Jesus's call is the best (not the only, but I believe it is the best) way forward. I truly to believe that it is possible to accurately name a threat to democracy and yet refuse to take actions to end that threat which are themselves undemocratic. It is possible to recognize an enemy as an enemy (note that Jesus doesn't say "your enemy is actually your neighbor, and therefore lovable"; no, He acknowledged that one's enemy may well in fact be exactly that), and yet refuse to do what world history tells us must obviously be done to enemies.
Not Jesus, but one of his followers -- "I can no longer condemn or hate a brother for whom I pray, no matter how much trouble he causes me. His face, that hitherto may have been strange and intolerable to me, is transformed into the countenance of a brother for whom Christ died, the face of a forgiven sinner." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Will I commit to praying for President Biden, former President Trump and anyone else? Pretty hard to hate those for whom we pray.
I’m still a bit stunned. We also suspect (but don’t know) what happens next. If Republicans had an ounce of compassion, they would tone down the vindictive rhetoric this week. I would bet $0 this happens, because that’s not MAGA 😢. The Democrats are in limbo, at least until the GOP convention ends. They’ll have to pivot slightly from the apocalyptic messaging (unless they merely repeat what the Trumpists say) and talk about the future with calls for unity.
I remain convinced Biden isn’t fit to serve another term. The incentives will be to lock him in the basement for understandable reasons. Maybe he gives more unscripted interviews. But the chances he’s replaced depend entirely on his performances in the scant public exposure he’ll have over the next three weeks. Unless, miraculously, his family doesn’t want to expose him to the risks of running.
Jesus's call is the best (not the only, but I believe it is the best) way forward. I truly to believe that it is possible to accurately name a threat to democracy and yet refuse to take actions to end that threat which are themselves undemocratic. It is possible to recognize an enemy as an enemy (note that Jesus doesn't say "your enemy is actually your neighbor, and therefore lovable"; no, He acknowledged that one's enemy may well in fact be exactly that), and yet refuse to do what world history tells us must obviously be done to enemies.
Not Jesus, but one of his followers -- "I can no longer condemn or hate a brother for whom I pray, no matter how much trouble he causes me. His face, that hitherto may have been strange and intolerable to me, is transformed into the countenance of a brother for whom Christ died, the face of a forgiven sinner." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Will I commit to praying for President Biden, former President Trump and anyone else? Pretty hard to hate those for whom we pray.
I’m still a bit stunned. We also suspect (but don’t know) what happens next. If Republicans had an ounce of compassion, they would tone down the vindictive rhetoric this week. I would bet $0 this happens, because that’s not MAGA 😢. The Democrats are in limbo, at least until the GOP convention ends. They’ll have to pivot slightly from the apocalyptic messaging (unless they merely repeat what the Trumpists say) and talk about the future with calls for unity.
I remain convinced Biden isn’t fit to serve another term. The incentives will be to lock him in the basement for understandable reasons. Maybe he gives more unscripted interviews. But the chances he’s replaced depend entirely on his performances in the scant public exposure he’ll have over the next three weeks. Unless, miraculously, his family doesn’t want to expose him to the risks of running.