To the Editor,
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America became our first “sanctuary denomination” in order to help migrants. It’s time for Christians to stand against Trump and denounce all his works and all his ways. With some conservative Christian sects supporting Trump, one wonders if some of these churchgoers even try to follow Jesus.
Not only did Jesus ask you to take in the foreigner, but also to treat him as you would wish to be treated, and saying the wealthy can’t enter Heaven and for the wealthy man to give away everything he has. Yet Republicans are now into calling many Democrats “socialists” in order to allow the super wealthy to continue to hoover up money to their God of Mammon. The Republicans might as well yell, “Jesus lover,” since Christ is the world’s most famous socialist. Jesus attacks on the wealthy may have been the prime reason for his Crucifixion.
If Jesus was here today, gathering a large following, one wonders how many Republicans and so-called Christians would want to see him shut up. There’s also the Christian who is anti-abortion and feels that Republican laws may help their cause. If abortions are further restricted, what will the outcomes be? The wealthy and middle class will travel to get an abortion and only the poor will suffer through forced birthing. Again, with Republicans in charge, the woman and child will receive as little help as a miserly heart will allow. The reality is likely continued poverty with increased chances of addiction and criminality.
It’s taken Trump to show the raw, deep divide in America and the horror of his easy cruelty, racism, and white supremacy to set neighbor against neighbor, ruin friendships, and divide families. The evil that Trump has set loose will almost surely get worse.
Greg Rendahl
Ostrander, Minn.
Greg Rendahl says
Scott, thanks for your thoughts. I would encourage you to study Jesus life and avoid being influenced by capitalist Christians who obviously have a strong bias to try to “debunk” Jesus socialism. I am most surprised that you see Jesus death as having nothing to do with social issues. If you haven’t witnessed Trump’s many, many words and policies of “easy cruelty, racism and white supremacy” then you’re not paying much attention. I admit that I likely pay far too much attention to this evil and it feels like it is not only damaging my soul, but America’s also.
Scott Gudmundson says
As a “Conservative Christian” it’s always nice to be lectured to by someone who is certainly not conservative. It is especially helpful when the lecturer comes from a position of moral superiority and exhibits the sanctimonious, self-righteous bigotry of a leftist. It’s a motivation if not a validation for encouraging Christians to be politically active.
The whole Jesus was a socialist has long been debunked as nonsense but to suggest that the cause of Jesus’ crucifixion is heretical or ignorant depending on whether you are or are not a Christian. The Bible explains explicitly why Jesus died on that cross. (hint: it wasn’t for social issues).
Your final rant describing Trump’s “easy cruelty, racism, and white supremacy” is a characterization unsupported by fact. You cite no examples of such behavior except to exhibit your own example of being unhinged.
Finally, if you don’t like being called a socialist; don’t be one.
Cindy H. says
I agree Scott. Thanks for your reply to the letter. The Democrats want to remove God from their political party and then they think they have the right to preach to us, Conservative Christians, on what we must think and do. They don’t get.