In the course of my lifetime on this planet as a citizen of the United States, I have witnessed a dangerous trend in both the political and religious life of that nation. Over the last twenty years, I have delivered a number of messages both orally and in writing warning about the deleterious impact which this was having on both. Indeed, our current circumstances have underscored the validity of those concerns. We now live in a culture which does not respect the separation of Church and State and has made political ideology the measure of one's Christianity!
We witness this phenomenon in the declaration of some of our leaders in both realms that support for diversity, equity, and inclusion reveals that you are NOT a Christian! We see this in the declarations of these same leaders that support for abortion rights, gay rights, transgender rights, and/or the notion of welcoming economic and political refugees from Central and South America marks you as a NON-Christian! In this mindset, all TRUE Christians reject Socialism and embrace Capitalism. Indeed, in recent years, we've even heard some folks say that a True Christian would NEVER vote for a Democrat!
For me, the seriousness of the threat posed by this phenomenon was underscored by an article which originally appeared at The Christian Post. The article was titled Tucker Carlson says Episcopal Church is "not Christian at all" after Mariann Budde sermon: Pagan (by Ian Giatti). The author draws our attention to media commentator Tucker Carlson's reaction to the Inaugural homily delivered at the Washington National Cathedral on the occasion of Donald Trump's inauguration for a second term. Carlson said of the Episcopal Church: "This is not a Christian organization at all. This is a very angry, hateful organization run by dreadfully unhappy middle-aged lesbians, which is exactly what it is. So only by showing that in public can it ever be forced to reform." He continued: "I actually thought it was a hopeful thing that the rest of America, not just we Episcopalians, could see what it's actually like, which is repulsive and totally non-Christian. It's pagan."
What did the Episcopal pastor say that Tucker found to be so offensive and anti-Christian? Was she unkind, impatient, unforgiving, nasty, sacrilegious, angry, lacking in compassion or mercy? What exactly did she say to the new president that got Tucker so fired up and willing to make such disparaging remarks about his own faith? Reverend Budde talked about unity in the United States and identified three Chrisitan principles that would be essential to building a unified country (honoring the inherent dignity of every person, being honest, and exhibiting humility). Now, all of that cranked Tucker's tractor the wrong way, but what really pissed him off was when she appealed to Trump's mercy and compassion for the outcasts of our society!
In a Transcript of Bishop Budde's Sermon, we read the passage which so offended Trump and Tucker. She said:
Let me make one final plea, Mr. President. Millions have put their trust in you and, as you told the nation yesterday, you have felt the providential hand of a loving God. In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now. There are gay, lesbian, and transgender children in Democratic, Republican and Independent families, some who fear for their lives. And the people, the people who pick our crops and clean our office buildings, who labor in poultry farms and meat packing plants, who wash the dishes after we eat in restaurants and work the night shifts in hospitals. They, they may not be citizens or have the proper documentation, but the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals. They pay taxes and are good neighbors. They are faithful members of our churches and mosques, synagogues, wadara and temples. I ask you to have mercy, Mr. President, on those in our communities whose children fear that their parents will be taken away and that you help those who are fleeing war zones and persecution in their own lands, to find compassion and welcome here. Our God teaches us that we are to be merciful to the stranger for we were all once strangers in this land. May God grant us the strength and courage to honor the dignity of every human being, to speak the truth to one another in love and walk humbly with each other and our God for the good of all people. The good of all people in this nation and the world.
With all due respect to Mr. Carlson, that sounds an awfully lot like something Jesus Christ would have said to me. In the Gospel of Matthew, we read that Jesus said: "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light." Likewise, in his own Sermon on the Mount, we read that he said: "God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy." Two questions for Mr. Tucker come to mind: Are the bishop's remarks really anti-Christian and pagan? OR Do they interfere with your political agenda to garner support for Trump and his policies? And, respectfully, once again, there is a distinction/difference between the spiritual and the political!
