Saturday, December 12, 2020

Is it over now? Is it really over? By God, I think it's over!

 It's the morning after the Supreme Court slapped down the Texas suit against 4 other states, seeking to overturn their elections. It was the "Hail Mary pass" of all lawsuits, and it fell harmlessly to the ground after being batted around and bobbled in the end zone for a second or two. Now it seems like a good time to take stock.

First, the system held. Democracy survived. The crazies lost. Upon this score there is much that might be said, but I'll leave it at that for now.

Second, shame on the Republican Party. Speaking as someone who for many years was of your tribe, I am saddened by your fall. Your conscience has been seared, it seems, by your lust for power. Some of you seem like you'll stop at nothing. I once thought you were a home to people with a conservative frame of mind, but it turns out you are only a home to grifters, fantasists, and gamers of the system. I have very little hope for you. But it's still a little shocking to see how easy it was for Donald Trump to steal your soul.

And third, the Christians. I am not speaking of all, or even nearly all. I am speaking here of a vocal minority. These are not simply Christians who happen to prefer Trump to Biden, but who for the past year have bought into Qanon conspiracy theories, passed along every rumor that made Biden look bad, eagerly dealt in lies, and who recently have actively supported the overriding of the election results for purely political motives. These folk are often Charismatic Christians who think it gives their politics a sheen of spiritual respectability to have leaders like Eric Metaxas, Michael Flynn, and "prophetic" nutcases like Lance Wallnau (look him up, if you dare). All this represents something like the captivity of the church. It needs to be repented of. It is sheer poison.

Read also:

Time to Step Back from the Brink

Whither Trumpism?

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