Thursday, 3 March 2016

Sometimes I wonder whether some Christians and I are praying to the same God or are adhering to the same Christian ethos. The latest news to make me wonder about Christian polarisation is an article in the Christian Post about how Christians ought to vote for Donald Trump in the American Presidential elections. Really? Christians who don't vote for the Trumpster are "foolish and prideful", says Pastor Robert Jeffress of the First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas. I am not American and, therefore, am not eligible to vote in the American elections. However, this does not stop anyone around the world from having an opinion.

Pastor Jeffress on the left. Donald Trump on the right

I have an opinion and it is this. What is wrong with that faction of Christianity which chooses a right wing interpretation of the ethos of Christianity? The mad Trumpster has made fun of a journalist with a disability (that is enough for me NOT to vote for him), raised the race stakes with incendiary talk about Muslims and Mexicans (a racist Christian?) and made rude comments about a women 'bleeding' (Jesus healed a woman who was bleeding, not made fun of her). Can somebody point out the Christian bits among that spew of malice? The Christian right skew facts and muddle opinions. They twist and turn things around to present propaganda dressed up as Christian teaching. Where is the sense in this quote by Pastor Jeffress?

980, voters had a choice between two candidates. One was a truly born-again Christian who taught Sunday school in his Baptist Church and was faithfully married to one woman. His name was Jimmy Carter.

"The other choice was a twice-married, Hollywood actor who as Governor of California signed the most liberal abortion bill in California history and whose wife followed astrology and used it to influence him. His name was Ronald Reagan," he said.

"Evangelicals overwhelmingly voted for Ronald Reagan, not because he was the most religious candidate but he possessed the quality evangelicals felt like was most important and that is leadership," added Jeffress.

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/robert-jeffress-christians-not-voting-donald-trump-foolish-prideful-158881/#RTAFMMwwRvYkUubF.99

"Secondly, I would remind people, that in 1980, voters had a choice between two candidates. One was a truly born-again Christian who taught Sunday school in his Baptist Church and was faithfully married to one woman. His name was Jimmy Carter. The other choice was a twice-married, Hollywood actor who as Governor of California signed the most liberal abortion bill in California history and whose wife followed astrology and used it to influence him. His name was Ronald Reagan...Evangelicals overwhelmingly voted for Ronald Reagan, not because he was the most religious candidate but he possessed the quality evangelicals felt like was most important and that is leadership." Christians ought to think twice before voting for Donald Trump.