There are a number of political races taking place around the country that pit a MAGA adherent against a member of the clergy. These clergy people are from Mainline Churches – United Methodist, American Baptist, and the like; the MAGA candidates are hand-picked and supported by what used to be the conservative branch of the Republican Party. This is an interesting development, I think, but the most interesting part of it to me is this – these Mainline Christians, who believe a lot of the things I do about our faith, are being called “apostates” and “heretics” by the MAGA side of America. They are not Christians, we are being told, because they don’t believe in eternal damnation for anyone who isn’t a conservative Christian/Fundamentalist/Evangelical. They are not Christians because they believe in the equality of women and equal rights for LGBTQ people. They are not Christians because, while they might not like abortion, they believe that women should control what happens to their bodies.
Meanwhile, MAGA politicians – who are not real Republicans, (I have tremendous respect for real Republicans and share many values with them) is trying to take women’s voting rights away. They are trying to repeal the right for competent adults to marry who they love. They are already slashing women’s bodily autonomy. They are trying to repeal voting rights. They also come from states that have, largely, worked to take away free food programs from children while often having the worst public education systems in the country. Real Republicans and Democrats (and Independents) believe in the rights of all people, including the freedom to practice one’s religion of choice. Real Americans believe in equality. Real Christians do not want a theocracy – they want the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Real Christians don’t limit opportunities because people don’t agree with them. Real Christians want people to have a real, vibrant relationship with God, and we see that God realized in the person of Jesus. Jesus didn’t cut off food from people – He fed them by the thousands! Jesus didn’t ravage medical care systems – He healed anyone who came to Him! Jesus didn’t treat women as inferior – He related to them in ways few people of His time would! And Jesus didn’t hate non-heterosexual people – He loved them because they are created in the image of God, just like me. If you meet someone who says that Jesus hates people, or would limit their rights, or would mistreat them because they are not born in this country, I would bet that he or she hasn’t actually read the words of Jesus. If they did, they might think and live differently. But that’s up to them, isn’t it? And it’s up to the rest of us to stand up and be counted as people who support love rather than hate. That’s what Real Christians – Real People – would do.
Prayer – Help us, God, to be more faithful every day, growing into Your expectations, not our own hatred. Amen.
Today’s art is “Dreamcoat” by Helen Kaminsky.