But there is also the undeniable hypocrisy of people who once made moral character, and especially sexual fidelity, central to their political calculus and who are now embracing a man of boundless corruptions. Don't forget: Trump was essentially named an unindicted co-conspirator (Individual 1) in a scheme to make hush-money payments to a porn star who alleged she'd had an affair with him while he was married to his third wife, who had just given birth to their son."
Look, don’t think too much about it. It's just another hand-wringing
article from a so-called “Christian” (an elder at a Presbyterian Church, no
less) and a longtime Republican and member of three previous Republican
administrations. What would he know about Christianity and conservative values,
right?
I don’t expect anyone to change their minds over this kind of
thing. I’ve long ago given up hope that anyone is actually listening. So consider
this as yet another entry into the archive of Andy Whitman’s personal records;
nothing more and nothing less. It won’t make any difference. But I catalogue
these things because they remind me that it wasn’t always this way. I stash
this away as part of the ongoing historical record, back when “history” still
had meaning and people thought it could teach us a thing or two.
Since this article was written there’s been yet another
mind-blowing revelation about perversity in high places – no, let’s call it what
it is; sex trafficking of underage young women and children – in which two Presidents
of the United States, one former and one current, may very well be implicated.
Here’s what the current one said about the sex trafficker in 2005:
“I’ve known Jeff for fifteen years. Terrific guy. He’s
a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much
as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. No doubt about it — Jeffrey
enjoys his social life.”
But don’t sweat it. It doesn’t really matter, does it? Who among
us has not sinned? We don’t elect pastors for President, right? As it turns
out, we just elect sexual predators. Two out of the last four.
By the way, many people have pointed out that a former President
is also in the crosshairs of this latest revelation. His name is Bill Clinton. Just
as a social experiment, I would like to suggest the old-fashioned Christian way
of viewing this situation. Bear with me, because here it is:
Rape is wrong. Criminal, even. You can go to jail for rape, and
the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. And if you do wrong, you
should be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s
servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.
This is how Christians used to view rape. I’m quoting the Bible here
because at one time Christians attempted to follow its teachings. And these teachings
cut across political affiliations, which meant that they would apply to Bill
Clinton AND Donald Trump. Can you imagine such thinking today? But it was true.
“In speaking about the widespread,
reflexive evangelical support for the president, Coppock—who is theologically
orthodox and generally sympathetic to conservatism—lamented the effect this
moral freak show is having, especially on the younger generation. With unusual
passion, he told me, “We’re losing an entire generation. They’re just gone.
It’s one of the worst things to happen to the Church.””
Gone, and they’re not coming back. This is the long-term legacy of
the moral freak show. It doesn’t matter. Never mind me. I’m just reminiscing; casting
a nostalgic look back at the Christian Church when it used to make at least a
half-hearted attempt to follow Christ.
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/07/evangelical-christians-face-deepening-crisis/593353/
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