ICYMI, here’s my appearance this morning on AM Joy on MSNBC. Joy and I discussed how Stormy Daniels’ allegations have not stopped evangelicals from supporting Donald Trump. I also explain how Evangelicals have folded the belief that Trump has been given to America by God into their theology, and how someone like Laura Ingraham, a supposedly devout Catholic, can enthusastically parrot Trump’s hateful, divisive rhetoric, even going as far as attacking the kid survivors of a mass shooting.
https://www.facebook.com/frank.schaeffer.16/videos/1223126204484150/
WHY I AM AN ATHEIST WHO BELIEVES IN GOD How to Create Beauty, Give Love and Find Peace By Frank Schaeffer
Caught between the beauty of his grandchildren and grief over a friend’s death, Frank Schaeffer finds himself simultaneously believing and not believing in God—an atheist who prays. Schaeffer wrestles with faith and disbelief, sharing his innermost thoughts with a lyricism that only great writers of literary nonfiction achieve. Schaeffer writes as an imperfect son, husband and grandfather whose love for his family, art and life trumps the ugly theologies of an angry God and the atheist vision of a cold, meaningless universe. Schaeffer writes that only when we abandon our hunt for certainty do we become free to create beauty, give love and find peace.
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The lengths that many evangelicals will go to rationalize their support for him is mind-boggling. He could kill someone on live TV and they would still support him. How they could stoop so low and follow him into this moral abyss without once questioning what they are doing……there are just no words! I used to be an evangelical myself and I still don’t get it. I guess I was one of the few who never stopped asking questions. Asking the hard questions puts you in a difficult, lonely place in their world. They treat the questioners as the crazy ones while they themselves walk blindly into a black hole.
You want to hear one of the dumbest rationalizations I’ve heard yet? I had mentioned to someone I know a few days ago about how Trump changes cabinet members like he changes his underwear and this person responds “You don’t understand! He has to do this because he is purifying the government.” Unbelievable comparing the ever-revolving door of cabinet and DOJ folks to some kind of Christian purification ritual!
Jerry Falwell’s support of Trump and his rationalizations are not surprising. It just shows that when it comes to political power, some folks will abandon whatever moral standards they claimed to believe in to get it. No wonder young folks are leaving the church in droves. The hypocrisy is nauseating.
Thanks for your important and timely commentary this Easter.
You are an oracle of truth amongst this symphony of noise and distraction.
So very true Joelyn!
Dear Frank Schaeffer:
It was a political operation from the start.
Aeons ago, James Dobson [and likely others] published ‘how to’ organizational action sheets telling members to find others at church who supported their ‘concerns’ on ‘issues.’ Someone would be delegated to canvas the pastor’s opinion on ‘issues.’ Pastors would be told that other members shared these ‘concerns.’ ‘Pastoral leadership’ would be requested on issues. ‘Oh, and other members share these concerns,’ informing the pastor that an agitation committee is in the wings if this request is refused. Soon the pastor is asked to announce that a church group on this issue. Contact so-and-so, who is leading this, for details. Soon it would be announced that a speaker was coming to address this issue. The literature table began featuring materials on the ‘issue.’ Near election time, ‘informational sheets’ publishing political records would appear – never partisan, but any ‘group’ participant would explain what it meant.
I was on council when this was tried at our church. We shut it down from the start with the explanation that members who refused to abide by council decisions would be liable to ecclesial discipline. End of discussion. If you want council to look at an issue, make your case and council will consider appointing a study committee to investigate. IF there is a study committee, COUNCIL authorizes it. Council decides who is on committee. At least one elder and deacon will be there. Council defines the committee mandate. Members can make address the committee at committee’s discretion. The committee reports back to council. Council deliberates and renders its decision. Either there will be a permanent committee on the ‘issue’ or there won’t. But even if there is, it will be run at council’s discretion.
Many churches have no such polity. They are especially susceptible to political attacks. And even members or leadership don’t recognize it as such, that is exactly what this is – an attack on the church, an attempt to contravene biblical polity, and to bring the church into conformity the demonic powers and principalities of this age.
James Dobson et. al. may be outstanding Americans; but he/they are political traitors to the kingdom of God.
Easter blessings!
Why White Evangelicals Don’t Care About Climate Change:
https://bit.ly/2q7WHuB