Policies defy Christian teaching

In an article in the Atlantic Peter Wehner writes, "It is no longer an interesting question as to why Trump is an almost perfect inversion of the moral teaching of Jesus...What is an interesting question is why those who claim that the greatest desire of their life is to follow Jesus revere such a man and seem willing to follow him, instead, to the ends of the earth."

As a Christian whose most cherished beliefs about what makes Christians different have been shattered to the core, I cannot fathom this mysterious loyalty to a man who has written in one of his own books that his greatest joy is ruining another man's life. My earnest Bible-believing friends like to say they didn't vote for the man, they voted for his policies (as if character isn't important in the man they choose to be the president of the United States). But his primary policies now include getting personal vengeance on those who dare to oppose him, shamelessly enriching himself and his family at the expense of the American taxpayers, treating peaceful, hardworking immigrants as if they are sub-human, leaving American farmers in the lurch by eliminating open markets and deporting field workers.

I fear that, just like the Pharisees, if Jesus suddenly appeared and walked among us once more, American evangelicals would not recognize him. And some, like Stephen Miller and Russell Vought, might even be calling for his execution because of his radical ideas.

Perhaps we all need to reread the Merchant of Venice in order to be reminded that "The quality of mercy is not strained ... It blesses him that gives AND him that takes, it's mightiest in the mightiest...It is an attribute to God himself, and Earthly power doth then show itself liketh God's when mercy seasons justice."

Mary Wolf

West Chicago