A Virtual Church

Resist evil

Yesterday

First Thessalonians 5:15 has a cautionary word for us today. “See that none of you repays evil for evil, always seek to do good to one another. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing.”

Faith always calls us to goodness. But history is filled with people who spend their lives sowing evil.

When we hear people like Pope Leo, Bishop Mariann Budde, and Rev. William Barbor speak softly into the loud maelstrom of today’s culture with encouraging words of peace, love, kindness and justice we can be encouraged and hopeful. Sadly, they are the exception to what we experience today.

Never in the history of America has a president been as crass, cruel and destructive as Donald Trump. He has inflicted harm on Americans with inflation, ICE killings, high prices, and polarization that edges us closer toward another civil war.

We have descended into a pit, while our democracy is trampled and our history whitewashed.

Trump’s poll numbers continue to fall. He is losing support. He is aging before our eyes. Obese, swollen, stumbling over words. One wonders if he has enough self-awareness to see how incompetent he appears, both physically and psychologically. He has become the walking, talking personification of our nightmares.

The “boos” directed at Trump inserting himself into the picture during the FIFA World Cup trophy presentation was a visual illustration of just how out of touch with reality he is.

He will not be remembered as a great leader. He will join the ranks of Hitler and Stalin.

Good men and women, remarkable leaders, are a gift to the world. Trump is a scourge.

We must acknowledge that Trump has an evil charisma that attracts those who may feel left disenfranchised from the American dream.Trump amassed a following of malcontents and misfits whose grievances overtook any sense of dignity and morality. They followed a paper tiger into the abyss.

Discontent is not the solid foundation of a good and happy life. Malcontents swirl round and around, spinning in their own small circles. Such a waste of human potential. Such a waste of life.

But fools are born every day. The mirage of Trump is evaporating before their eyes. His MAGA supporters, who have pinned their hopes on him, see his allure disappearing.

To have come from money, to have billions of dollars with which he could have done good, is selfish and sad. The absence of a moral center renders him impotent. Trump is a pathetic character on the world stage and his way must be rejected if we are to survive.

When the Apostle Paul talks about the fruit of the Spirit, he names - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control. Trump would be a better person if he had even half of those attributes.

Nobody in the country or the world has respect for him. The debate is turning to whether our democracy will survive when the end of this madness finally comes.

That will depend on the resolve of the American people. “United we stand; divided we fall” Which will America choose? Is this grand experiment that is America finished? Or will America grow strong out of her broken places?

At this point, nobody with authority has the courage to call forth the the 25^th Amendment. Gutless leaders stand by and watch Rome burn. There is little way, other than this constitutional provision, to get him out of office.

We wait and watch as Trump disintegrates before our very eyes, and America suffers. Lord, have mercy on fools and sinners. Give us strength in the fire to bring us through to the other side.

Lib Campbell is a retired Methodist pastor, retreat leader, columnist, and host of the blogsite Avirtualchurch.com. She can be contacted at libcam05@gmail.com. 

 

 

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