This is a puzzling response to the Christianity Today editorial against Trump. It focusses entirely on the supposed motives of the CT authorl, and not at all on Christian teaching.
Christianity Today and the problem with 'Christian Elitism' christianpost.com/news/christian…
Christianity Today and the problem with 'Christian Elitism' christianpost.com/news/christian…
2/ We hear a lot about the author's "obvious elitist disdain and corrosive condescension for fellow Christians with whom he disagrees, as ignorant, uneducated, “aliens in our midst”", based on one baffled-sounding quote.
3/ Back when I was Christian, I thought a lot about Matthew 7: "[1] Judge not, that ye be not judged. [2] For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again."
4/ People are complicated. It's hard for them to know their own motives, and harder still for us to know them. Moreover, we don't know what headwinds they might be struggling against. How could anyone have any confidence that they had correctly judged another's heart?
5/ And why would you judge harshly, since "with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged, and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again"?
Is anyone so confident of their own righteousness that they would risk calling down unforgiving judgment on themselves?
Is anyone so confident of their own righteousness that they would risk calling down unforgiving judgment on themselves?
6/ I never was. I always knew: I might survive judgment by a generous forgiving God who was willing to overlook, or better still redeem, my flaws, but the idea of uncharitable (though fair) judgment was always terrifying.
7/ So even without EXPLICIT INSTRUCTIONS FROM CHRIST, I would have been inclined to withhold harsh judgement, and recall the many, many ways in which that judgment could be wrong.
Besides, it's none of my business. Other people's souls, I thought, were between them and God.
Besides, it's none of my business. Other people's souls, I thought, were between them and God.
8/ Seriously, why do the editors of the Christian Post feel called upon to answer questions like: "What was the spirit animating CT editor Galli’s “thunderbolt” from on high?" Isn't that best left to God?
9/ Wouldn't they be better off, and better servants of their readers, if they asked questions like: does the CT editorial make any good points about the relationship between supporting Trump and practicing Christianity? What does Christian witness require now?
10/ Any wisdom they might have to offer on that score would actually meet the needs of their readers. Speculation into other people's motives does not.
(Note: this line of thought also works for politicians. 😏)
(Note: this line of thought also works for politicians. 😏)
