I’m a Christian and a pastor and I stand fully against Donald Trump.
Here are 25 reasons why, in no particular order:
1. Because peace-loving Muslims should have as much religious freedom in America as peace-loving Christians.
2. Because LGBTQ people are beautiful and they deserve every right and liberty this country has for its citizens.
3. Because I have a wife and a mom and a sister and a daughter, all of whom I love and respect.
4. Because Black Lives Matter.
5. Because character still counts.
6. Because threatening war isn’t something responsible leaders do cavalierly or for cheap applause.
7. Because a person’s right to marriage shouldn’t be the jurisdiction of someone currently on their third.
8. Because to legitimately claim Christianity you need to at least slightly resemble Jesus.
9. Because we’re all immigrants here.
10. Because I teach my son not to be a bully.
11. Because “being on TV” isn’t a credential.
12. Because Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream and this wasn’t it.
13. Because religion shouldn’t be a costume you put on only when it helps.
14. Because this isn’t the Wild West and we don’t duel with pistols in the streets.
15. Because intelligent adults don’t say “The Blacks”, The Mexicans”, and “The Gays”.
16. Because diversity is inherently American and exclusion is not.
17. Because people who flee war, oppression, and violence should not be greeted with more of the same.
18. Because a man talking about a female rival’s physical appearance or sex life is Jurassic behavior.
19. Because “an eye for an eye” is actually the opposite of Jesus’ teachings.
20. Because we don’t need politicians who feel compelled to talk about their body parts.
21. Because using violence to silence dissension is a dangerous business for a Commander-In-Chief.
22. Because fear and hatred shouldn’t be political currency.
23. Because racism and bigotry are things we’re trying to destroy, not elevate.
24. Because America is already great.
25. Because my personal faith would feel fraudulent and useless if I didn’t.
If your politics don’t align with the above statements, you might well be tempted to label this as an unnecessarily negative post and dismiss it all as divisive. On the contrary, it’s a hopeful affirmation of what I believe and of the kind of world I’m fighting for my children to inherit. It’s also fully conducive to my faith tradition. Jesus didn’t just preach love, he also pointed his finger squarely in the face to the hateful and essentially said, “This is not my way!”
You may be able to use your religion to justify supporting Donald Trump, but I can’t. You’re more than welcome to disagree with me and to vote your conscience. I’m not here to debate your conclusions or critique you for having them. That’s actually the point of all of this.
These are my personal convictions as a father, husband, pastor, Christian—and as a member of Humanity.
Feel free to Tweet, post, or share yours here. #WhyNeverTrump or #WhyTrump
AMEN!
I agree Holly. I was for Trump in the primaries for two reasons:
1) I knew that his candidacy would divide and destroy the Republican Party as it currently exists—an Anti-Christ force that needs to be destroyed.
2) I knew he could not win the general election on November 8, which is still my best opinion.
WRONG… he did win (thank God) and the GOP is stronger than ever. You libs don’t get it–people are sick of taking Obamas (and this pastors) sh*t and we want a return to sanity and non-PC life!
Mel, you think you are going toward a non-PC life, but you are really exchanging that concept for moving our country toward a fascist, Putin-led communist take over led by Putin’s puppet – Trump! And for some insane reason, you think this is better??? You should move to Russia, if you prefer a dictatorship over democracy!
Thanks, Jon and Sandra. Mel,you are naive.
What precisely do you mean by “non-PC”? Do you think it’s okay to use the n- word to refer to African-Americans? Do you think it’ s fine to use words like “re-tard” to refer to a developmentally delayed child. I keep hearing that folks like the Donald because he is not politically correct. What exactly does this mean. Calling someone Jewish instead of “Jew-boy” just seems like employing the manner my southern mama tried to instill in me.
Jane, sadly, it means they like Trump because he is as ignorant as they are. Misery isn’t the only thing that likes company.
Mel, I disagree and must that YOU are wrong along with others that think Trump is somewhat human. He gives that appearance but deep down he isn’t. He’s just an entity with money, most of which he stole, not earned like the rest of us do. I will never warm up to that fool!
Mel, absolutely right!
I’m not voting for Trump, but I am voting for Mike Pence. He’s awesome.
Awesome? Hes so anti gay, anti women its unreal. Thats NOT awesome.
That’s not true!
Totally true- ask ANYONE from Indiana. He’s also terrible for education.
I’m from Indiana. Is 100% true.
Yes, it is!
It most certainly is true. Look at his voting record on these issues.
Well, unfortunately …yes it is…please consider doing some research using reputable sources.
The Bible is also anti gay…that is awesome!!
The what? Oh, you mean that book of magic written by a bunch of men, centuries ago? The one that some people believe in, like Santa? So happy for you that you have fiction to keep you comforted.
I can tell your a real Christian. Same on you.
*you’re…*Shame Real Christians follow the namesake – Jesus Christ. He is the one who taught us to love all and condemn no one. You are the one who is pretending to be Christian; if condemning others is a part of your faith – it’s something other than Christian.
He’s not condemning; he’s just saying I do not agree with DJ Trump. Neither do I
“Some”? I love atheists. The minuscule numbers of you are smarter than the billions of people living now and before you who have faith in a God. How can it be any other way? (And sorry you are so angry at men. I do know your type though and it’s sad you think they’re all so bad).
Jane: I have trouble appreciating your remarks about the Bible…”being a book of magic, written by a bunch of men centuries ago, the one that some people believe in like Santa? So happy for you that you have fiction to keep you comforted”
You sound like someone who’s not read it, knows nothing about it and sophomoric in general intellectual ability. I thought liberals were supposed to be outstandingly compassionate. You, ma’am prove that isn’t true. You come across as condescending and rude. I would suggest you study God’s word carefully before you launch into ignorant criticism. I would be happy to answer any questions you have about the Bible, God, the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ.
Psalm 111:10 NIV
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.
Is the anti-gayness of the Bible cause for glee?
Meg, you ask an interesting question. I would frame it differently. The Bible, God’s word reveals God’s “anti-gayness.” It is God who set the standards for sexual behavior at creation. Humans messed that up shortly thereafter and men at Sodom and Gomorrah tried to rape angels He had sent to investigate the problem and deal with it: “…all the men from every part of the city of Sodom—both young and old—surrounded the house. 5 They called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them.”
That was a major affront to God. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 6:8-11 “8 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men[a] 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”
Your question, asked from that perspective, give the answer that one can rejoice that God has provided a way to be delivered from the sin of homosexuality. God loves the sinner, but hates the sin. All sin.
Amen! Against the lifestyle, but always open to repentance & conversion! Love the sinner, but hate the sin!
Anytime someone says they are “against the lifestyle” of being gay, I laugh at their ignorance. People who identify as gay, lesbian, transgendered or whatever have less “choice” about it than you have about which man-made religion you wish to follow. It is not, nor ever has been, about lifestyle choice…it is about a person following their nature. You may say that as a religious person you are doing the same, but you get to choose which creed, which doctrine and which community you feel best reflects your nature…LGTB folks simply are what they are…should someone someday convince us all that having two hands is evil and we start chopping away, it will be based on the same ignorant, fear-based ideology used to harass, bully, beat and generally victimize anyone based on how they experience their self-identity through gender. Jesus would no more judge someone based on such criteria as he would a tree needing water. The Bible was not written by God or Jesus…mistakes were made…most have been sensibly ignored…stop assuming you can use that book to claim ANY form of righteousness…thank you.
It’s not just a book is the word of God who created us, He knows whats best for his creation, if he’s anti gay then there must be a good reason for it. God destroyed sodam and Gomorra because of homesexuality, he never did for any other sin.
Actually, God didn’t destroy Sodom and Gomorrah for homosexuality. He destroyed it because everyone was so wealthy and refused to take in the poor for a meal and shelter when they came knocking. Lot was the only man in the town to take them in and offer them food and shelter, when the police arrived banging on his door demanding that he send his guests outside to be raped by the police. Lot refused, and the city was declared irreparably self-absorbed and violent, so God burned it to the ground. I encourage you to re-read your Bible.
According to one translation of the text in question, according to another translation he was against offering one’s wives and daughters for the sexual use of travelers and visitors.
Would Christ preach against his father’s truths?
Is it possible to hate the sin without that hatred bleeding over to the sinner? I say no, but that’s just my own perspective. I just happen to think that it’s not our responsibility to hate any of it, judge any of it or correct any of it. Why???
We each commit enough sins in our own daily lives that judging, hating and or correcting our own behavior should keep us plenty busy. None of us are even close to being that perfect.
Re Homosexuality: The Bible also lays out eating and food preparation requirements that are, among other restrictions, admonitions against us eating pork or shellfish. Lest you think food is not as important a restriction as sex restrictions, consider that while one is presumably about continuing life fruitfully, the other is just as important as it sustains the life already here. It surely trumps (pardon the pun) reproduction unlike chicken and the egg conundrum, because without food, reproduction is impossible. Women don’t ovulate when they are starved.
Bill — I read your post above with interest. You provoked some thoughts which I will try to express clearly here. The first part that got my attention was this:
“… People who identify as gay, lesbian, transgendered or whatever have less “choice” about it than you have about which man-made religion you wish to follow. It is not, nor ever has been, about lifestyle choice…it is about a person following their nature.”
That’s partially right; it is about people following their nature. Their SIN nature. All of us are sinners; the Bible is honest about some of the more famous people who appear in God’s word: Moses was a liar and a murderer, David was an adulterer, the Apostle Paul called himself the chief sinner — and was a murderer. In Romans, Paul said: “… 22 This righteousness is given through faith in[a] Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. ” But notice the end of that verse: God provided a way out of that sin nature and its effects on us. That’s not fear based nor man made ideology.
You’re right in that one cannot use the Bible for any sort of righteousness. That book merely tells the story of a loving God who makes it possible for us to be declared righteous by faith in Jesus Christ.
I beg to differ about the authorship of Scripture. Paul wrote to Timothy, “2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. ” and as for errors, I’d be happy to discuss any that you find.
You Bible-thumpers are frequently, as someone once remarked, unencumbered by the thought process. Please explain to me why ANYONE would deliberately choose a lifestyle that exposes them to insults and ridicule at best, and bodily harm at worst. No sane person would – ergo, homosexuality and being transgender are NOT choices. And we “libtards”, as you so graciously refer to us, are not going to shut up and go away – we are going to call you out on your bigotry and mean-spiritedness whenever and wherever we choose. Because it’s the right thing to do, and because the vast majority of us want inclusiveness, not your hatred. And since you’re all so fond of hurling Scripture around the landscape, here’s one for you to chew on. From the Book of Micah, chapter 6, verse 8: “What doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” Sounds to me as if pretty much everyone except evildoers (Trump, Pence, Bannon, et al) is OK with the Almighty.
Jesus says you are not supposed to cast stones, because your sins are equal. Technically, your sins might be greater, because you now have to add casting stones to your list.
He also said men shall not lie with men.
First of all, He did not say that. Levitican law (which was written by men) says that — in the same literal breath as it says not to eat shrimp or wear polyester/cotton blends. So if you’re gonna use the excuse that homosexuality is a sin, I fully expect you don’t eat shellfish and have no qualms about men being forced to marry a woman they’ve raped?
I think you have a few stones to contend with yourself, anonymous. You seem to be very judgmental. I’m sorry you have so much anger, it’s very time consuming and never makes you feel good, does it? I send love your way.
agree! He is all about doing shock threapy on gays as well. #neverpence
I know that’s right
Amen
Trump will be president, not Pence. Pence is just the backup in case Trump leaves office somehow before the term is up. The only power he will have is to break a tie in the senate, which is rare. Unfortunately, you don’t get to average the two together and get that as your president. Trump and only Trump will be president.
Trump and only Trump will be president? Trump intends to have the most powerful vice president in history, since his VP be in charge of domestic and foreign policy. All that’s left for Trump is ceremonial appearances and speechifying. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/20/magazine/how-donald-trump-picked-his-running-mate.html?_r=2
Hope you are right, Paul!
Hope you are right, Paul!
I agree tota)y!
You would be hard-pressed to stand by that if it were YOUR body he was passing legislation to control. If YOU had to now have a full-blown funeral for your aborted or stillborn or miscarried fetus, you would be less thrilled. If you couldn’t get cancer screening or birth control options because he defunded Planned Parenthood in Indiana, you’d be astounded, not delighted. Your comment creates the impression that you are a caricature of the male whose goal is to control and subsume women. I suspect you’re better than that.
You state that “if you couldn’t get cancer screening or birth control options because he defunded Planned Parenthood”. Do you believe that Planned Parent is the only place you can get birth control options? I also wonder if you you believe, that they provide mammogram screenings? No one is trying to “control your body”, people just have compassion, and want to see a person have a chance at life. Many try to twist abortion as “birth control”. The truth of the matter is that the act of abortion is the conscious termination of another’s life. It is a “choice” that removes another persons choices.
For many women, yes, Planned Parenthood is their only option for mammograms, pap smears, prescription birth control, etc. Mike Pence has attempted to defund the organization in order to defund a procedure that the government cannot, by law, pay for anyway. Being a man, you will never be in a position to have your gynecological health options denied to you. Don’t get in the way of ours by defending this misogyny in the name of being “pro-life”.
So much misinformation in one post-this is why the truth never gets out. Planned Parenthood had never done mammograms in any of their facilities. And yes the government actually does pay for abortions done at Planned Parenthood facilities via the funding they provide. There are many other affordable options for women to get their pap smears and birth control. Are you okay with what Planned Parenthood has done with the providing of fetal parts and organs in violation of federal law??! A woman’s right to choose does not include the destruction of another life because that is convenient for her. Her right to choose comes with choosing to use birth control and choosing to have sex with someone. It ends when their is another life involved that has NO CHOICE!! Do your research, watch how abortions are perfomed, see what is done with the “products of conception” which are actually a human being in very small form, and stop using the useless arguement that men are trying to control your body if they are opposed to the killing of innocent unborn children.
Please look up the Hyde amendment.
Please point me to one of the “many” and “affordable” options young women have. Because when I was a young woman with no health insurance and no parental financial support. I only had one option for “affordable” well woman care.
We have a free clinic — sponsored by one of the churches in town (in NW Iowa). I don’t know if that would be an option for you, but you only asked for someone to point one out to you. I cannot believe that is the only one in the country!
Very well said!!!!
Right on point! Love your reponse. These people consider themselves as Christians and yet they support full term abortions cause as Hillary states an unborn fetus does not have rights. How hypercrytical cam you get?
So much misinformation in one comet
Lisa, tell all that to the 13 year old rape victim that is being forced to have he father’s baby because she can’t safely have an abortion…is she precious to you or are you throwing her life away by forcing her to have a child that she can’t support, doesn’t want or worse yet get an abortion from an unlicensed butcher? I doubt she will be grateful that you (or Drumpf) made that life decision for her. Nor that mother that is forced to have another child even though her life is at risk and her other children will have to live without her. I doubt they will feel grateful you made that decision for them either. I’m sure you are passionate about not wanting to kill babies but you are not considering anyone but your self. That’s selfish, not christian. You need to step outside your glass box and research, visit, listen to women who have had to make that decision or those have been harmed by not being able to make that decision.
Ummm…I think she’s considering the babies! How is that selfish? And there are lots of pro life women for lots of reasons. I had a premie and the fully formed babies (as early as 24 weeks gestation) in Nemo natal intensive care definitely have feelings. Nerves form just a few short weeks post conception (before many women even know they are pregnant). These babies have feelings as I could clearly see. Check out the science and then suck it up for 9 months and have the baby…adoption works and almost never is a woman’s life actually in jeopardy. And by the way lots of women are forced/coerced into abortion by their parents or boyfriends and regret it their entire lives…how is that choice? It is terribly sad.
Oh…and while I am fully pro-life, I cannot vote for Trump. He is not even remotely respectful of many lives; women, immigrants, people with disabilities, minority populations etc, etc.
One word: Adoption!!
The biggest issue right now in America is to keep us safe from terrorists.
I believe that Ms. Clinton would perform admirably. Her boots on the ground experience with the government, D.O.D., White House procedure, and daily intelligence reports will make her day one ready to first assess the intelligence and try to sort out would be hostiles from the seemingly random high level background noise. She also knows that the threat thusfar has been mostly homegrown, and thus not very easy to detect by disallowing foreigners to enter the U.S. after vetting by the I.N.S. and qualifying for a VISA, based on either country of origin, or religious choices denying people entry into this country. Every year we admit tens of thousands of people into the U.S. who are desperate. Their homes have been flattened, their loved ones killed and/or tortured. Then they flee with the clothes on their backs, often carrying their children through hundreds of miles of mountains or deserts to get them to safety. Perhaps they climb on a rickety, overloaded raft and cross an ocean. Large number die trying to get here, or rather away from the bloodshed and hatred. Many are fleeing ISIS,Al Qaeda, and Taliban forces. Many times bands of thugs come to their homes, collect and rape all of the females without regard to age, often they do so until the person dies
Bring me your tired, poor, oppressed peoples yearning to breathe in the air of freedom, to be welcomed when they arrive and enter their monoculture, as well as their greater culture of the society from which they came and cast it into the great melting pot. They didn’t take your stinking job either! My brother and his wife saved five Ethiopian children. They have all added to America’s greatness, and have all become U.S. citizens, lived with two wonderful role models. They’ve done well in school, made friends, and adjusted to life here. One is even a West Point Cadet.
Mr. Pence has what should be regarded by even the least open-minded people, as a danger to people’s liberty and should not be a heartbeat away from taking over should the dangerous narcissistic sociopath not be able to perform. His duties. The author of this piece was talking to you. Hoping you would see that the people you have hitched your dreams to are only looking out for themselves, and are dangerous to us and our way of life. Certainly they do not embody the spirit of Christ. They seem to have values that might be associated with the other. Not good.”
In the event that a terrorist event occurs, a very high likelihood, Ms. Clinton would have an appropriate response, which would be well considered and scaled to meet objectives stated clearly, such as this is intended to be retaliatory, or punitive, or have prevention of future incursions
Keep in mind that people being assassinated, by mass murder with assault weapons and munitions, randomly, in public places, without warning, IS the very definition of terror. And most of those incidents, in the U.S. have been executed by 20-something U.S. born, disaffected, perhaps unemployed, white, Christian (not because of this, but if we are going to talk about “Islamic Terror” it’s only fair) males. How can we anticipate AND stop tha that. TRUMP PLAN: I’ll just punch his face!!! Go in peace and think about the 25r reasons in the context of the Rabbi Jesus’ real teachings.”
I guess Clinton’s response to Benghazi really worked well.
Invade Thier country kill Thier leaders and convert them to Christianity problem solved.
What Daniel said.
You do realize that abortions make up 3% of what Planned Parenthood does, don’t you? Many of the locations don’t even perform them. 97% of the services provided are cancer screenings and other medical necessities for women who are too poor to have insurance but “too rich” for medicaid.
Haley,
I thought Obamacare solved all those problems for poor women! And I think you need to check your facts about Planned Parenthood’s services.
It’s between God, the woman and her doctor. Not up me, not up to you.
Yes. Get out of Missy’s private parts. You have no business there without her permission.
This ^^^
Amen!
Well said!
It’s not a person, dear. It’s a fetus. And like a wart, or a tumor, or extra hair….if a woman doesn’t want it attached to her, she has the right to get rid of it. Get over it.
If that’s the truth why are they harvesting body parts and selling them?
They aren’t harvesting and selling body parts. That lie has been repeatedly debunked.
weird. didn’t know warts, tumors or hair had brains or heartbeats
How would you feel Jane Austen, if you were thought of just a wart or a tumor or extra hair when your mother was pregnant with you??? Disgusting, that you would compare a HUMAN life in creation to that!!!! Of course you also believe the Bible is fiction…so I am not at all surprised…I would personally be more afraid of you than Donald trump!
Jane:
You don’t sound like a happy person and that’s troubling to me and makes me sad. I’m sorry you feel the way you apparently do. But I disagree with you on your use of “‘fetus” to dehumanize what that union of sperm and ova will become. The DNA, once set on its course, will turn out a baby in about 40 weeks. That’s a human being who is entitled to due process before being summarily executed simply because it is “inconvenient” for the mother. She has no right (remember that’s what is legal is not therefore moral) to terminate that life.
For women who can’t afford specialists, Planned Parenthood is an affordable resource based entirely on income (or lack of it).
Agree Daniel. Abortion comes down to, “I” the mother exert “MY” right to over rule the child I’m carrying to the chance at life. That child is not the”womans.body.” It is an independent entity, a person God formed in that mother’s womb. They deserve protection and respect from their parents and elders, ones who will maintain the sanctity of life for them.
So, ForTheUnborn, what you seem to be saying is that essentially, the person directly affected by the pregnancy has no rights in the matter whatsoever. Well, that’s BS. And total hypocrisy, because people like you are NOT pro-life; you’re pro-BIRTH. If you were really pro-life, you’d support these “precious unborn babies after they leave the womb with social services, financial assistance and other necessities of life. Instead, once they’re out of the womb, they’re not your concern any longer. You’re eager to shred the social safety net on them, and you declare them to be a drain on society’s resources. Well, I’m here to tell you that not all babies are wanted, for various reasons. I was one of those babies initially. My mother discovered that she was pregnant with me, her third child, at a time when she had no abortion option – it didn’t exist safely and legally 60 years ago. She was ready to leave my father, take my 2 siblings and make a fresh start. I cost her her chance at a normal and sane life. Not my fault, obviously, but a fact nevertheless. So again, not all babies are wanted and a “blessing from God”. And it doesn’t behoove you to make judgments when you don’t know that individual’s circumstances.
Amen…
OK, I can’t let this one go any longer. When you men are the ones who are capable of getting pregnant and giving birth, that’s when you have standing in the birth control/abortion debated. Until then, you need to keep quiet because, to put it bluntly, you aren’t the ones who get stuck with the lease.
How will you do that? Poor excuse!
Good for you….EITHER one is all it takes to keep HIL LIAR y out of the WH
So President Hillary Clinton has you all tied up in knots? That’s so cool.
Awesome? Do some fact checking on this spineless tool. Anti-Gay, Sexist, Bigoted etc.
Uh, you do know that they run as a team; right?
Paul Inberea, I suggest that you start learning more about Pence. You obviously have not investigated his platform or what he believes in….He IS AWESOMELY BAD.
How so?
Seriously do the world a favor and don’t vote this November. Pence passed anti-lgbt legislation in Indiana even though several companies said they would leave the state if this legislation occurred. Then after the state received numerous critical responses from this Pence still kept it on the books and did one better by signing the law and taking a picture with many top anti-lgbt affiliates. He has lost the state of Indiana many businesses and a substantial amount of money because he doesn’t listen to the actual people of the state. Don’t get me started on his whole women health agenda that resulted in “Periods for Pence” here. Seriously if you came from Indiana you would be livid cause he doesn’t care about anything but furthering his own political agenda.
If you’re into Christian Dominionism. I personally don’t think it’s biblical.
He is known for taking rights away from citizens and he is evil.
No reason to reply—the article itself shows the ignorance of the writer.
How can having a rational and valid opinion about something be defined as ignorant? The word ignorant implies that someone doesn’t know all the facts or hasn’t done their research before drawing a conclusion. Clearly that isn’t the case here. In my humble opinion, this is one of the biggest issues we currently face as Americans – the labeling of a difference of opinion as ignorant. It immediately closes down the opportunity for open discussion and sharing of ideas – for hearing each other and being heard.
right on everyone flies off the handle all they do is read or hear they are not comprehending or listening… to me not doing either of those is ignorance
Good for you. I am a democrat and have been called names for stating actual truth statements by reference.
I have finally concluded that people do not want the Truth. I have defended my President with references and I get called ignorant. Ignorance is not knowing how to educate yourself with true statements and data.
so true
Amen
I agree with you!
I read the first two and had to stop. Trump, in his speech last night, actually said the same thing about peace-loving Muslims and the LGBTQ community. You’re just not listening because you are covering your ears saying “NAH NAH NAH NAH.”
So it’s ok if Trump said it last night in his big speech (after finally allowing others to direct him on WHAT TO SAY and HOW to say it), but it doesn’t matter that he said those things a thousand times in the last year about how he HATES GAYS, DISCLAIMS MUSLIMS, HISPANICS (or Mexicans, as he calls them) are mostly rapist and drug dealers and Blacks are generally Lazy??? One time saying it last night, along with sticking some evangelical stuff in there that he doesn’t have a CLUE what it means — that negates all the bad stuff from the whole last year?!?! Not going there. No way. NEVER TRUMP!! I will move to Canada first if should win!!!!
Can I help you pack?
Enjoy the Canadian cold
Pretty ignorant reply since Canada has had six times the global warming than other countries. I live in Canada and we had no snow for ten years straight. But please, I beg you, stay where you are. We will welcome others from your country, though!
Come to Beautiful B C. !
Why wait ? Get a head start maybe you and Rosie can share a Uhaul.
Maybe you should watch the videos of Hillary back tracking on a lot of issues to get the votes…not hard to find…try you tube!!
We will welcome you to the land of the free ! ????????
Moving yet??? Lol
I agree with you, Gary.
He talks about defending LBTQG from foreign discrimination , what about defending their rights here, in the country that they live and where the constitution protect them.
YES, GARY
Trump says lots of things and is often in contradiction of previous statements he has made. He could tell people he is Jesus and some might believe it; that doesn’t make it true. And yes, before someone responds by saying “Hillary is the liar”…Agreed. She is as well.
I read the first two and had to stop. Trump, in his speech last night, actually said the same thing about peace-loving Muslims and the LGBTQ community. You’re just not listening because you are covering your ears saying “NAH NAH NAH NAH.”
Wait! I went further. Pretty much everything you say does not describe Trump.
So y’all are voting for Hillary? She thinks it’s okay to kill babies and she scares me more. IMO, she has less character than him. Why isn’t the response to Trump what so many pastors are telling us to do with the controversial people/ issues of the day…Love him like Jesus?
Tracey, Hillary is not a baby killer. Come on. Are you referring to her support of our current abortion laws? Approx 79% of the people in this country believe abortion should be legal in at least some circumstances. That means they believe a woman should have the right to choose. If we want to avoid as many abortions as possible, we need to support affordable, available birth control for all women. In addition, there are some true facts about her that the you won’t hear on Fox news, from the Trump campaign, or from Rush Limbaugh. Be a rebel. Seek the truth and look for information beyond those who agree with you. Start with this: https://www.hillaryclinton.com/bio/
Amen, Amen!
Sorry pastor you have it all wrong, if you belive men should marry men, your no Christian, if you belive museems should be let in this country with out being vetted your nuts,don’t know what kind of pastor you are but not the kind that God would approve of.
This pastor is a real piece of work. Wooooow. I think he watches CNN and just the liberals headlines. If you dig just a little behind the biased media protecting her, you can find how bad Hillary is/was. Maybe she gets prosecuted after all like she deserves! And don’t worry-trump will save the country for you too; not just for those of us with a brain that voted for him.
I am with you on every single point.
I’m from the UK. I have never met Mr Trump, and he frightens the living daylights out of me. I hope he does not become The Leader of the Free World.
Same here on all counts
He frightens you — really ? But someone who lies constantly leaves U.S. Citizens to die in Benghazi then lying about the circumstances , using private e-mail servers for top secret information -/ lying about it and Donald trump frightens you ? The thought of her being president FRIGHTENS me
Are you by some stretch of the imagination suggesting that Trump hasn’t lied? If so, you really should read more. You’re being deceived and you should be angry about that, not about the trumped up (*snicker*) lies you’re buying into. That’s the frightening bit; that so many are willing to repeat verbatim the talking points without looking beyond them for the truth. Your boy has been involved in 4000 lawsuits (some still ongoing), is involved in a rape case with a 13 year old girl, has been found guilty of money laundering, and imported illegal aliens to build his tower only to abandon them after the project was finished. His charitable foundation is a fraud; hers is A-rated by Charity Navigator. If he’s your leader, he’s certainly not mine, and nothing Ms. Clinton has done comes close to his record. Vote your conscience, and I hope it will still be clear two years from now.
You may be right. But, did you listen to James Comeys announcement regarding charges not being filed against her?
He was very carefull not to anything official but, he did that she was very irresponsible and user very judgement regarding how managed her emails.
I believe he continued and said that if it was to happen under the different circumstances by a different person, they would be arrested.
In your accusations of Trump’s alleged rape, perhaps you’ve dismissed Bill “Slick Willie” Clinton.
It’s been long known he has had accusations from women of his inappropriate behavior towards women.
Law suits? You don’t know that much the business of being a corporate giant. There are many that are no better than Trump.
By the way, the one glaring thing that all three have in common, not one of them have I’ve seen a Halo over their heads or wings attached their backs.
Chances are, neither do you.
There is a huge absurdity is dwelling on the Libya or e-mail issues. Like it or not, those were litigated, some by rather hostile entities, and no wrong doing was found in either. Were there problems to correct, absolutely. Were many of the e-mail practices carried on by previous Secretary’s of State – yes. Was it sloppy? Yes. For all of them. When intent of wrong doing found? No. Was any damage done as a result? Again, the evidence is still no. Mistakes have been admitted and corrections made. The issue is, or should be closed. On Trump’s part, where there are issues, they are not admitted, no corrections are made, and in many cases they are flaunted. One candidate actually states commitment to what most of us would call moral and American core values at their best (though may fail at keeping them perfectly), the other ridicules them and boasts in ignoring them. (And if you want to raise the abortion issue, remember that the real political conversation is not whether it is right or wrong, but whether it is the government that gets to make that determination or the woman in consultation with her doctor – you can still be against abortion in principle and for the choice being places in non-governmental hands). It may be true that neither candidate is perfect, or have had blemish free personal lives – whether by fault of their own or not- or is going to win popularity contests with everyone, but there is a very clear choice to be made between the two that is not at all difficult to discern.
“There are many who are no better than Trump”. Maybe that’s true , but THEY’RE NOT RUNNING TO BE THE PRESIDENT OF THE USA!!!!!
sez, “Did not say that. He said because in a sense, State operates embassies and the buck stops at the top, she is culpable, but his statements (careful! he was appointed by RepubliCorpers), as well as committee report #8 (@ over a $ million each) stated that the D.O.D. was more directly responsible since it was their job to provide personnel and plans, but most culpable was the very RepubliCorp House and Senate that refused to provide the very funding requested by State and D.O.D.
Count how many committees were convened to look into the Bush Administration’s failure to protect 4000 Americans and others killed on September 11th over Pennsylvania, at the Pentagon and the WTC?
How many committees were convened to look into the illegal war in Iraq begun by false intelligence used to justify using a battle plan Donald Rumsfeld had cooked up back during the previous Bush administration.
Unless you were born yesterday, you know that Ms. Clinton, in addition to being the most qualified and experienced, has proven herself. She has walked the walk every day for her whole life. The Donald? Not. But he did tell 22 obvious lies in his acceptance speech. She on the other hand had to be the single most investigated person in public life. 30 years they have been beating the same 3 or 4 dead horses. Thus far – nothing. But if we spend another million or two of their money we can keep the simpletons thinking, ‘where there’s smoke…’
If you think Mr. Trump had superior character, then you are not paying attention. Ms. Clinton is a phenomenal nominee, and will keep us from slipping down the rathole the Bush/Cheney adminstration turned over to the current President … misery extended by the RepubliCorpers placing a higher value on embarrassing the black guy, than whether you kept your job, or kept your house, or were able to pay for chemo for your kid or …
Finally, Mr. Comey never said (so wherever you think you heard it, they were wrong) that if it were anybody else, they’d be arrested, or if she was white, or whatever stupid thing. Slick Willie isn’t running.
But a sociopathic demagogue whose trying to make a fool of you and screw us all is. He’s disguised as your savior, but he might well be the other. He doesn’t even know what the job he is buying is, hasn’t read the constitution, is a compulsive liar, and has cheated so many small business into bankruptcy they almost can’t be counted He even admires a dictator, and doesn’t know that we do not want to show approval for him rolling into the Crimea (in a separate country called Ukraine [say You-crane’]). I’m sure the Ukrainians are glad, Mr. Trump, that they invaded.”
Wow. You realize the report on Bengahzi indicates that she didn’t do any of the things people accuse her of? And, that other embassies were attacked under previous administrations including Bush, Rice, and Powell and they were not vilified.
I sure can’t vote for Pro-Abortion Hillary.
You realize that Hillary is against abortion, but she doesn’t believe it is the government’s business to control what should be between a woman, her doctor and God, right?
And you are also aware that Trump’s “pro-life” words are just words–he says whatever he thinks will get him what he wants with no filter and no conscience about whether he believes his own statements or not?
Voting for a president based on who they believe should make decisions on abortion (which isn’t going to change any time soon no matter who is in office) isn’t the best use of your vote. There are third party and independent candidates–the more popular of them are also against giving the government power over a woman’s body, but they are good people. With the quality of the major party candidates, they may stand a better chance than you’d think. Find one of them that resonates with you. The lesser of the evils is still evil.
No one is Pro Abortion.
The Clintons in the 90s campaigned saying that abortion should be “safe, legal, and rare”, and that is still the way Hillary feels about it. Abortion has been legal in the United States for over 40 years. The government cannot force a woman to become a mother. The Supreme Court ruled that in Roe v. Wade and many court cases since.
Wake up and come into the present.
“But someone who lies constantly leaves U.S. Citizens to die in Benghazi then lying about the circumstances , using private e-mail servers for top secret information”
Lies constantly? By whose account?, the GOP’s cause they are still wasting time and taxpayer money trying to prove the things on your list and haven’t been very successful. Guess we will still have to wait for something the GOP can stick on her. Maybe she parked in the wrong parking spot at the building she works at. How much more time and taxpayer money is the GOP going to waste on this unproductive witch hunt? We have a country to run.
Another of waste of money. Now how many times are we going to waste millions to investigate the server-gate. I’ll run it down since you all seem to want it to be what it isn’t.
I decision was made at some point to install a secured server to keep Ms. Clinton’s email on. At the time it seemed appropriate, though I sure, that given your predeliction for beating a dead horse, I am sure she regrets it.
As for Mr. Comey, and his report? Ms. Clinton broke no laws, rules, or regulations, and nothing was compromised. There was no regulation prohibiting the use of non-governmental servers for official business until late 2013, until AFTER (emphasis, no italics on phone) she resigned as S.o.S. At the time, and maybe still it may have been a good idea. But certainly not against the law, maybe not even bad judgement by her computer guru.
So stop already. You sound like an acolyte of Satan’s right hand man, Roger Ailes and Fox News ignorant.”
7 GOP investigations weren’t enough for you? They found nothing, so get over it. Pretty slim rationale IMHO.
You want Killary in as our commander in chief?????????????
Trump seems to be a bully and not very bright (although I’m sure he has good points too), not really proper leader material.
I don’t know how to word this as well as you would, John, but anyone who mocks a disabled person does not value life. How can someone who loves and cares for a disabled person want someone for president who mocks your loved one.?
I agree with you
I agree, and thank you for bringing that up. As someone who does love and care for a disabled person, no, there is no way I could vote for Donald Trump.
The fact that Trump has gotten this far and been endorsed by so many is indeed sad. I don’t like him; I won’t vote for him.
Perfect! As an evangelical, born again christian I agree
As a Christian I support Trump because of supporting conservative judges. As a Christian I cannot support abortion . He will repeal the law that can convict pastors preaching what is clearly in God’s word as a hate. Crime. You should vote Trump as an anti Hilary vote
I am absolutely against abortion — but that is not a reason to vote for a person, based on one reason, ESPECIALLY because ROE v. WADE will not be overturned by another conservative on the court. And he has no conception of what hate crimes are because he is so incredibly hateful toward soooo many groups of people. JHirnRisen, I hope you can stand it if he should become president because — because of all of the reasons the above post mentions by the pastor, and because Trump has nothing to offer but empty rhetoric and hate. If he hadn’t gone around for a year promoting violence and hatred and building walls here and there, I would think he is a potential run for POTUS but not after watching him through the last year. #NeverTrump
I am not aware of any law that would convict pastors preaching God’s word as a hate crime. Could you say more and explain?
What are you babbling about? There is no law that can be used to convict pastors for hate speech or any other kind of speech. Go look it up at your local library.
We would then be further divided by Democrat and Republican churches. Politics preached from the pulpit? No thanks. Nothing more than placating the right wing evangelical wingnuts. This would make churches political organizations. Don’t give a rat’s posterior what my churches pastor’s political affiliation is and I don’t want to hear it preached to me on Sundays or any other day of the week.
I don’t like Trump either, but in fairness just as many talking points could be made against the other end of politics. Both camps seem to be intent on dividing us and making us hate or be jealous of some other demographic. Black vs. white, rich vs. poor, ‘privileged’ vs. ‘disadvantaged’, fundamental religions vs. all others, etc. etc.
I’m sick of all this disgusting mess and disappointed that we don’t have more quality people running for public office at all levels.
Amen
I am not a Trump fan, and I am an Atheist – cannot use either of these to defend him. But this blog made me weary. I have enjoyed a lot of what you have written so far, but for a while now I have been exhausted by your “stuff that needs to be said”. Firstly, I lose interest in people who feel that their “stuff needs to be said” all the time; like they are the last-word on any issue or subject; that their beliefs and ideas and logic is far more insightful than anyone else’s, and more annoyingly, that you are always right and everyone who disagrees with you is wrong. Like you are the self-appointed authority on things that need to be said to people who don’t know better. Very presumptuous and very arrogant of you. Personally, I have never met a “peace-loving” Muslim, and to dupe people into believing that such a thing exists, is irresponsible of you. By it’s very nature, Islam is militant and seeks to forcibly convert once they have a majority – what’s happening in the US right now, is evidence of that. Right now, globally, and specifically in the West, where Muslims enjoy freedom of religion, they are marching and demanding Sharia Law. In Germany, they live in ghettoes of their own making, out of choice, so they can govern themselves, without subjecting themselves to the rules and law of that country; this is the same for many of Europe’s countries. This is not peace or loving of any sort. Islam is a threat to the West, and to all its freedoms, and to Christians themselves. If you haven’t yet grasped this, then you need to pray a little more for enlightenment – your very faith is at risk. Willing a happy-clappy, lovey-dovey, we’re-all-one philosophy on people who neither want it or endorse it, is not smart. The Middle East is neither liberal nor tolerant, and you can’t make people who are both become the opposite. I understand your Christian love in action, but Muslims don’t extend Christians – or any other faith, for that matter – the same courtesy. As for the “yawn” Black Lives Matter endorsement – of course they do, all lives matter. But the #Black Lives Matter movement is nothing more than a bunch of thugs and terrorists. You think I am contradicting myself, by saying that all lives matter and then condemning Islam, but I am not. Charity begins at home. Also, the world has changed dramatically – this is not early 20th century – things are different. Handling immigrants is different. If borders were opened, everyone in the developing countries, or the East, or the Middle East, or Africa, or South America, would want to get into the West. They hate the West but are always falling over themselves to get into the West. Imagine the chaos. So, for me, charity begins at home. Look after your people first – regardless of colour – and only then, if this is possible, should you be looking after others. Politics and religion have never mixed well, mostly because they’re both political systems and ideologies. Lets leave the blogs for the real Christian loving, and the politics for the political blogs. As for Trump, even though I am not a fan, the way I see it, he is the best of a really bad bunch.
Stop reading this blog if it makes you weary. I don’t always agree with everything that is said here, but it is HIS blog and he can say what he wants.
denise: –I think differing views, and critical views is what keeps a blog going. I’m sure that John P agrees.
When you say, ‘stop reading this blog’ , that is weak advise. And would put John P on a quicker path to shutting down his blog.
This poster said s/he is weary of reading people who feel like their opinions must be stated. That’s pretty much the purpose of a blog, so I am not sure what advice would be appropriate besides “stop reading it then”….
EXACTLY!
Apparently, you haven’t met many Muslims — if any at all. I have met, worked with, and befriended many peace-loving Muslims over the years. One of the kindest, most gracious, and most loving friends in my life is a Muslim from Lebanon.
Furthermore, if you don’t like reading John’s blog – DON’T. Your post is one of the most asinine things I’ve ever read.
You’ve never met a peaceful Muslim? Come to Nashville where there are TONS AND TONS AND TONS AND TONS of Kurdish people. I’m proud to call them neighbors.
I like the Kurds.
You don’t know many real Muslims in America, do you? While it is true that the Wahhabist movement is dangerous and the Middle East is not a fountain of peace and enlightenment, I know many Muslims in the US who are ideal citizens — and one must keep in mind there are different sects of Islam rooted in diverse cultures. Some are more enlightened; and some are as primitive as Christians were during the Crusades and Inquisition. I would not lump all Muslims together by any means.
As for Mr Trump, I find it astonishing that you consider him the best candidate available.
Comparing today’s Muslims with medieval era Christians is bizarre and absurd. Today’s Christians do not run theocratic States where infidels are persecuted, but most Muslim countries are exactly those types of theocratic states. The difference is in the West we have evolved and grown up to be confident in our Faiths so as to be able to welcome those of other faiths into our midst and allow freedom of conscience for those in our societies. Bottom line Making an excuse for the current behavior by one group based on something another group did 500+ years ago in lame.
You appear to be blind to the fact that many Christian fundamentalists and conservative evangelicals want the United States to be a theocratic state. You can find it in their writings.
Charles, those Christians live here don’t they, we have our Constitution to prevent us from becoming a theocracy. So Christians can want what we want all we want, but if it against the Constitution all that wanting is SOL. & even if anyplace became a Christian theocracy, how do you know that it wouldn’t be like how the Amish are or something? The Amish are a pretty theocratic group, but you don’t see them calling for any scary sanctions against people they don’t agree with. As a whole they seem to treat others pretty nice, must be that “sharing the love of Jesus” thing.
You apparently did not understand what I was saying.
You are more afraid of what some Christian writers are writing than what some terrorist Muslims are doing. But you blame Christians because “the crusades” & “the Inquisition” and some other stuff that happened 500+ years ago “done by the church”. Not what is currently happening now. All sects have their crazies, but some of the Islamic States like Saudi Arabia, Iran, ISIS, & their ilk have made it a state sponsored past time to make as many terrorists as possible.
The absolute best!…just my opinion
Wow..I like the deeper thoughts given to all of this.
I agree with what you’ve written. As a Christian, I have a hard time understand how people can not see your points. Some of the comments I’ve read in support of this blogger make me scratch my head. Trump makes a terrible comment about someone disabled and he doesn’t value life? Clinton supports abortions and she does?
Christians should know that if faced with a choice, “peaceful” Muslims will not choose against their religion.
Trump was not first choice. Mr. Carson was. However, I think we can all agree that Trump will be better for our nation than Mrs. Clinton. Let’s complain about how inappropriate Trump in, but has he blatantly lied and denied to the American people? I would much rather listen to someone who isn’t politically correct and worried about offending others than someone who is a liar. Neither one is top-notch, but it’s what we’ve got. Don’t like Hillary ,but refuse to vote for Trump? Guess what! Hillary is what you will be stuck with. Just like last time…. people didn’t like Romney because he was mormon so people stayed home and we were stuck with Obama again. The last four years have been HELL for our nation. If we do not exercise our right to vote, then we will suffer. If you choose to vote for someone who has no hope of getting it, we will suffer. Get over yourselves. Our nation is at stake. And no. America is not great in its present state. It is weak and the laughing-stock of the world. Choose Hillary and we will be over. Common sense, people! COMMON SENSE! Use some, find some, buy some, JUST GET SOME!
If you feel the US is a joke now, then be prepared for it to be the biggest joke of all time if Trump gets in. I’m from Australia and I fully endorse everything John has said in this post. I am horrified by what I’ve seen Trump come out with during this campaign, and I’m praying with every fibre of my being that Americans DON’T vote for him.
Cassie,
I feel the same.
I am also from Australia.
I also agree with John, but…..
I still know that the prospect of Mrs Clinton would be much worse.
http://www.mormonpress.com/lying_liars_who_lie_2016_edition
Please, open your eyes. Trump lies more than he tells the truth. And he did not just say “a terrible thing” about a disabled person, he openly mocked him.
Okay, then I’ll vote for Hillary. You should too.
Amen Karen
Firstly, NO, we cannot “all agree that he will be better for our nation than Mrs. Clinton.” Not even in the slightest. And do you truly believe every word that comes out of that blowhole to be factual? You do realize that multiple points in his longwinded diatribe of a speech last night were reiterations of previously disproven and debunked claims, right? He literally repeated things he’s said before that have been revealed to be blatant dismemberments of the truth. So while Hillary may or may not have lied, please do not sit there and claim that Drumpf’s only offense is that he “isn’t politically correct.” Because that’s not even a quarter of it. And for the record, no, I am not a Democrat, and no I am not a fan of Hillary’s. But I sure as HELL am not voting for a bigoted, pompous, unintelligent blowhard to be the leader of the free world. Can you imagine this man with access to the nuclear codes? I shudder at the thought.
First off why are you hiding if you feel so strong in what you say? One of the reason I read John is because he isn’t preaching to you if you read carefully he is just stating what is on his mind and in his heart. I love the idea of a man of the cloth not afraid to speak what he believes to be true. I am so sorry for you with there are no good Muslims because they probably feel the same way about you. I am not of one religion but a mixture of many I take from each what I feel is needed to make me who I am. I would never say that one is better then the other. I do agree we need to take care of our own first but that will never happen so suck it up. To say Trump is the best of two evils is saying something about you and it really isn’t nice, but that like John’s words are my opinion and I ask no-one to agree or disagree. Mr/Mrs/Ms I’m afraid to state my name have a very good day.
The danger with a compulsive narcissist like Trump is the old adage that “absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Traditional more moderate Republicans think that can control him and rein him in if he is elected. Once elected, I think he will quickly cush into his chair in the oval office, feel the power, and become uncontrollable.
Hmmm..like Obama did
Wow. You really don’t get it. At all.
Yes I agree. And in all 25 reasons. None of them said he couldn’t run our country, and that he is not out to destroy us, and steal money from the government. He even said he would work for our country for free, haven’t heard any others say they would. I believe he will bring our rights back, that have been ripped away from us.
Well said! I am a Christian and was thinking of posting something similar to your comments after reading ‘peace-loving Muslims’ because there are none…and I don’t agree with other parts of what he wrote. A true Christian does promote love through their actions (which anyone that really knows Trump sees on a daily basis) -sad the left is portraying him in such a false light, and that doesn’t mean bending over backwards for LBGT. It means being tolerant and trying to educate sinners on their actions. PS I completely agree with your point that BLM is a group of thugs and terrorists!
Hello Dave, although I’m replying to your comment, it could’ve been to several others’ instead, so please don’t feel I’m singling you out.
One of the most enlightening glimpses into Mr. Trump’s character and personality traits can be read about in an article just released which other commenters below brought to my attention. http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/07/25/donald-trumps-ghostwriter-tells-all It’s natural that staunch supporters of Donald Trump The Presidential Candidate will dismiss it as biased and inaccurate journalism intended to smear him. But my gut feeling is that the anecdotes told by Mr. Trump’s ghostwriter for The Art of the Deal in the 1980s, many of them corroborated by other individuals involved, are a genuine portrayal of the man he got to know quite well over a year of interaction with him, much of that time spent as a virtual ‘shadow’ side-by-side on a daily basis in the process of gathering material for the book. To observers of Donald Trump over the past couple of decades as first a celebrity and now-candidate (which includes most any American who’s not been living under a rock) the anecdotal portrayal of Mr. Trump feels very consistent with what we the public see of him.
Please read it and ask yourself, if you can momentarily suspend other influencing factors of whatever your political persuasion is, your feelings about his opponent, and anything else — an openmindedness which is admittedly hard for any of us regardless of our political bent: Is this the kind of person who possesses the gravitas, the expertise, and the wisdom we the American people — and really, the rest of the world by association — should have filling this role?
I would like a President who can write his own book rather than sit down and talk, let a ghost writer take notes, and then the ghost writer does the book writing. People who are poor at writing tend to be disorganized thinkers who analyze poorly and cannot reach clarity on issues—not a good way for a President to be.
Anonymous, Christians – and anyone with an honest faith of any kind – can’t keep out of politics. From law-making and welfare to environmental concerns and military decisions, politics is all about how to run a nation justly and for the benefit of its citizens and the world. Those things are our greatest concern too.
Wow I have so much respect for what you just wrote. Honestly I’ve never known an atheist to be this thoughtful on Christianity. I have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I agree with you sir. God Bless you! I pray you know Jesus as I do. You would be an incredible witness.
YOU are right. Pavalovitz is a blow hard
So, what does that make you?
When you said, “Personally, I have never met a “peace-loving” Muslim, and to dupe people into believing that such a thing exists, is irresponsible of you,” I feel sad. I would like to invite you to my community of Nashville, Tennessee. There are many peace-loving Muslims who work hard making our city “the friendliest city.”
I can introduce you and you can join us for dinner if you like. Or maybe you could find the Islamic Center in your own hometown and actually meet and greet some of your Muslim neighbors. You might be surprised.
I would like reasons to vote Clinton Can’t think of one
Very well said….Trump is the lesser of two evils in my opinion
Thank you. You have it right. The preacher should stick to preaching and leave politics alone. He says that to be a Christian you must have a resemblance to Jesus. Wonder what he looks like?
i have lived next door to peace loving Muslims. they do exist.
This was the most logical statement I have read on this blog. I am a Christian and I agree with all your points. Thank you for your words.
Troll much?
I know quite a few peace-loving Muslims. I also share your concern for the militant ones. We need policy that recognizes both realities.
I agree. Very well said.
I *have* met, and even dated, peace-lovimg Muslims. While things did not work for the man I dated, he was not a violent or militant person. He was from Gambia, West Africa. I couldn’t get behind his views on a woman’s place. I have a Protestant friend who works at a private Islamic school in Alabama and she’s had nothing but wonderful things to say about the families of her students. I worked with a lovely Muslim woman about fifteen years a.
I’m not sure you’ve known many Muslims. It sounds to me that you are going off what you’ve heard rather than personal experience.
Wow, I guess you don’t see the irony.
sez, “First, I got some stuff that needs to be said: You’re a bigot. Your assessment of the situation in Germany, and Europe is not accurate. I know many Muslims who are peace-loving in the U.S. and abroad.
While all lives do matter, and black lives matter, too. Specifically, they aren’t saying they matter more than say, white, yellow, or red. But that they matter as much. That they are being assaulted and killed by people who should be protecting their rights. Keep in mind only one group has their children murdered for drinking a Coke and eating Skittles on the way home from the corner store by a nutjob. And the courts finds the shooter – innocent. Or roughed up until their brain bleeds by the people who should protect us, then driven in a paddy wagon until well dead. The D.A. (African American) in Baltimore opted not to follow through with any further cases related to this.
Our being shot for failing to pull over when you were being stopped … for failing to pull over. You’d have a different attitude if your son or daughter was pulled over for driving while black, or picked up for walking while black, and though while they were cooperative, you’ll never see them alive again. When you can see that and walk a mile in a grieving family’s shoes, then you you can say your stuff you got to say.
I’m just saying, you start off that you hate people who’s opinion s you disagree with, but want to be heard too, and tell you so. You are paranoid because you can’t acccept that Muslims go to work, love their children, and even love their neighbors. Their religion incorporates, the O & N Testaments and the Quran and as such they share most values with religions borne from there. Then you start wagging off on Black’s. Say did you know that many of them are double-whammied? Not only having heavier pigmented skin, but also Muslims? No, no wait, triple. I heard (On Fox!:-)) that almost to the last, most of ’em travelled from the northwest coast of Africa to Charleston, S.C. in the boats of Europeans. They crossed the ocean, ate the Europeans food and used ships resources and didn’t pay one thin dime to the Europeans. Don’t anyone criticise MY viewpoint. You think you are so rational.
As a Canadian and a person who follows American Politics very closely not just at the Federal Level but States level as well, I feel I can feel free to Comment.
John, once again you hit the nail on the head., I and my household totally agree with you.
This man, we believe has done everything he can to destroy the wonderful Mosaic that was the American Dream, that is an opportunity for “all” to be free and seek the advantages that are available to its’ Citizenry and those who come from other parts of the world seeking these things. However, this man has made a mockery of everything that is “American”.
He would be labelled a “Dictator” in any other Third World country.
We sincerely pray that the “People of the States”, will wake up, and elect a person who has the interests of all its’ people’s at heart. We are all human and err but this man does it with such a smile and never an apology. The Convention has been such a Circus.
I am grateful for the 25 reasons, I am sure that we could add dozens more. Get out and Vote people and use your head and hearts. Hillary Clinton has been attacked so viciously by the Republicans for the last 25 to 30 years because they know she will do a great job. That even comes out of the mouth of Donald Trump.
Wow totally off the wall. I may not be for Trump but this is all wrong.
Actually Anonymous. He is pretty much on target with what he wrote.
I agree with you and am NeverTrump as well. However, I am also NeverHillary. I beg you to check out Gary Johnson and see if you can support him with a good conscience. With your following, support from you would be very meaningful. To my way of thinking he is the only reasonable choice in this election and I pray his campaign catches on and continues to build support. Thanks in advance for at least considering.
Brilliant! Thank you.
I am Never Trump, but I am Never Hillary, either. I think we have two very poor choices this election cycle. I am going to look into the Libertarian candidate very seriously. I fear for our country, whichever of the two major party candidates win.
As seems to happen every 4 years, we get quite worked up about presidential candidates. I am not a Trump fan and not necessarily a Hillary fan. I would vote for her over Trump but the fact is that I will support whoever gets voted in because that is the American way.
We have become so big, so in love with technology and corporate focused as a way of life, that these two types of people are the only ones who really can make it up the USA political ladder to be final candidates.
Peace,
Couldn’t agree more with this post. Not meaning to be a pessimist but I’ve got a feeling no matter which way the vote goes in Nov, its goin down. I can feel it, you can feel it, we all can feel it. It’s comin baybee. But hope I’m wrong.
We may soon find out why intelligent life is so rare in the universe if Trump gets elected. In the 13 billions years or so the universe may have had many intelligent civilizations—that is until they discovered nuclear weapons and a Trump-like figure emerged during the historical nuclear window.
John, I agree with you on your points but what I don’t understand is why you are picking on Trump. He agrees with you on most of your points also (I know he doesn’t act like a Christian sometimes, but neither do a lot of us, sometimes). His candid (not politically correct) way of speaking is why people who like him, do like him, and I would presume why people who don’t like him, don’t like him. We need to beware of those who speak by pandering to people. Some preachers do this to their congregations … Tell them what they want to hear, not need to hear. You and a lot of people have misjudged Donald Trump. An example is when people call him a racist, and they don’t even know the true meaning of the word. So, let the ignorant people hate Donald Trump for reasons that do not exist. It’s easy to hate due to ignorance, but truth will eventually free us from ignorance, prejudice and fabrications. There are two sides to every argument, and prayerful objectivity is the purest way of deciding which is right or wrong. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it, as I’m sure, you are yours.
Neal: I’m still puzzled how progressives equate sovereign borders with ‘racism’.
I think ‘Open Borders’ appeals to Americans that prefer their Government to be their own personal ‘tithing machine’. They sleep at night, thinking, ‘well, Ive done my bit.”
When you look at France, Germany, The Netherlands, UK, the ill effects of Open Borders is evident.
People do not always equate sovereign borders with racism. The problem is that our southern border is out West and Hispanic people have been the western equivalent of the African-American people here in the East for over 150 years at least—even though they arrived here 400 years before other Europeans. The bronze in their skin and their black hair is Native American. Native Americans have a long history of being hated out West too. So, it is not an “all sovereign borders issue. It is a peculiarly American issue with one southern border.
Mexico has a border wall on their southern border, they have a very strong dislike for Central Americans, maybe it’s an Aztec vs Mayan thing. BTW the Spanish were not here 400 years before the rest of the Europeans, maybe 100 years for North America in general before the rest of Europe got into colonizing and exploring, and about 200 years for the Southwest. Also Mexicans are VERY conscious about who looks more European in their culture.
I messed up. I meant to say that the Spanish showed up earlier than other Europeans.
You seem to equate political correctness to pandering and Trump’s “candidness” with honesty. Trump’s “tell it like it is” style is pandering in its most obvious form. He takes what he knows a dark underbelly of America responds to (fear, hate, belittling, minimizing and making groups of people into the “others” who threaten the “us”) and plays it on a continual loop ad nauseum. Want proof? Anytime he steps outside the lines of this ugly narrative (e.g. when he suggested that he wasn’t totally against common sense gun control, when he indicated that he wasn’t completely against abortion), he’s backtracked again and again with phrases like, “Well, you misinterpreted me…what I really meant was…” or just seemed to pretend he never said anything contradictory at all. It’s political pandering in its most primal colors, and I’m continually surprised that people buy that he’s straightforward, honest, and consistent in any way.
Donald Trump brutally imitated and mocked a disabled man on national television. You would correct your child for doing that, right? So how can you vote for this moron for President of the United States of America? And don’t forget “bleeding out of her whatever.” That would disqualify a high school kid from being Student Council President. Surely we can have the same standard for the President of the United States?
Definitely agree, John Pavlovitz…and also agree with the posters who say that Hillary is no alternative either….
My political persuasion these days is Ent (‘I am not altogether on anyone’s side because no one is altogether on my side’):
“I am not going to do anything with you: not if you mean by that “do something to you” without your leave. We might do some things together. I don’t know about sides. I go my own way; but your way may go along with mine for a while. … Wizards are always troubled about the future. I do not like worrying about the future. I am not altogether on anybody’s side, because nobody is altogether on my side, if you understand me: nobody cares for the woods as I care for them, not even Elves nowadays. Still, I take more kindly to Elves than to others … And there are some things, of course, whose side I am altogether not on; I am against them altogether: these — burárum” (he again made a deep rumble of disgust) “— these Orcs, and their masters”.
– Treebeard the Ent, JRR Tolkien, ‘The Two Towers’
The day a candidate thoroughly, positively and relentlessly pursues _____THE COMMON GOOD____, those things which would benefit the vast majority of people and that the vast majority would agree upon (strong infrastrucure, skilled, good-paying jobs, non-bankrupting healthcare, schools teaching classic, innovative education and not TESTS, clean air and water, comprehensive (including mental health) care for veterans and the elderly, basic research, etc) – that is the day I can unreservedly support that candidate.
that “anonymous” guy really stands for what he thinks.
great post. if there were a god i would pray this assklown not be elected. how is it possible that these so called “christians” don’t realize he is pandering to them? the 3 marriages, 3 affairs 2 divorces- all this doesn’t bother them? hypocrites.
Trump isn’t becoming a pastor, so I don’t judge him on his 3 marriages.
His 4 adult children are remarkable in their even -temperedness, intelligence, compassion, non-spoiled-ness. Surely, there was some deep love, encouragement & discipline provided by their Dad, I give him a lot of credit for that.
Donald Trump was barely around when his daughter Tiffany was growing up. It’s well documented. You don’t judge him on the adultery? How charming. Compassion? Have you seen the pictures of his sons, grinning next to the bodies of the animals they slaughtered for sport? Non spoiled? Hah.
Paul Inberea is for Trump because her fundie leaders have told her that Trump is God’s own man this year. Fundies are required to fall into lockstep behind their leaders. If they told her Hitler was God’s man, she would fall into lockstep behind him too. Fundies are not paid to think. They are instead commanded to obey without thinking and questioning.
Thanks, John, for organizing my thoughts/feelings on DT so beautifully!
I love reading the comments here as well and highly respect the diversity of opinions and want to reply in terms of this being a conversation… To Anonymous – I have met several very peace loving, kind and generous Muslims over the past 20 years – just saying, And I also find it abhorrent to see a presidential candidate exhibit such flagrant prejudice against pretty much all groups that aren’t white male Americans, preferably wealthy.
As for the rest of us, including myself, Hillary isn’t my first choice either but we, as voters, have to be realistic. A third party candidate, at this point in time, is going to pull votes from Clinton, not DT. And by doing so it may very well put DT in office. Something I believe will be very dangerous, in ways we can’t even imagine. So, if any of us vote for a third party candidate or just don’t vote because we’re sitting this one out – keep in mind that IS a vote for Trump.
Clinton will likely be a one term president but I believe she can be a stabilizing president for that period. Clearly this country (and the rest of the world) is in a period of great change and we want to begin to look at the next generation of government leaders in terms of ability to handle that change, in terms of supporting this country in the process of ushering in a new way of being – because from where I sit, “we are not in Kansas anymore Toto” and it’s in no ones best interest to pretend we are…
Again, John, many thanks for creating a safe, respectful place for good conversation –
P.S. Tony Schwartz (author) has a great article on the New Yorker magazine website and it’s worth a read if anyone wants to know more about who DT is… Schwartz spent a lot of time observing him closely when he was the ghostwriter for Trumps book The Art of the Deal. He put the article out because he’s the only one who never signed a non-disclosure agreement w the Trump organization and felt he had to step forward so people would understand who Trump really is…
susan. thanks. I will read that essay. [I love The New Yorker, such good writers –even though I disagree with 95% of their positions.]
John, all 25 reasons are, in my opinion, spot-on succinct observations of Mr. Trump.
I ‘get it’ why so many Americans were drawn to Trump enough to actually choose him in the primary, even those who are ambivalent about, or even opposed to, some of the red meat rhetoric he’s tossed for the past year to keep himself on page 1 nearly every day…..the oversimplified “solutions” he’s offered that make for great sound bites and are cynically crafted to appeal to the less-sophisticated voter suspicious of any policies more nuanced and thoughtful, be it gun control, immigration, you name it. A candidate who as they often remind us “isn’t afraid to tell it like it is” is a refreshing alternative to most all politicians who act like, well, politicians. Apparently, and I would say, frighteningly, they are willing to overlook the myriad other aspects that make Mr. Trump unsuitable for one of the most challenging jobs on the planet.
But #8 sums up a lot of the others. The Jesus we know from the telling of the Gospels also was not afraid to tell it like it is. How sad that our political climate today doesn’t offer such a choice: the candidness of a Donald Trump with the love-in-action of Jesus. (Well, personally I was very disappointed that Bernie Sanders ultimately lost…not that I equate him or any human with Jesus, but I’d say he embodied those two traits together more so than anyone else out there today.)
John, I agree with you 100%. I try to keep an open mind on political matters, but Trump and the GOP Convention has been nothing but negative, filled with hate for all who are not white and heterosexual. I pray that God is in charge of all human affairs. Blessing to you for speaking out on these important matters. After all, we’re all on this “boat” together, so hopefully we’ll survive this nasty environment that we find ourselves involved in.
I Agree with all. I would add:
Because I believe someone who has never shown an interest in serving others unless he can be in charge really wants to rule, not serve.
Because I believe that Donald Trump is running for president not because he loves America, but because he loves Donald Trump.
As I’ve written before, Jesus did not get involved with politics. This country and the world is ruled by men and women who seek first the kingdom for themselves. Donald is no different and he might even change the political landscape in this country to your dislike. Clinton, on the other hand, is indeed a criminal and so is her husband. I do not care for Trump but Clinton is the last one I would vote for. I will vote third party. Not because I like the third party candidate but to express my dislike for both candidates. My position is that no matter who wins, I’m going to deal with what comes and I’ll continue to trust in my Eternal Father and I look forward to my journey to his side.
sez, “It would help if you could go before election day, if it wouldn’t be to much trouble. You’re silly. Mr. Trump told 22 major lies in his acceptance speech. And HE is the guy you choose to believe. Thirty years of committees, special prosecutors, blue ribbon panels and they have found nada. Rocks. They even regurgitate it for the next generation, who was too young to recall the last time … and still nothing. I’d say she is the most thoroughly vetted politician, and is perhaps the last honest woman.”
Well said John, 100% with you!
This sums up how I feel. And your blog is encouraging to me. I’m so done with religion, the evangelical christianity, but I’m a believer in God, and a follower of the teachings of Jesus. Th a k you for helping me to keep going.
Oh my goodness #7!! *applauds*
Better to have a snake like Hillary. I don’t think so. You people need to live in the real world.
Define snake, please. What has she been found guilty of? Post from a a position of truthfulness and accuracy.
Hi! You should delete this post and rewrite it after you have actually researched what Trump stands for! You are off on several & are misleading so many! Vote for who you want & write about why or why not, but get your facts strait before you do!
Well said.
Trump leader of the free world? If he even becomes president the freedom will dissapear in America. You will never have the chance to use that catchphrase ever again.
1. Trouble is, nobody knows which Muslim truly is peaceful, and who is going to be a terrorist. It’s like walking down a street and seeing 5 identical dogs. Two will bite you three will not. Are you going to take the chance and let your children just pet all five dogs or would it be more prudent to keep all five dogs away from you? That’s an easy answer.
2. Black lives matter as do all lives. However, statistically blacks commit more crimes, and generally there are reasons they get into difficulties with the police that have nothing to do with their skin color and everything to do with their attitude, response, and choices. If black people really believed their lives matter so much, they would do what they need to do to change their lives to make them matter individually. This starts by taking responsibility for their own education so they can obtain better jobs, enjoy a higher standard of living, get off welfare and stop indiscriminately ‘making more babies’ spawning more welfare cycles.
Trump would not be my first, second, or even third choice, and you make some points I do agree with, however, I think the overall take away is that he is going to actually do his job as President and protect our country from those that would harm it.
Wow. This is — wow. There are so many, many things wrong with your statement that I just don’t even know where to start… First off, you have to know that comparing a group of people to dogs just can’t be the best analogy out there, but that aside….why in the world would your “dog logic” not apply to ANY group of people regardless of race and culture?! We don’t always know who the bad guys are before they commit crimes, but that doesn’t mean you declare an entire population as criminals with a “better safe than sorry” shrug! Otherwise, we’d all be labeled as such — criminality crosses all groups of people. Muslims as a group aren’t more inclined to violence that anyone else.
Second, you need to educate yourself regarding our criminal justice system, its proven biases against people of color, the devastating and insidious effects of poverty on generations of black Americans and the systems that keep them there. You speak from a very privileged standpoint, and the result is that it makes you sound less educated than I’m guessing you might be.
Dear Shannon:
Most likely, you’re aware of this; but whereas my response [below] appears to be in reply to YOUR post, I wanted to remove any possibility for misinterpretation by declaring that I was attempting to address Sam’s July 22, 2016 at 1:31 am post. I don’t know why posts sometimes display in a sequence that I don’t expect. But I wanted to make clear that I am fully supportive of your remarks.
Blessings!
I figured it out, but thanks for confirming! 🙂
This disgusting, malevolent attack on the poor must be redressed.
The ‘educate/better_jobs/living_standard/off_welfare /over_populate narrative is scripted by the same class that profits from slashed education budgets, pay and benefit cuts, welfare and other services. Here and abroad, that narrative is contradicted by the misery of great swathes of humanity. While posing ‘solutions,’ the ownership/investment/banking class wields it enormous political clout to ensure that the poor will not ever escape their social misery.
Police enforce these class relations in the interest of the wealthy. Police don’t terrorize affluent communities or murder in View Park-Windsor Hills, CA [predominately Black with average family income of $157,000 annually]. Black, White, Hispanic or Mediterranean, the slain die not by race but by class; they die because they’re poor.
Similarly, the ‘evil Muslim’ narrative has nothing to do with Muslims and everything with their strategic and resource rich ME lands hold for us. Working class citizens of Enterprise, Nevada, USA and of Taldou, Taldou District, Syria have far more in common with each other, and nothing in common with ruling class bosses in their respective lands.
As two sides of one coin, the ‘blame_the_minority/blame_the_racism’ narratives mask the true social cause of these tensions, while the conflict thereby generated serves the rationale for the emergence of the modern police state.
Tremendous progress has been made in race relations. Many Caucasians are justly outraged by the horrendous crimes perpetrated systemically against minorities. But by shaping this discussion around race and not class, the ruling class is shielded from all examination and censure. The ruling class is exceedingly powerful and almost always prevails. But the ruling class is terrified that the social unrest erupting around the world is threatening to unite poor and working people of all nations, races and faiths against capitalism’s heinous the policies of war, famine, pestilence and death.
At her disposal, the church has abundant, theological resources to address profligate wealth, institutional oppression, the crimes of empire, unrestrained power, together with the blasphemous/idolatrous religion that are part and parcel with those things in any time or place, including our own.
The diacritical kingdom-of-God diacritical/manifesto called the Revelation pulls these and many similar OT justice themes into the present age. The two witnesses bid the church speak as Moses to the Pharaohs and the Ba’als in our time and place. That is witness to God’s kingdom, which is witness to Jesus Christ, who is himself the Gospel.
As a Christian who is also a socialist, I believe that current world conditions, including the relentless drive toward WAR, and rising social misery everywhere, offer us an opportunity to bring the gospel of the kingdom to the world with effectiveness unparalleled since the Day of Pentecost. Neither
Too long has church imitated the power/class/ideological relations Saint John the theologian unmasked under the imagery of the beast/whore/false_prophet. When will the church recognize that this is her error and know that her calling is not to bend Caesar’s ear by any name, in any time or place? When will she renounce her alien allegiances under ANY partisan banner, concur with Jesus, and let the partisan dead bury their own dead? When will the church remember who she is and to whom she belongs? When will she repent and be the church?
Well aren’t you a wolf in sheep’s clothing…
Sorry to read your arrogant filth.
And I’m sorry to read your nasty response
Amen
John I agree with you. Trump is scary. I think that yellow-orange thing on his forehead is some kind of parasite eating his brain.
The most peaceful, tranquil and Canadian as could be (class would stop if someone happened to be catching a hockey game on their device) person I’ve met was a Sunni professor at Loyola Marymount – Muslims and Islam are not my enemies; there are so-called ‘Christians’ that would gladly burn a cross on my lawn…Extremist, stupid people of all faiths and races who are consumed by fear and hatred – those are the people who are a danger.
Perfectly said once again thanks John
So much negativity and judgement coming from a so called Christian. I would sure like to hear your thoughts about Hillary and all that she has done, which is way worse than what Trump has ever thought about doing? Oh and while I am at it…what are your thoughts on Obama. FBI director Comey, and Loretta Lynch? You are judging a man who is trying to change and make better what has been evil. Maybe you should pray about this, and ask God if this judgemental behavior you are showing the public is appropriate Christian behavior. Matthew 7:5 says ” you hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. Your actions and behaviors are why people turn away from Christians, and call them hypocrites. You need to check yourself.
You don’t like the President and the people around him; he could heal the sick, raise the dead, kick locomotives off of tracks, cure cancer and fold a fitted sheet perfectly – and he would still be Evil Incarnate, because he and people like him don’t ascribe to your weltanschauung.
Trump could unleash filoviruses upon the Earth (eg: Ebola, Marburg), detonate a nuclear weapon over Jerusalem, spear a baby on a bayonet while dumping a puppy in a bag into a roaring river – and that would be just fine, because you agree with his weltanschauung.
Truthiness, and not actual Truth , rule the day – we agree with those who agree with us – and both sides do it.
I find it immensely ironic you attack John for voicing his opinion and accuse him of being judgmental and question his salvation, yet you’re doing exactly what you accuse him of doing. You don’t agree with John’s opinions, fine, that’s your right, but to turn around and attack his salvation him is wrong as far as I’m concerned. From what I’ve seen of Trump, I personally think he deserves to be criticized. I could tolerate at best his attacks on women and Hispanics, but he lost any credibility when he mocked the disabled. That is LOW!
Dear Shawna:
You write, ‘way worse’ as if there is a ‘lesser evil’ candidate. As I see it, there isn’t. Both Mr. Trump and Senator Clinton conceivably could be sent to prison prior to taking office.
Called God’s ambassadors and reconciling agent in a broken world, Christians far too easily allow the divisions of the world to penetrate back into the church, with the result that the church itself is broken along the same lines as the world, and so cannot be God’s agent of reconciliation in the world.
Perhaps church is abandoned because those who turn to it seeking a visionary alternative to ‘the world’ discover that church is instead an adjunct OF the world. Christians need to consider that partisanship itself is sub-Christian narrative.
By reason neither of apathy nor principle, but recognizing the failure of reformism, the ending of the day of democracy and the dawning of the age of repression, a small but growing number refuse to hold office, vote, sit on juries, support the courts or judges, police or military, domestic of foreign policy, or the institutions and processes of state in general.
Not all are called to be counter-cultural in this manner or to this degree. But what must be refused is to be host to the legion of partisan and other alien, parasitic ideologies which engorge themselves on a consequentially emaciated body of Christ. The church overlays blasphemous, partisan ideologies/heresies on the cross of Christ, breaking the theology of the cross, and obscuring from view the Glory of God in Christ. Purging ideologies/bigotries/partisanship, and returning to her Lord is the recovery of churchly identity and mission in the world.
To those who for years censored others for ‘trusting the state,’ it must be at least mildly disconcerting to see the horrific consequences of being believed. Deserted by the state to its own destiny, the nation readies to abandon the state to its destiny. Let the church receive that people. In place of the stars and stripes, we give allegiance to the basin and towel; in place of bombs bursting in air and rockets’ red glare, we sing the glories of the loaf and the cup.
I have no dog in this race or other acts of political vaudeville. I care naught who is or whether there is a President. Kingdom mission is unchanged in either case. I’m not interested in what you or anyone else thinks of President Obama, Director Comey, Loretta Lynch, Senator Clinton or Mr. Trump. My sole, political aspiration is that I might see a transformed church eject the state from its midst. I raise no hand against the state; neither do I extend a hand to save it.
Yet as this perspective is adopted, the loss of political control and power it implies anticipates pure fury from the state. Then there will be no neutrality. There never is at such times. So when the choice is to stand by the kingdom of God and die, or to prostitute oneself with allegiance to the powers and live in this age alone, where will YOU be, Shawna?
Oh, Shawna. Stuff your Bible where the sun don’t shine. What, exactly, has Hillary DONE? Name one single accusation that has been proven. You can’t. The Republican Fear & Hate Machine has been going after her for decades, and come up with nothing.
“Make better what has been evil” ?? What does that even mean?
Pray about this, Precious: You sound like an idiot.
what a load of croc.
Gosh, that was a thoughtful, educated response. Spend a lot of time on that one, Precioius?
Which is, of course, a combination of precious and precocious.
I agree with your reasons and I have 2 others. Trump has said 2 things that are scarier than anything else. As a Christian I could never vote for anyone who claims “he has never asked God for forgiveness for anything” and that “he (Trump) alone can fix everything .” You would think that he has elevated himself to the position of God!
As a non-American (Swedish), I have no say in the election. Why never Trump? Well, he sounds way too much like a certain German politician: Adolf Hitler.
I too was a pstot, now retired, and I attended and studied under some of the greatist theologians. More then that from the beginnng the education I received and those who taught me history, and faith, had a respect, concern, and a nurturing way that gave me respect for our history and our concern for the future. We not taught to be critics we learned to give the worh of our lives and appreciation for those who served and conrtributed. The golden rule was primary, and America was indeed a nation of freedom and opportunity to serve and appreciate. I have been involved for over 60 years in the proclimation ofg faith ansd I have believed I am the citizen of a nation where there is great v eriety supporting individuals and those individuals are all children of God. I for one follow the teachings of one who taught and was so close to the creator he called him ABBA, so be it. (pertaining to my teacher Dr. John Cobb) I seek to know that strength better and live it.
2 Timothy 4:3 because a time will come when some will no longer tolerate sound teaching. Instead, they will live by their own desires; they’ll scratch their itching ears by surrounding themselves with teachers who approve of their lifestyles and tell them what they want to hear.
Maybe even tell them 25 times…
yep
sez, “And they still miss the point. Artificial boundaries make better T.V. and confrontation sells more advertising! It IS possible to be conservative and think critically!”
I agree with pretty much everything he said. However, in an even stronger fashion, as a Christian, I have to also say “#NEVERHILLARYCLINTON.”
I wish he had discussed the other candidate as well.
Yes, fair is fair. Seems like now a days it is easier to stand against something than to stand for. But alas poor Hillary, she’s got no legs to stand at all.
John. When people are responding to you spouting total bullshit and lies, if they actually believe it, is it still “false witness” since they won’t accept proof that contradicts what they want to believe?
Oh people can’t you be kind?
sez, “Whereas Mr. Trump cares anymore about about your right to choose than the two generations of RepubliCorpers that have been pandering that they would force changes in the law and constitution so that everyone midst abide by YOUR belief system. It’s worked real good, huh? This may be your #1 issue, but it isn’t the only one. The point of this pastor’s essay is more broad, and addresses more than can be encapsulated a single issue voter’s issue. Far from being concerned with that one very contentious issue (which you and I won’t decide, here), it addresses the greater definition of what or is to walk in Christ’s path. It doesn’t include a hateful, xenophobic, megalomaniac who claims the mantle of being ” … the only person who can save America the only person who can make America great (we ARE great now, Sir) again.” And can be greater of we work together on the things we agree on. I DO NOT share his ugly hate filled pessimism. I DO agree with the pastor! “
Love one another as Christ loves you. We all have opinions, I dont understand the name calling. Let’s agree to disagree! Vote the way your heart leads you!
What Christianity should look like. Jesus Christ pointed at the political and religious leaders of his day and called them out on their hypocrisy. When they saw themselves as high and mighty, either in their wealth and power or in their obedience and religious authority, he brought them back down to earth. I feel emboldened as a Christian after reading a post like this. We as Christians should not be giving into fear, paranoia, and bigotry. We should not be so quick to idolize the wealthy and the wanna be tough guys who speak of torture and killing the families of our enemies. We should be meek, humble, kind, respectful, loving, seeking after virtue and striving to resemble Christa and be what our loving heavenly father would have us be, especially in these dark and trying. It is the trying times that prove who we are as a people. And I feel confident to say all this because it is what I read in scripture, and what the message of Jesus Christ confirms in my heart. Thank you for your leadership pastor.
I’m someone who left the Christian religion because I saw a lot of hate and hypocrisy. I want to say that there should be more Pastors like yourself, you give me hope where there was none. Thank you…
Unfortunately, this election is terrible for everyone in America. No one is going to “win.” On one side we have a chameleon who will change her mind to be anything to anyone. She is a traitor, has lied to the American people, watched our military die, and we can’t trust her with military secrets. It is a fact no matter how hard we try to deny it, she did lie, over and over and over. Oh, she also claims to be a Christian. The other side gives us a guy who is just downright rude, is arrogant, doesn’t talk like a “politician,” and many people just don’t like him….the only reason I am considering voting for him is because I do know the Supreme Court is in play and we KNOW for a fact what Hillary will do there. What bothers me the most, is that Christianity is being torn apart because some Christian’s can’t imagine voting this way, and others can’t believe anyone would vote that way. So……I’m offering this narrative that I got in an email. I don’t know who wrote it, but it needs to be shared.
A Christian Pastor’s Analysis of the U.S. Election Drama
Is Trump good for America? I mentioned Sunday that I would speak on this next week. Unfortunately, I found that I was shoehorning this topic into my planned message. To properly present what I want to speak on Sunday, I may have to leave the Donald out of it! But let me take a minute for those that wonder and give some of my thoughts…………
When I first heard that Trump (DT) was entering the race last year, I told my wife that perhaps it was a good thing for the party and America. I knew that he was not a “saint,” but I thought that he would be like a bull in a china shop. He is a disrupter and I believe America could use a fresh thinker especially in the political arena. I didn’t think he would get the nomination, but that he would shake up politics as usual. I was correct on the shaking up!
Lance Wallnau likens him to a biblical Cyrus. Someone who is dynamically used of God even though not perceived by many as a God follower. God has used many people in history that I would probably not like or agree with. I’m not sure I would have liked all the disciples, or David, or Moses. Somehow, God did not seem compelled to consult with me on His choices!
I have always admired Winston Churchill. He is seen as one of the greatest national leaders in the 20th century. Last year, I had the privilege of going through the War Museum in London. Winston is a key feature. His life is controversial. He was not always celebrated as a great leader. He was a bombastic, cigar smoking, at times crude, even misogynistic leader. It is alleged that he told off color stories to his children before bedtime! A woman once told him he was disgustingly drunk. His response was “My dear, you are disgustingly ugly, but tomorrow I shall be sober and you will still be ugly!”
There are many websites that discuss the outlandish comments and activities of this great world leader. But, he had exactly what was needed to stop Hitler at the Channel, to rouse a nation to never give up and to partner with America to find final victory in Europe.
You probably wouldn’t want him as your pastor, maybe not even your father, but he was the right leader for that moment in England’s history. Such a brazen man that would go up to the roof of his quarters in central London and smoke cigars as Hitler’s air force bombed all around him. I’m not sure I would have voted for him….but he was the right man!
I think it would be awesome to have a righteous leader, one that understood the intricacies of the economy, health care, defense, immigration, with great sensitivity to religious institutions, a heart for the poor, a vision for the future. If that leader was a praying person, formidable in the word of God and loved the local church, I would rejoice! I do not think that is the choice we will have in November.
Instead….we will look for someone who is imperfect, yet will fit the times we are living in. Particularly, that ‘whoever’ we vote for, will be someone who might possibly have the opportunity to appoint up to three Supreme Court justices. That could radically shape our culture in America for the next 30 years. The America of our grandchildren could be very different….and that may not be good. We cannot stand on the sidelines. A non-vote is a passive vote for a direction we may very well regret.
So….is Donald Trump good for America? I honestly believe that he has been already. He has shaken the political system. Do his comments offend me? At times! Do I agree with all he says? Not at all! But could he be a “Cyrus” being raised up by God to preserve America? Nobody liked Gen. Patton, but he sure WAS an instrument of the United States for the right things.
This I know. I will vote for the best chance for America. I will pray for our leaders as I have already. In the end – God will continue to be my source and my hope. I do believe that God has had a hand in America’s history. I hope and pray that He will also have a saving hand in America’s future.
sez, “Yeah! Well her response to Benghazi outstripped the Bush Admins response to OK City, WTC, Pentagon, and a field in Pennsylvania. 8 different House panels concluded 1) State’s culpability was solely because they run the embassies,
2) the D.O.D. was responsible to provide and implement a security plan and therefore were more culpable though
3) had RepubliCorp, the House AND Senate who were the most culpable, because both State and D.O.D., not once, but repeatedly were denied funding for the plan that would have given our diplomatic staff a fighting chance. In fact the entire Teabag Caucus voted against the funding every single time it came up for a vote. So, um, yeah. I guess if I had to say there is one failure, it is the failure to impart critical thinking skills to our public so that after things happen they can sort it out, (realise 8 RepubliCorp Committees have vetted this already, at a million bucks apiece. All it’s found is a bunch of empty headlines and click-bait for the weak minded) and see where there’s smoke there sometimes is fire. But because a RepubliCorper or Dem says something about the other, it’s bound to be horse-hockey pucks. Especially after blowing 42 million on persecuting this woman & finding nothing just to keep her, and by extension the accusations against her in the headlines. A vote for Trump says a lot about you! America is already the greatest place to live Mr. Trump.. My country doesn’t need to conform to your (scary) idea of rich boy utopia greatness”
Thank you, John, for always speaking truth. You are a light in the darkness. God bless.
sez, “And many more woman search their conscience, and either alone, or with the support of their partner decide to have an abortion. Even as simple as the morning after. Often times the fetus is no more than a few cells. Dr.s Trunk and Pence say it is ok for a pharmacist to refuse you the right to the morning after pill, despite the law requiring it. Or, a purposeless, and potentially dangerous, completely useless vaginal ultra-sound is required. A medical procedure that serves no medical purpose except to intimidate the woman, make her uncomfortable as hell , take a already difficult decision of conscience and make it as unbearable as possible. Where can I send YOUR coat hanger?”
sez, “Hate the arrogance of the people who say, ‘Hate the sin, love the sinner.’ That is if there were such thing as an all powerful magic guy who is everywhere and to whom we give credit to for all things good. You never credit our deities with the bad stuff. It’s either human determinism and free will or the other guy with the hooves and horns. But if you are a Christian, and I don’t see how you could be, then you know that it is not your place to judge anyone. They might someday meet this deity of yours and then if such a thing exists, the judgement will be exacted, likely by standards that you’re hateful, arrogant, pea-brain can’t grok! Have a nice day!”
sez, “Yeah! That! What John said! So take your sanctimonious, righteous hater bullshit and go somewhere else. It’s beginning to affect the rest of us! Thanks a lot. I almost allowed you to wreck my day!
Holy cow!! But it’s okay for Hillary to rip a baby out of a woman’s vagina just before birth PIECE BY PIECE!!
And…it’s okay for her to lie, kill (yes, folks at least 6 people opposing or outing her have disappeared & been found dead!!)
And…HOW DID MURDERERS in Benghazi know where the ambassador would be?? Through her leaked emails! I agree…we are choosing the lesser of 2 evils! But that’s not her. Who gets millions of dollars for giving speeches????And pay attention!! They were countries no self-respecting American would be caught making deals with!
Have any of you actually looked at the numbers on her tax form?? She & Bill took the same exemptions he took that she’s claiming are bad! They took even more! And the Clinton Foundation?? 3%…3% of their donations actually go to charity…look it up on a reputable site…Chelsea’s huge salary & theirmilliobs come out FIRST!! With all this we KNOW to be true, imagine what we have yet to discover. She’s a criminal! Our choices aren’t good, but she’s the worst!
No, no, those of you who do not know history are condemned to repeat it! Oh for the sake of Jesus who is our saviour do not vote for trump. I beg of you as one who has studied the Rise of fascism.
sez, “warts, moles, even a booger. But for the first trimester it could well be that you are looking at the heartbeat of a worm, or the brain of vole. And while you are at it, why would my congressman know best what I should do with my own body. My doctor, spouse, clergy are all in a position to know our circumstances, ours and a fetus’ health, marital status, economic situation, and dozens of other personal reasons. My congressman, not so. Plus, having a penis doesn’t disqualify him from having an opinion, it’s just none of his business, or yours. For over 40 years our right to privacy has been protected. Hence it’s not your business. So please, butt out!
sez, “Oh. And you’re entitled to your beliefs, but the Flying Spaghetti Monster told me you’re book of parables are pure fiction. Certainly because that is where your belief system is from, all of the rest of us MUST live our lives according to the way you have chosen for yourself and your interpretation of this book. I’ve heard it said that we all have the choice to decide for ourselves how to live, worship and make decisions of conscience according to our own choices of religion and values, as you do to choose for yourself! In the meanwhile, the Bible is not proof of itself”.
You assume to know what God approves and disapproves of. Personally I’ll leave it up to God. After all in the book of Isiah it clearly says “My ways are not your ways, my thoughts are not your thoughts” If you disagree with what John says, then fine, that’s your right, but leave the condemnation up to God. He’ll do a much better job at judging if he’s a suitable pastor than you ever will!!
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The Bible says over and over that “Jesus is the savior of the world” and that He will eventually draw “all men” to Him. And that some day, God will be “all in all.” This is the predominant theme, NOT that God is against gays.