Conservative Christians have shown the world that they will willingly
believe and repeat lies, all for the sake of worldly gain. That any Christian –
much less a Christian leader – could believe the outrageous conspiracy theories
put forth by the president tells the world that Christians are incapable of distinguishing
truth from falsehood.
What does that tell people about the reliability of the
gospel? If Christians cannot discern truth from falsehood when it comes to easily
disprovable claims of election fraud, how can anyone believe anything they say
about theological claims, which are impossible to verify?
It tells the world that Christians are either liars or rubes
or both. They can be easily duped by the most outrageous lies, even to the point
of betraying their country. If Christians are so obviously deceived when it
comes to Donald Trump, how can they be believed when it comes to Jesus Christ?
If Christian leaders cannot be trusted in worldly matters, how can they be
trusted in spiritual matters?
The sad truth is that these partisan Christians cannot be
trusted. There was a time when clergy were the most respected and educated
persons in a community. People came to them for knowledge, wisdom and advice. Now
clergy are often poorly educated and wallow at the bottom of every national poll
on honesty and trust.
The inability of conservative Christians to recognize truth is
obvious in their skepticism toward public education and science. Their rejection
of the coronavirus as a hoax is nothing compared to their rejection of geology,
paleontology, evolutionary biology, climate science, historical science, and
just about every other science.
Too many Christians interpret biblical stories literally for
no other reason than because a preacher told them to. Against all scientific evidence
they believe in a six-day creation, a 6000-year-old earth, a 969-year-old man, Noah’s
Flood, as well as talking serpents and asses (the equine as well as the
political kind). This confirms that Christians have no common sense and are
easily duped by authority figures.
It is no surprise that such people have been so easily taken
in by a con man like The Donald. Anyone who believes that Noah’s Ark is waiting
to be discovered on Mount Ararat in Turkey has no trouble believing that 11,780
additional votes for President Trump are waiting to be discovered in Georgia.
Those who think evolution is a hoax have no trouble believing that Biden’s
election victory is a hoax.
A gospel coming from the mouth of such gullible people will
not be believed by anyone but the equally gullible. To sensible people the “good
news” of the gospel will be dismissed as more “fake news.” The Bible says the
gospel is by nature offensive, even when it is presented by credible witnesses.
When it comes from Christians unable to discern truth from falsehood, it will
not be granted a hearing.
That is what is so sad about the current situation in our
country. Not only has our democracy been undermined, but the church’s
reputation has been compromised. A whole generation will be immune to gospel
preaching because of the unfaithfulness of Christian Trumpists. People come to
church seeking spiritual truth, and they are fed nonsense and lies. No wonder people
are leaving churches in droves! I mourn for the country. I mourn even more for
the Church.
