A Faustian Bargain
He brags about grabbing women by the pussy. He boasts on the radio about being unfaithful to his 3 wives. He gives very little to charity and pays porn stars not to tell about his affairs. He does not meet his promises to the people who work for his businesses. There is no evidence that the Golden Rule plays any part in his decision making. There is nothing in his character that resembles the values that Christ taught in the Sermon on the Mount and yet 81% of white evangelical Christians voted for him.
How is this possible? What does it say about white evangelicals. It certainly invites the charge that they are complete hypocrites and that their votes can be explained by things like racial prejudice not by Christian values. I believe that charge is not fair to the vast majority of evangelicals. I believe this seeming contradiction can be explained by the teachings of Niccolo Machiavelli who wrote in the Prince that the ends justify the means. Thinking evangelicals may not support Trump’s shenanigans but they see him as a tool that will help them combat the ascent of gays and transexuals in today’s society, which they view as an abomination.
But if my evangelical friends are willing to listen to an admonition from one who was raised in the Congregational Church, reconsider the deal you’ve made. Machiavelli is wrong. The King James Version of the Bible, Epistle to the Galatians, 6:7
Is spot on when it warns. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. The Bible is warning us that in the end the Means determine the Ends.
What does that mean in practical terms? That by embracing a man like Trump Evangelicals sacrifice their moral suasion. They give up the power of example of a living faith that directs ALL THEIR ACTIONS. More and more of their children will question how their parents can elevate a man who makes a joke out of everything they try to teach them. Fellow Americans of good will become less and less inclined to give evangelicals a fair listen.
This might be a good moment for us all to remember the teachings of Roger Williams who warned the Puritans almost 400 years ago that they should separate church and state, not to keep religion from perverting government but to prevent political calculations from diluting the purity of their faith. Amen!
How is this possible? What does it say about white evangelicals. It certainly invites the charge that they are complete hypocrites and that their votes can be explained by things like racial prejudice not by Christian values. I believe that charge is not fair to the vast majority of evangelicals. I believe this seeming contradiction can be explained by the teachings of Niccolo Machiavelli who wrote in the Prince that the ends justify the means. Thinking evangelicals may not support Trump’s shenanigans but they see him as a tool that will help them combat the ascent of gays and transexuals in today’s society, which they view as an abomination.
But if my evangelical friends are willing to listen to an admonition from one who was raised in the Congregational Church, reconsider the deal you’ve made. Machiavelli is wrong. The King James Version of the Bible, Epistle to the Galatians, 6:7
Is spot on when it warns. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. The Bible is warning us that in the end the Means determine the Ends.
What does that mean in practical terms? That by embracing a man like Trump Evangelicals sacrifice their moral suasion. They give up the power of example of a living faith that directs ALL THEIR ACTIONS. More and more of their children will question how their parents can elevate a man who makes a joke out of everything they try to teach them. Fellow Americans of good will become less and less inclined to give evangelicals a fair listen.
This might be a good moment for us all to remember the teachings of Roger Williams who warned the Puritans almost 400 years ago that they should separate church and state, not to keep religion from perverting government but to prevent political calculations from diluting the purity of their faith. Amen!