The Evangelical Justification For American Fascism

Dear Evangelicals:

Yeah, you've seen this meme. It's usually used to encourage less-than-perfect people like you and me to do God's work. But recently, Franklin Graham, whose 2015 salary was $880,000.00  (Check the 'poor and needy' tag to see how God feels about that, uh, weakness) cited that meme in defense of Donald Trump.

In case you missed it, Graham has endorsed Trump for president. Graham waved away concerns about Trump's hateful agenda with a few examples -- David and Moses, to be specific -- from this meme.

There's just one problem: Neither David nor Moses were committing the sins of adultery and anger (Graham cited Moses' anger issues) when they were granted authority over Israel.

Of David, God famously said he was "a man after My own heart." The Bible also says that God spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to a friend.

Check the 'poor and needy' tag again. Do you really think that Donald Trump is a friend of God, or a man after God's own heart?

A Time To Mourn -- Really

Dear Evangelicals:

So, it's unbiblical, unmerciful, and un-Christian to be upbeat and happy and "positive" all the time.

Oh. You didn't know that? Well, now ya do.

Stop tryna minimize and deny people's pain. Stop saying God "meant this for good". No, God did NOT mean bad for good; He simply let rotten people make their own decisions about how to behave. And rotten people behave badly -- most of the time.

That's all there is to it. Stop distorting Scripture to make yourself look as though you're bathed in light. Light can tell the difference, and believe me, Light is not real fond of you right now.

On second thought, don't believe me. Ask Jesus Himself.

Are You Finished?

Dear Evangelicals:

There's no "perhaps" about it: Volf pulls his punches here, and he shouldn't. The vast majority of you are unrepentant talkers and lousy listeners -- the opposite of how Jesus is.

Looking For Truth

Dear Evangelicals:

You will likely be horrified at the source of this devastating quote: It's from Robert Pirsig, the author of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. Despite the source, it is true about you.

See, you don't want God to tell you the truth; you want God to tell you the untruth that keeps you lazy and comfortable, smug and entitled.

Jesus told us that the truth would make us free. He did not say that the journey to freedom would suit us like a luxury vacation.

The worst of it is that some of you are in hell already, and you'd rather stay there, because at least there are onions and garlic and melons and fish. Never mind that your Egyptian overlords beat you senseless.

Jesus also said that, "My yoke is easy, and my burden is light." He meant, compared to the burden you are carrying now.

So ... what? Better the devil you know than the God that you don't?

Carry on, then.

Transgender and Christian -- The Story of Dr. H. Adam Ackley

Dear Evangelicals:

Dr. Ackley journeyed through marriage, mental illness, and alcoholism before accepting himself as a trans man. He tells that story, and what happened next, to the congregation of All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena, California.

This video advanced tremendously my understanding of what transgender people -- including those who elect not to have sex reassignment surgeries -- are going through.

 I wonder if you will take advantage of the opportunities offered by this video -- for a closer relationship with God and a charitable understanding of transgender people.