauled out of the capitol juxtaposed with the J6 criminals needs to be amplified. Perhaps some disobedience on the part of our democratic representatives can help the situation.
I agree. I have a feeling that there will be plenty of civil disobedience at the Iowa Capitol tomorrow when Republicans try to take protected status for trans people out of the Iowa Constitution. I'll be there for one.
Ii think that the magnitude of the problem of the MAGA focusing on the Trans community in the grand scheme of things is absurd. The magnitude of scale is like trying to kill flies with an icbm rocket.
Bob your subscriber count continues to enlarge because of your straight on topics that force folks to think. A little side note on Vance is the recent CPAC conference straw poll indicating that the VP is the odds-on favorite to run for president in 2028. That is of course if the current president obeys the law and leaves office at the end of the four-year term. Mixing religion and politics used to be left for parishioners to discuss in a parking lot. Now it seems as though all of us will choose the way our conscious directs. Hopefully so, anyway. I was advised in the November election to choose between the lesser of two evils. In a country like ours, this is the best we can do?
Your comment "Mixing religion and politics used to be left for parishioners to discuss in a parking lot." made me think isn't it terribly ironic and terrible that someone who appears to know little about the Christian faith, i.e., President Trump, is leading the charge? In current times there is more team sports than public service in public service, and social media only amplifies the competition - quick whose "side" are you on, "we are right", etc. Might doesn't mean right.
They are all like the wizard of oz. Pull the curtain back and expose them for who they truly are. Question is, which wizard is standing there? The wizard from the original movie or the wizard from the play, Wicked? To my thinking they are false prophets. And the country elected them. 😕
Christian Nationalists, and Vance is a straight-up Christian Nationalist, pull "gospel" right out of their asses, and have annointed themselves "prophets." Theologically, the so-called "seven mountain mandate" is completely unfounded in scripture; even to call it a distortion of the book of Revelations does it too much credit. To say "Even the devil can quote scripture" likewise does it too much credit, because there IS no scripture remotely resembling this "mandate." It's sheer bullshit, as is JD Vance's take on St. Augustine's "ordo amoris," which Pope Francis (hello!) has gone out of his way to personally debunk.
Christian Nationalism = white supremacy. It is designed to foment white genocide panic (the baseless fear at the heart of "Great Replacement Theory"), in service of a neo-Nazi takeover of the US. Actual Christians ought to be the first to condemn it--as many Jews say of the current Israeli regime, "Not in our name." That's my Sunday sermon, hope it wasn't too long. Amen.
To a long-lapsed Methodist, what Bob writes resonates with my own past and contemporary experience. What started me in the later years of my youth on the journey away from religion was not the actual content of the teachings (much of which I continue to attempt to follow my parents' example in living out), but rather the recognition that piety and hypocrisy were two sides of the same coin; a coin rimmed with self-righteousness and intolerance. It took me quite a few years and the examples provided by some people who took seriously the important elements of the Judeo-Christian belief system to better understand that the "problem" was not so much in the essence of the religion, but rather in how much of contemporary Christianity has become transposed from a belief system that fostered "community" into a belief system that promotes individualism and exploitation. This has been a long term process involving many steps and with milestones that include the Calvinist doctrine of "predestination" and the Papal 'doctrine of discovery.' These days, in many variants of "Christianity," Jesus is now "sold" in the same way as deodorant--you "stink", but if you "profess belief in Jesus" you are entitled to screw over others without guilt. As humans we need "community" to meet our 'needs' by working together, solving problems, and taking advantage of opportunities, so I am currently of the view that the contemporary complex of developments in the political, environmental, and military arenas portends a bleak future.
As a former school teacher I hear many complaints about the way teachers are treated. However, many of them were protected if they chose to be in a union. This is not the way with pastors that do not have a support system from the leaders of their particular denomination. Pastors have always had to be careful to try to keep a diverse congregation from getting into disagreement which can result in an extreme loss of membership. I have attended several denominations during my lifetime but until now have not witnessed the kind of struggle thoughtful pastors have in today's environment. They will not literally be burned at the stake but.......
I have embraced agnosticism but I also haven’t forgotten the lessons and conversations with my favorite pastors. I appreciate it when a pastor has the courage to point out hypocrisy from the pulpit. I also believe that Disturbed’s version of “The Sound of Silence” is the most masterful. Have seen it live 3 times and get chills every time the timpani hit.
As a born and raised Catholic, my disappointment of and outrage for the many (I think majority) US Catholic Bishops who openly supported Trump is a bottomless pit.
A beautiful and concise guest column. I have been asking repeatedly, as a bit of intended satiric comment, "What should we call a group of nominal Christians who reject the words of Jesus in the Gospels?" The classical answer might be "apostates." There are lots of alternatives, many appropriately profane. It is as abhorrent as it is unbelievable, that so many "pastors" who supposedly do know differently, espouse ignominious right wing themes.
I don't see anything particularly political in that essay; it's pretty tame. No discussion of any particular legislation or candidate, or political party, nothing. Too bad whoever is advising him is so timid.
Thank you Pastor 😌
Well said, Reverend. Too many who proclaim to be Christian have developed selective memory the teachings of the New Testament. The guest columnist speaks the truth. Thank you for giving the pastor voice.
This message needs to be amplified. I think that Democrats have turned the other cheek in this outrageous political climate. The words of hate can seem to drown out the messages of peace and love. The practice of nonviolent civil disobedience needs to be revisited. A scene is stuck in my head of disability protesters being hauled out of the capitol juxtaposed with the J6 criminals needs to be amplified. Perhaps some disobedience on the part of our democratic representatives can help the situation.
I agree. I have a feeling that there will be plenty of civil disobedience at the Iowa Capitol tomorrow when Republicans try to take protected status for trans people out of the Iowa Constitution. I'll be there for one.
Ii think that the magnitude of the problem of the MAGA focusing on the Trans community in the grand scheme of things is absurd. The magnitude of scale is like trying to kill flies with an icbm rocket.
Bob your subscriber count continues to enlarge because of your straight on topics that force folks to think. A little side note on Vance is the recent CPAC conference straw poll indicating that the VP is the odds-on favorite to run for president in 2028. That is of course if the current president obeys the law and leaves office at the end of the four-year term. Mixing religion and politics used to be left for parishioners to discuss in a parking lot. Now it seems as though all of us will choose the way our conscious directs. Hopefully so, anyway. I was advised in the November election to choose between the lesser of two evils. In a country like ours, this is the best we can do?
Your comment "Mixing religion and politics used to be left for parishioners to discuss in a parking lot." made me think isn't it terribly ironic and terrible that someone who appears to know little about the Christian faith, i.e., President Trump, is leading the charge? In current times there is more team sports than public service in public service, and social media only amplifies the competition - quick whose "side" are you on, "we are right", etc. Might doesn't mean right.
They are all like the wizard of oz. Pull the curtain back and expose them for who they truly are. Question is, which wizard is standing there? The wizard from the original movie or the wizard from the play, Wicked? To my thinking they are false prophets. And the country elected them. 😕
Christian Nationalists, and Vance is a straight-up Christian Nationalist, pull "gospel" right out of their asses, and have annointed themselves "prophets." Theologically, the so-called "seven mountain mandate" is completely unfounded in scripture; even to call it a distortion of the book of Revelations does it too much credit. To say "Even the devil can quote scripture" likewise does it too much credit, because there IS no scripture remotely resembling this "mandate." It's sheer bullshit, as is JD Vance's take on St. Augustine's "ordo amoris," which Pope Francis (hello!) has gone out of his way to personally debunk.
Christian Nationalism = white supremacy. It is designed to foment white genocide panic (the baseless fear at the heart of "Great Replacement Theory"), in service of a neo-Nazi takeover of the US. Actual Christians ought to be the first to condemn it--as many Jews say of the current Israeli regime, "Not in our name." That's my Sunday sermon, hope it wasn't too long. Amen.
Perfect! Thanks.
To a long-lapsed Methodist, what Bob writes resonates with my own past and contemporary experience. What started me in the later years of my youth on the journey away from religion was not the actual content of the teachings (much of which I continue to attempt to follow my parents' example in living out), but rather the recognition that piety and hypocrisy were two sides of the same coin; a coin rimmed with self-righteousness and intolerance. It took me quite a few years and the examples provided by some people who took seriously the important elements of the Judeo-Christian belief system to better understand that the "problem" was not so much in the essence of the religion, but rather in how much of contemporary Christianity has become transposed from a belief system that fostered "community" into a belief system that promotes individualism and exploitation. This has been a long term process involving many steps and with milestones that include the Calvinist doctrine of "predestination" and the Papal 'doctrine of discovery.' These days, in many variants of "Christianity," Jesus is now "sold" in the same way as deodorant--you "stink", but if you "profess belief in Jesus" you are entitled to screw over others without guilt. As humans we need "community" to meet our 'needs' by working together, solving problems, and taking advantage of opportunities, so I am currently of the view that the contemporary complex of developments in the political, environmental, and military arenas portends a bleak future.
This is so profound Gil. Thanks.
I have a mental picture of some type of “Christian” beating someone up with the cross they so fanatically believe in.
January 6 came close, didn't it.
As a former school teacher I hear many complaints about the way teachers are treated. However, many of them were protected if they chose to be in a union. This is not the way with pastors that do not have a support system from the leaders of their particular denomination. Pastors have always had to be careful to try to keep a diverse congregation from getting into disagreement which can result in an extreme loss of membership. I have attended several denominations during my lifetime but until now have not witnessed the kind of struggle thoughtful pastors have in today's environment. They will not literally be burned at the stake but.......
Your pieces always hit hard.
I have embraced agnosticism but I also haven’t forgotten the lessons and conversations with my favorite pastors. I appreciate it when a pastor has the courage to point out hypocrisy from the pulpit. I also believe that Disturbed’s version of “The Sound of Silence” is the most masterful. Have seen it live 3 times and get chills every time the timpani hit.
Wow. I would love to see them live.
Thank you for the early morning “lift”.
Thank you
As a born and raised Catholic, my disappointment of and outrage for the many (I think majority) US Catholic Bishops who openly supported Trump is a bottomless pit.
Amen. I love my faith but one should contact the bishops like they would a politician.
Here here!
A beautiful and concise guest column. I have been asking repeatedly, as a bit of intended satiric comment, "What should we call a group of nominal Christians who reject the words of Jesus in the Gospels?" The classical answer might be "apostates." There are lots of alternatives, many appropriately profane. It is as abhorrent as it is unbelievable, that so many "pastors" who supposedly do know differently, espouse ignominious right wing themes.
I have asked myself many times, How can someone call himself a Christian when he violates the teachings of Jesus?
Thanks to Bob and the guest essayist for this post. And thanks for your comment.
As a practicing Orthodox Christian at odds with many tenets of my sect, thank you for your Clarion call to Faith