It seems almost axiomatic that politicians are dishonest – or, put more gently, that a politician’s skill at massaging the truth is a key predictor of his/her success. At the same time, we celebrate and reward “authenticity” in our leaders, resulting in a political world that’s a mystifying blend of straight talk, obfuscation, and shameless duplicity.
At this point, it’s probably not even partisan to note Donald Trump’s flexible relationship with the truth. A recent article drove this home for me– parked the car and closed the garage door – and the next thought prancing through my mind was: How and why could a Christian possibly support such a person? Granted there’s a wide variety of Christianities, but they’re all kinda based on the same book, which I’ve read. Doesn’t that book refer to the devil as the Father of Lies? I mean, aren’t Christians supposed to be honest?
It seems clear that Jesus was really not fond of corruption of any kind, yet here we see devout Christians giving their decisive support to what is probably the most corrupt president in this country’s history. If Hillary really did eat babies, I’d probably vote for Trump too; but Trump’s lies aren’t innocent: many are devised to stir up division, hatred, and violence, all in the service of his infinite narcissism. I can hardly think of a worse sort of dishonesty.
I guess it shows how many slips are possible between the hand in the lip – two people can study the same Bible and come away with completely different interpretations. Everyone says you shouldn’t pick and choose when reading Scripture, but I don’t know anyone who doesn’t.
The Bible is sufficiently full of contradiction and unclarity that one can project onto it a wide variety of philosophies: change your mental filter and a different set of meanings appears. If you’re required to believe that every word of the King James Bible was “breathed” by God, this filtering job gets much more difficult, so many people, I suppose, just leave the details to their pastor. But many highly literate Christians have apparently concluded that, if it furthers the Christian religion, lying, cheating, theft, and various forms of violence don’t matter – even if the sinner isn’t contrite; even if he goes and sins again and again. The story of King David almost supports that conclusion, but the story of Jesus most certainly does not.
A very crude thought then intrudes: One con loves another. Christian institutions have been involved in various cons for centuries, so I guess Mr. Trump fits right in. Let me quickly emphasize that I don’t mean the entire Christian world; I mean the Christian leaders now and through millennia who have been much less than honest with their congregations. They are legion.
I’d like to have a little word with these leaders. Dear pastors, priests, cardinals, televangelists, etc.: You are professionals, trying to do a good job for your “boss”; but, not to be too dramatic, you really can’t serve two masters, and it would behoove you to figure out which one you’re working for.
If it’s just money and power you’re after, I do feel sorry for you. But then there are others who seem to think they can serve two masters – who believe in honesty and respect, yet believe they must defend themselves, even with dishonesty and violence, from the onslaught of satanic forces. Their fear of satan causes them to become satan.
Of course, we can all find support in Scripture. There is a wrathful materialistic war god in the Bible – and then there’s a God of love. Which one did Jesus represent, and which one do you choose to serve?
Traditional Christianity, and Islam as well, try to emphasize the continuity between the old and new testaments, but, using my mental filters, what stands out most are the differences. Though nominally Judaic, Jesus’ life and teachings pointed to a complete new level of consciousness, wherein love – both human and divine – reigns supreme. When Jesus described God as a loving parent, he removed the option of viewing Him as a glowing orb of wrath and vengeance. When we fully embrace the idea that “God is Love”, we find ourselves in a reality that transcends manmade constructs of religion and politics.
Jesus was asking us to move beyond religious concepts dating back to our caveman days, to understand that earthquakes and hurricanes are not signs of God’s wrath, because God has no wrath. 2,000 years later, we still haven’t moved on. Groups of cavemen are still trying to prove that “their” God is bigger. Factories keep cranking out guns and ammo. Jesus still waits to be heard.
The Bible is what it is, but how we use it is our choice – either as a source of enlightenment, or as something to thump. I can only pray that you Christian professionals will start taking your jobs much more seriously, studying your Bible much more closely, attempting to understand all the history surrounding it, and all schools of thought and criticism. Simply agreeing with a prevailing view doesn’t work, because that view has been warped by centuries of gaslighting – the gaslightees becoming the new gaslighters, until finally no one even realizes there’s a problem. But the Bible is full of problems, and the more you study it, the more obvious and troubling they become.
A handy solution I’ve found is to skip the Old Testament almost entirely. Then go to Revelations and physically remove it from the book – if Thomas Jefferson could do it, so can you. The Old Testament is a bewildering patchwork of outlooks and agendas; it can be fascinating and illuminating, but can hardly be viewed as an accurate or objective historical document. Profound spiritual truth can be derived from the Torah, but that truth must be painstakingly untangled from tales of political intrigue, poetic exaggeration, and good old superstition. And the Book of Revelation? Someone’s angry political diatribe, dressed in the imagery of a fever dream. It casts an ugly shadow over the entire Bible. Just tear it out.
In the remainder of the Bible, you will read some amazing stories about this crazy rabbi, Jesus. Some scholars suggest that he never even existed; but no, he definitely lived. What’s a lot less clear is how he lived, and what he really said. Many parts of the New Testament have, to me, the loud ring of truth and credibility, while other parts feel like pure fabrication – attempts to squeeze Jesus back into the confines of archaic superstition.
But from any perspective, using any filter, a vivid picture is given of a man who didn’t tolerate a lot of bullshit. For Jesus, lies came from Beelzebub, and hypocrisy was really not a good thing. Here we have modern-day followers of Jesus just luvin politicians who love to lie; but, as Jesus personally experienced, God and politics often just don’t get along.
I understand how some Christians might see their religion as mostly a kind of club or tribe to belong to, preferably tied to the club of their political affiliation, but to you Christian professionals I ask, what’s your excuse? You’ve read the Bible, and hopefully, in your own picking and choosing, highlighted one monumental sentence: “A new command I give you: Love one another”. If we find ourselves telling lies and endorsing violence in the name of God, something has gone seriously off the track. I understand that the constraints of tradition and church politics are tight and powerful, but you’re a human soul in a relationship with your creator. What are you going to do?
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