Jesus or Trump

   Some people comb through the bible attempting to find support for their opposition to homosexuality and abortion.  They search for hidden meanings, insist that they know the mind of Jesus, they don't.

   Jesus was very clear as to what he believed to be important, there was no beating around the bush.

   What did he think about those who would use other people's faith for their own gain?  Just look at what he did to the money changers in the temple. (Matthew 21:12-13)

   What did he think of those who made a big deal of their faith so as to look good, he saw thorough the hypocrisy and condemned it. (Matthew 6:1-4)

   He rebuked those who would keep little children from him, should those who claim to follow him do less (Matthew 19:14)

  When it comes to people we fear, see as a dangerous other, look to the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37).  Jews at the time saw the Samaritans as dangerous, the other, Jesus saw them as good neighbors often better people than the pillars of the community.

  What did Jesus say was our duty to the stranger among us, the sick, the hungry, the thirsty?  You know the answer but if you have forgotten look again at Matthew 25:35-45.

 "I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me."

  These teachings of Jesus seem to be the antithesis of the preaching of Trump with which many among us are enthralled.  What are we to think?  Is Trump the Antichrist?  I think not for he is a weak little man.  He may have charisma but so did Hitler and Mussolini.  In all honesty I can't see the attraction of any of these men.

  Is Trump a great prophet.  No, that would be giving him credit for wisdom he does not have.

  What Trump is is a great con artist.  He speaks against the teachings of Jesus while convincing his followers otherwise.

  In truth, one cannot follow Trump while being a follower of Jesus, one must choose.

    

Thoughts on the New Court

I have been thinking about what it would mean to have an entrenched ultraconservative majority on the Supreme Court.

I know that many of my fellow citizens are pleased with the idea that women’s reproductive rights might be abridged, many are joyful at the thought that the right to love and marry whoever one pleases will be revoked.  A supreme court that will allow the government to slam our doors in the faces of those subject to violence and oppression will be met by rejoicing by many, the right to breath clean air and drink unpolluted water so that those “persons” known as corporations can make more money will simply be ignored by those with the resources to live in a place where these things are not an issue.

Then I think are any of our rights safe from a court that is willing to take away the rights of some and I am reminded of the words of Martin Niemöller

“When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.

When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.

When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.

When they came for the Jews,
I remained silent;
I wasn't a Jew.

When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out.”