There is little doubt what Trump was doing with his post--giving his mob a fresh target on which to focus their rage and violent threats. I don't have to read the news to know that the bishop is already receiving such threats, and her life is about to become hell for the sake of the gospel.
The deeper truth this all reveals is the moral bankruptcy of MAGA Christians (I use "Christians" here for want of a better term.) The bishop's urgings on behalf of those who are living in fear, and her call to honor the worth and dignity of all persons should seem uncontroversial to any Jesus follower. That MAGA instead treats them as blasphemy tells you pretty much all you need to know about who and what they worship. Hint: It ain't Jesus.
Please, please, let there be no more acceptance of their claim that they are Jesus followers. What has happened to a voting majority of Americans is what Isaiah said had happened to Jerusalem and Judah: the whole head is sick, and the whole body is full of bruises. Now more than ever, the prophetic voice needs to call out the evil that perverts and ruins this society.
Thanks David. There may have been a reversal on my screen so that your references to left and right are not matching the words. I think the contrast is clear and hopefully your readers will know which is which.
Two things are striking to me. In the moment, Bishop Budde is gentle and kind, but firm direct. She doesn't insult, and she doesn't flinch. She appeals to their basic humanity and dignity.
Then in his response, I see a man who so desperately wants to project an image of masculinity, toughness, aggression, and power just wilting and crumbling, hiding behind a computer screen and lashing out, stirring up his followers to do the dirty work of attacking her. And I thought oh, how weak can you be?
God bless Bishop Budde. May there be more like her.
And here I thought the women's march the day after President #45 was inaugurated was powerful!
I had wondered if President #47 would likewise be confronted with such protest. The good news is he was and this time not via his TV but face to face, a Jesus to Pilate exchange where the latter could make no sense of what the other was saying, but somewhere aware that the other's message and influence would outlast his.
Bishop Budde met the historical moment with a softly worded plea straight from the lips of Jesus. Based on the response from MAGA christofascists, if we fail to collectively meet the historical moment I fear what comes next.
Is there anybody out there placing our timeline down against that of the German church of the 1930s? We should know this story.
David: A Future Christianity will be all about the fact that God is Love, Love takes no Offense, therefore, God has taken no offense. The whole blood sacrifice thing that Abraham brought from his country, Ur of the Chaldies, will be seen for what it is: superstition and never what God wanted, not even for Jesus to die as he did. No sins were forgiven because no offense was taken. Yes, mistakes are made, but they can teach us things. Jesus told us about death no being real, but nobody believed it. He re-appeared to show them that he survived 100% after leaving his earth-suit. As eternal spirits, we existed before we came here and we will conitinue on our great adventure after we leave here. A Future Christianity will be all about love, our innocence, our missing the mark, learning to distinguish between our true selves and our egos, our false selves, developed over millions of years to deal with survival. The deep revelations Jesus brought will be studied closely. For example: giving does not lead to having less, it leads to having more.
Another example: If I hurt someone else, I have just hurt myself…….if the hand drops a rock on the foot, the whole body hurts. There will be this theme: “No more me without you!” Jesus was an example, not the exception. We each have the same Holy Spirit, doing what He/She does.
David: Soon we will all wise-up and realize that 45 can only be 45. He has embraced his ego to totally that he actually believes it is who and what he is. I suspect he will not be able to let go of his ego until his last breath. Then, his spirit will leave his earth suite and his ego and he can finally be who he really is. It might take him a while to get comfortable being happy, not feeling like a victim, no longer afraid, being kind and gentle. I suspect he may have to reincarnate and try this trip all over again. I really think he will do better next time. How could he not do better? I think next time he comes to earth he may be a woman, and even better, a woman of color, perhaps with a speech impediment and a birth mark on her face. I do not wish this, but the Universe has been taking notes for a long time, and soon the debt he owes the Universe will be paid. Mercy!
There is little doubt what Trump was doing with his post--giving his mob a fresh target on which to focus their rage and violent threats. I don't have to read the news to know that the bishop is already receiving such threats, and her life is about to become hell for the sake of the gospel.
The deeper truth this all reveals is the moral bankruptcy of MAGA Christians (I use "Christians" here for want of a better term.) The bishop's urgings on behalf of those who are living in fear, and her call to honor the worth and dignity of all persons should seem uncontroversial to any Jesus follower. That MAGA instead treats them as blasphemy tells you pretty much all you need to know about who and what they worship. Hint: It ain't Jesus.
Please, please, let there be no more acceptance of their claim that they are Jesus followers. What has happened to a voting majority of Americans is what Isaiah said had happened to Jerusalem and Judah: the whole head is sick, and the whole body is full of bruises. Now more than ever, the prophetic voice needs to call out the evil that perverts and ruins this society.
Thanks David. There may have been a reversal on my screen so that your references to left and right are not matching the words. I think the contrast is clear and hopefully your readers will know which is which.
I believe I fixed it. And thank you.
Two things are striking to me. In the moment, Bishop Budde is gentle and kind, but firm direct. She doesn't insult, and she doesn't flinch. She appeals to their basic humanity and dignity.
Then in his response, I see a man who so desperately wants to project an image of masculinity, toughness, aggression, and power just wilting and crumbling, hiding behind a computer screen and lashing out, stirring up his followers to do the dirty work of attacking her. And I thought oh, how weak can you be?
God bless Bishop Budde. May there be more like her.
And here I thought the women's march the day after President #45 was inaugurated was powerful!
I had wondered if President #47 would likewise be confronted with such protest. The good news is he was and this time not via his TV but face to face, a Jesus to Pilate exchange where the latter could make no sense of what the other was saying, but somewhere aware that the other's message and influence would outlast his.
Bishop Budde met the historical moment with a softly worded plea straight from the lips of Jesus. Based on the response from MAGA christofascists, if we fail to collectively meet the historical moment I fear what comes next.
Is there anybody out there placing our timeline down against that of the German church of the 1930s? We should know this story.
David: A Future Christianity will be all about the fact that God is Love, Love takes no Offense, therefore, God has taken no offense. The whole blood sacrifice thing that Abraham brought from his country, Ur of the Chaldies, will be seen for what it is: superstition and never what God wanted, not even for Jesus to die as he did. No sins were forgiven because no offense was taken. Yes, mistakes are made, but they can teach us things. Jesus told us about death no being real, but nobody believed it. He re-appeared to show them that he survived 100% after leaving his earth-suit. As eternal spirits, we existed before we came here and we will conitinue on our great adventure after we leave here. A Future Christianity will be all about love, our innocence, our missing the mark, learning to distinguish between our true selves and our egos, our false selves, developed over millions of years to deal with survival. The deep revelations Jesus brought will be studied closely. For example: giving does not lead to having less, it leads to having more.
Another example: If I hurt someone else, I have just hurt myself…….if the hand drops a rock on the foot, the whole body hurts. There will be this theme: “No more me without you!” Jesus was an example, not the exception. We each have the same Holy Spirit, doing what He/She does.
Lenny, did you see where I asked you if I might ask you a question?
David: Soon we will all wise-up and realize that 45 can only be 45. He has embraced his ego to totally that he actually believes it is who and what he is. I suspect he will not be able to let go of his ego until his last breath. Then, his spirit will leave his earth suite and his ego and he can finally be who he really is. It might take him a while to get comfortable being happy, not feeling like a victim, no longer afraid, being kind and gentle. I suspect he may have to reincarnate and try this trip all over again. I really think he will do better next time. How could he not do better? I think next time he comes to earth he may be a woman, and even better, a woman of color, perhaps with a speech impediment and a birth mark on her face. I do not wish this, but the Universe has been taking notes for a long time, and soon the debt he owes the Universe will be paid. Mercy!
Lenny, may I ask you a question?
The Right Reverend surely demonstrates what it means to be brave. May the Lord bless her and keep her.
It is so sad that “bad behavior” has been normalized