hypocrisy

Contending for the Faith in the Wake of Trump

Tom Ratkovich, , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

“I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.” Jude 3(b)-4, NIV

It will shock no follower of my blog to hear that the “certain individual” in mind here is Donald Trump. Spouting lies and fomenting fear, he has strategically “slipped in” among gullible Christians to maneuver his way into the White House and renew his “license for immorality.” And while I do not know his heart, his ungodly behavior seemingly denies his professed faith in Jesus Christ  – dividing the church and leading many to belief and behavior in direct contradiction to the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

But it will indeed surprise some to hear that I do not hate Trump. I have only Christian love for him. I pray frequently that he will open his heart to God and follow His great commandment to love others. For reasons of which only He is aware, it seems God has yet to answer in the affirmative.

And while I do not hate Trump, I do hate many of his behaviors. In Proverbs 8:13, God instructs us:

“To fear the Lord is to hate evil;
I hate pride and arrogance,
evil behavior and perverse speech.”

In case you’re not paying attention, Donald Trump is proud, arrogant, full of hate and vicious speech. He has many other well-documented sins as well, all of which he remains proudly unrepentant.

But I am not writing to convince POTUS to confess his transgressions and seek forgiveness. As previously noted, that is something for which I lovingly pray. Nor am I motivated by the applause of those who already despise Trump’s behavior.

Rather, I write, as Jude shares in verse 23, to “save others by snatching them from the fire.” I pen these words because, like Jude, I am “compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.”

Thus, instead of castigating his enablers despite the damage their hypocrisy brings upon the church, I petition – beseeching them to turn from their implicit endorsement of Trump’s antics that are in direct conflict with the word, will and example set forth by Christ Jesus.

My rationale for such an appeal to the Christian brethren who enable Trump is twofold. First and foremost, such encouragement coming from the church is blatant hypocrisy. One cannot credibly attest to Gospel faith while undermining everything that faith advocates – such as humility, mercy, kindness, repentance and, above all, love. Such hypocrisy sabotages evangelical outreach. How can we bring people to Christ when segments of the church are facilitating immorality and disobedience?

Secondly, such fawning at the feet of POTUS only endorses and enables his ungodly behavior – lighting the fuse of his narcissism. Rather than encouraging Trump to love and repent, the apologists douse him in kerosene on the road to the eternal fire. They do him no favors. As Christians, our mandate is to turn people TO God, not away from Him.

Christian brethren, I, like Jude, beseech you to contend for the faith. Do not be led by the ungodly, nor share in their immoral pursuits, subjecting yourself to similar judgment. Instead, lead the faithless to faith by an example of humility, patience, generosity and love. That, after all, is the example that our Lord Jesus set before each one of us.

What Do YOUR “Itching Ears” Want to Hear?

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“For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” (2 Timothy 4:3-4, NIV)

I have a particular fondness for the New King James Version (NKJV) of the Bible. But I think these words from the Apostle Paul to his protégé Timothy are best consumed in the blunt vernacular of the New International Version (NIV).

The message is a warning – a warning about a spiritual pattern Paul declares will happen among people, particularly those within religious communities. This is yet another of his prophetic proclamations that has blatantly manifested in sects of the Christian church today.

The aggrieving party: Those factions of the church that stubbornly remain apologists for a POTUS that behaves in a manner contrary to the commands and living testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ – empowering, endorsing and encouraging disobedience that is scripturally and morally evil.

Consider what Paul means by “sound doctrine.” His epistles teach us that sound doctrine is rooted in the Gospel of Grace. It is not merely abstract theology but instruction that produces godliness and self-control. For Paul, true doctrine aligns with Scripture and manifests in a lifestyle that reflects Christ’s character. Love. Peace. Mercy. Kindness. Gentleness. Generosity. Humility. Truth.

Paul cautions that the transgressors will no longer pursue the righteousness of sound doctrine, but instead seek leaders who tell them what they want to hear – that they are not the aggrievers but the aggrieved. Those leaders are quite willing to manipulate the vulnerable for personal gain.

“In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories.” (2 Peter 2:3)

That time has arrived.

Rather than illuminate God’s truth, these leaders – one POTUS and his self-serving sycophants, in particular – fan the flames of bigotries, misogynies and misplaced fears, leading the susceptible to “turn aside to myths.”

What myths? That minorities are stealing their jobs. The wealthy are overtaxed. The poor are lazy. The sojourner is a criminal. Elections are being stolen. Climate change is a hoax. Welfare is theft. Mercy is weakness. Retribution is honorable. Hate is justifiable. Love is overrated.

I plead with my brothers and sisters in Christ: Do not reject sound teaching. Do not turn from the truth of the Gospel even when it is uncomfortable. Do not be manipulated. Turn instead from the worthless shepherds that traffic in self-serving lies and venom. Stay rooted in Scripture. Love your neighbor. Follow the teaching and example of our Lord Jesus.

Related: TRUMP

Withstanding Trump: Trust in God

Tom Ratkovich, , , , , , , , , 1 Comment

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding.”

I have Proverbs 3:5 bookmarked in my NKJV Bible. I need constant reminding that my ways are not His ways (Isaiah 55:8) – and not my will, but His, be done (Luke 22:42).

Candidly, I do not understand why God made Donald Trump the single most powerful person in the world. Nor do I understand why He has blinded so many to the evil POTUS perpetrates against anyone that does not bend the knee.

Evil perpetrated not just against his political foes. Evil not just against the poor, the sick, the frail and the sojourner. Evil not just against black or brown. Evil not just against the people of this country over which he proclaims himself king.

No, this country is not big enough for the narcissist that is Donald Trump. He must unleash devastation on the entire world order. He does so SOLELY for two reasons: (1) to satisfy his prodigious ego, and (2) to enrich himself, his family and his accomplices. And it absolutely astounds me that so many are either blind to this evil or, worse, tolerate it out of self-interest.

Of course, scripture reminds me that God has put Trump in office to accomplish His purposes – not mine. The fact that I do not understand what those purposes are is quite discomforting – as is the fact that POTUS’ distressing disdain for God’s word is emboldened by many white evangelicals.

But I will trust God. I can share my lament with Him as does the future King David in Psalm 13:1-2, knowing that my confusion and fear are not hidden from Him:

How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever?
How long will You hide Your face from me?
How long shall I take counsel in my soul,
Having sorrow in my heart daily?
How long will my enemy be exalted over me?

I can urgently pray to Him, seeking the Lord’s intervention, as David does in verses 3-4:

Consider and hear me, O Lord my God;
Enlighten my eyes,
Lest I sleep the sleep of death;
Lest my enemy say,
“I have prevailed against him”;
Lest those who trouble me rejoice when I am moved.

And I can trust in God’s steadfast love and be confident of rejoicing in His salvation, as does David in verses 5-6:

But I have trusted in Your mercy;
My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord,
Because He has dealt bountifully with me.

Psalm 13 reminds us that lament can coexist with trust – and prayer can transform despair into hope. David’s appeal demonstrates that it is in faith – not faithlessness – that we bring our sorrow and doubt to God.

Trusting in God does not require political passivity or apathy. Nor does it encourage withdrawal from justice, advocacy and civic responsibility through blind obedience to the state.

Rather, trusting in “Him who judges righteously” (1 Peter 2:23) is a central posture of our faith that shapes how we must respond to uncertainty, to conflict and to injustice. We do so in humility and with conviction, rootedness and resilience.

And we remember the words of the Apostle Paul in Romans 12:19:

“Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

Related: Spiritual Truths through Music: Trust in God; TRUMP

“Put Away the Evil Person”

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“But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person. For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.” 1 Corinthians 5:11-13

In the first of his two canonical letters to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul addresses how Christians should relate to those inside the church who persist in serious, unrepentant sin. In these verses, three critical questions are answered:

  • To whom is Paul alluding?
  • What defines an evil person?
  • How are believers to respond?

To these, I add a fourth:

How are Christians to reconcile the professed faith of Donald Trump with his persistent, unrepentant sin within the context of Paul’s missive?

It is the inability to credibly reconcile these facts – and the hypocrisy that stems from it – that, I believe, present the greatest peril to the growth of the Christian church in America today.

“Anyone Named a Brother”

Paul’s instruction to the Corinthian church is to disassociate from those who claim to be believers but continue in blatant, ongoing sin. He is clear that his directive does not apply to non-Christians. While the church is obliged to judge those within, it is only God that will judge those outside.

Let us consider the faith of POTUS. Is he a Christian or does he profess his faith only to manipulate the devotion of his apologists? While I believe all evidence points towards the latter, I cannot know his heart. Thus, for the purposes of this assessment, let’s take him at his word and consider him a brother in Christ.

Paul exhorts those in the church not to keep company with sinful brethren – to “put away from yourselves the evil person.” He offers a brief but poignant description of how those evil persons behave.

“The Evil Person”

Paul leaves little room for interpretation. He is unequivocal in his portrait of the evil person and the specific behaviors that make him so – behaviors that not only warrant, but demand, disassociation from the church. Sexual immorality. Covetousness. Idolatry. Hate. Fraud.

I do not judge Donald Trump’s heart. I do, however, judge his behavior. Sexual immorality? Check. Covetousness? Check. Idolatry? Hate? Fraud? Check, check, check. Those behaviors – for which he insists he is unrepentant – are indisputable, even to the most ardent of his sycophants.

To be sure, Christians should acknowledge the sin nature intrinsic to man since his creation. We know believers will struggle. Jesus went to the cross specifically for that reason.

I humbly confess to each and every one of these sins…and more. But Christ’s relentless, incalculable love finally found its way to my diseased heart. Of course, I am only human and I still sin – hopefully with less intention and gravity – but my trust in God allows me to both confess it and repent of it.

Confession and repentance are demonstrative of – and essential to – a genuine faith. POTUS proudly and emphatically concedes neither.

“Put Away from Yourselves the Evil Person”

Paul’s command reflects his concern for the spiritual health and integrity of the church. Quite simply, Christians are not to tolerate persistent, unrepentant evil in the community from those who profess their faith. Such profession is disingenuous and hypocritical.

Again, the apostle’s instruction does not apply to non-believers. His message is clear that while the church is responsible for judging the brethren, God alone judges those outside of it. Paul’s concern is the hypocrisy evident in the refusal to repent while claiming Christian identity – and the damage overt hypocrisy does to the church.

I believe such hypocrisy extends to those who empower, endorse and encourage “the evil person.” This, of course, includes the abundance of Trump apologists, false preachers, self-serving politicians and others who profess Christ but enable his evil behavior – particularly those who fail to offer correction.

It is important to note that Paul’s instruction to remove the evil person from church fellowship is mandated not only to stem the damage of hypocrisy, but to provoke healing in the sinner. Judgment inside the church is about the body’s credibility and the restoration of the sinner. It is not about punishment. Instead, separation is intended to make clear that the behavior is incompatible with obedience to the Lord.

Trump’s sinful actions are indisputably incompatible with Christian morality – as is his stubborn unwillingness to repent of them. But those in the church who fail to hold him accountable for those evil behaviors are far from faultless. They are not only complicit in Trump’s evil behavior but put their own standing in the church at risk. For as Paul warns in verse 33:

“Do not be deceived: ‘Evil company corrupts good habits.’” 1 Corinthians 15:33

Final Words

Today, 1 Corinthians 5:11–13 is usually applied through the practice of loving church accountability, not social shunning or moral policing of society. Much to the dismay of Christian Nationalists, Paul’s words do not call upon the church to enforce Christian morality on the wider culture. Believers are to engage the world outside the church with humility and love, not condemnation. “Those who are outside [the church] God judges.”

Nor are those inside the church who sin, confess, repent and seek change the target of Paul’s admonition. He is unambiguous in calling for the church to disassociate from those asserting belief but are persistently vile and remorseless. Because Donald Trump unabashedly professes his faith, I believe Paul is commanding the church to hold him accountable, offer correction and, hopefully, initiate discipline that is restorative. Those in the church who fail to do so put their credibility and integrity in jeopardy – as well as that of the church.

“Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.” Romans 1:32

Related: TRUMP

Hypocrisy as an Impediment to Evangelism

Tom Ratkovich, , , , , , , , , , 3 Comments

The resurrected Jesus Christ’s Great Commission to His followers as expressed in Matthew 28:16-20 is to spread the gospel to all nations.

Evangelism is not easy for most of us. Sharing the gospel in a meaningful and compelling manner necessitates that we have considerable familiarity with God’s word. Some feel that they may not be sufficiently well-spoken to articulate His word in an impactful manner. But perhaps the greater challenge is that rarely are we gifted an audience that is enthusiastic about hearing the Lord’s plan for our salvation.

The challenge of a receptive audience is one often made more severe by a perceived hypocrisy on the part of some Christian evangelists – a perception that diminishes the credibility of the evangelist and the audience’s willingness to lend an ear.

When questioned by a scribe as to which is the first commandment of all, Jesus responded:

“The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:29-31

That these passages encompass the Lord’s response to a single question confirms that the love of God and love of neighbor cannot be separated. In fact, love of God is manifested in the love of our neighbor. Loving others is how we love God. Matthew 25:40 implies precisely this when Jesus says to His sheep:

“…inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.”

The importance of loving our neighbor is intensified when viewed through the lens of the Lord’s instruction in Matthew 5:44 to:

“…love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.”

This is the heart of a Christian. Although we often fail, God, in His abundant mercy and grace, forgives us. But reckless disregard and contempt for God’s word has no place in that heart. Instead, we are to have godly remorse of our disobedience, repent of it, and endeavor to sin no more (see 2 Cor 7:10).

At the National Prayer Breakfast on February 6, 2020, Harvard professor Arthur Brooks echoed the Lord’s command to love your enemies. President Donald Trump responded to Brooks’ exhortation by saying, “I don’t know if I agree with you.”

As the president’s disagreement was not with Mr. Brooks but with God, it was an appropriate opportunity for his Christian advisors to deliver suitable correction.

Instead, when asked about POTUS’ comments, one such advisor who pastors a Dallas megachurch replied, “I think the president was completely right in what he said.” This comes from a man who is purportedly guiding his flock to eternal life through obedience to Christ. He should also be intimately familiar with Psalm 12:8:

“The wicked prowl on every side,
When vileness is exalted among the sons of men.”

Exalting vileness is precisely what this Texas pastor has done. Would not direct contradiction of God’s word comprise “vileness?”

His is not alone. While many would characterize Mr. Trump’s often hateful behavior toward others as a vile transgression of God’s greatest commandment, he remains virtually uncensored by much of the evangelical community.

It is not my intent to debate the heart of Donald Trump. I would rather pray for a repentant heart that will lead to his salvation. However, it is imperative to point out the hypocrisy on the part of those who should know better. Their failure to censor, to correct and to disavow is at the root of that hypocrisy. Romans 16:17-18 is absolutely clear:

“Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.”

Certainly, there are many teachers within the church that note God’s boundless grace and use ungodly behavior as a teaching opportunity. They lovingly reprimand the abuser and encourage repentance.

That, however, was not the case for this Dallas pastor. Nor is it so for more than a few in the evangelical community. Instead, by turning a blind eye to unrepentant disobedience of God’s word, they empower, endorse and encourage such disobedience. In other words, they exalt it. To nonbelievers, this represents a noxious hypocrisy on the part of those who would teach them God’s word. How then, can the unenlightened be receptive to hearing the gospel if the credibility of the messenger is so compromised?

Finally…

Hypocrisy is an accusation sometimes levied at the Christian Church. Such disparagement can often be attributed to a lack of understanding or context – and is simply the persecution of His disciples foreshadowed by Jesus in the gospels.

Frequently, however, such criticism is credible based on persistent behavior – or the implied endorsement thereof – that clearly runs contrary to well-known Christian principles.

Such endorsements by significant segments of the Christian community – particularly evangelical celebrity leadership – foment the claims of hypocrisy by non-Christians. They are not wrong.

Scripture commands us to share the Gospel, to testify of the Lord, and to bring as many to Him as we are able. To do so, we must be living testimonies to the word of God. We must be women and men of humility and integrity. Above all, we must demonstrate – in word and deed – what it means to love your neighbor as yourself. Only then can we have the ear of non-Christians and the credibility to articulate a persuasive case for Jesus.

When to Disobey: Biblical Insights on Authority

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“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.” (Romans 13:1-2 NIV)

In his letter to Christians in Rome, the Apostle Paul advocates for submission to government authorities, arguing that they are God’s servants to maintain order and justice.

Similarly, the Apostle Peter instructs the faithful to submit to rulers, thereby silencing critics and honoring God.

“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.” (1 Peter 2:13-15)

As we see, the Bible addresses obedience to government authorities in several key passages, emphasizing a general principle of respect and submission to those in power, while also recognizing God’s ultimate authority. However…

How are we to respond in situations where those in positions of authority mandate or coerce behavior that is contrary to God’s word? This is a crucial question in light of the current administration’s assault on the poor, the sick and the sojourner – an assault that is clearly at odds with the Lord’s commands for love, charity, hospitality, patience and grace.

Blessedly, God definitively affirms that His authority – as revealed in scripture – is supreme. That is, when human authority conflicts with His word, civil disobedience is not only merited, but mandated.

“We must obey God rather than human beings!” (Acts 5:29)

These words, delivered by Peter in response to the high priest’s command to remain silent regarding culpability in the death of Jesus, clearly establish that obedience to God takes precedence when authorities contradict His word.

Such obedience was demonstrated by Daniel who continued to pray to God despite a royal ban (Daniel 6) – and by his friends Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who refused King Nebuchadnezzar’s edict that his image was to be worshipped (Daniel 3). In both cases, they respectfully disobeyed unjust laws and accepted the consequences, putting their trust in God.

Christians are called upon to obey just laws that align with biblical commands to respect civil authorities. But when legislative mandates directly contradict God’s commands, Christians are not only permitted but obligated to respectfully disobey.

We must respond to governmental directives that promote injustice, violate human rights, subjugate the disenfranchised and demand behavior that contradicts God’s law. Christians are called on to advocate for the oppressed and to oppose corruption and injustice, especially in the face of the political status quo. This is not partisanship; this is a commitment to truth, to mercy, to righteousness, to love, and to God.

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy. (Proverbs 31:8-9)

As Paul reminds us in Philippians 3:20, as Christians “our citizenship is in heaven.” We must view all earthly powers through that lens. Loyalty to a nation or political party must never override our loyalty to Christ and His commands.

Scripture teaches us that judgment is coming for those that choose to reject the Lord’s commands for compassion and love. I believe punishment will be rendered not only to those who legislate the oppression of the vulnerable, but also those who enable, empower and encourage disobedience through their advocacy.

Woe to those who make unjust laws,
to those who issue oppressive decrees,
to deprive the poor of their rights
and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people. (Isaiah 10:1-2a)

In conclusion, those who would resist injustice and pursue righteousness must do so with humility…and in prayer. We must advocate for change with respect and love, even while strongly opposing unjust laws. Engagement should be marked by grace, not hatred, slander or division. This is what God demands of us. Our posture matters.

For the Lord is our judge,
the Lord is our lawgiver,
the Lord is our king;
it is he who will save us. (Isaiah 33:22)

False Teachings: The Hypocrisy of the Prosperity Gospel

Tom Ratkovich, , , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

“To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.”

Titus 1:15-16 (NIV)

I have been unyielding and unwavering in my criticism of our current POTUS – and the Christian communities that support him. As a passionate and studious Born-Again Christian, that criticism has been entirely grounded in scripture.

These two passages from the Apostle Paul in his letter to Titus seemingly offer opportunity to rebut POTUS’ professed love of Christ and the misguided Christians that empower him. But to do so would be taking these verses out of their intended context.

In his letter, Paul is specifically referencing leaders within the church – particularly those teaching false doctrine. Applying it directly to a political leader outside the church stretches its context.

So let’s put the spotlight on those church leaders that endorse, enable and empower POTUS by leveraging their church leadership to deceive those whom they are to faithfully lead to Christ.

I preface these comments by acknowledging that God alone will judge the hearts of those to whom I have alluded. I cannot and will not do so. But I will judge their words and behaviors in the context of scripture. And I will pray that God sees in each a repentant, compassionate and faithful soul – just as I pray He sees that in me.

Here I will focus on the individual POTUS appointed to lead the White House Faith Office. This woman, void of formal theological training, is a zealous proponent of the prosperity gospel, asserting that faith and financial giving will lead to material wealth, physical health and personal success.

Most theologians believe this to be a distortion of biblical teachings. For instance, 1 Timothy 6:9-10 clearly warns of the evils of such material aspirations:

“Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

Her willingness to beguile those whom she should be leading to Christ becomes particularly evil when, instead, she leverages those relationships to enrich herself through highly questionable appeals. This past Easter season, for example, this pastor encouraged followers to give her $1,000 and receive in return “seven supernatural blessings” based on Exodus 23: God will “assign an angel to you,” “be an enemy to your enemies,” “give you prosperity,” “take sickness away from you,” “give you a long life, “bring increase and inheritance” and “give a special year of blessing.” Oh, and she’ll also send a Waterford cross.

Contrary to her implication, God is not a divine vending machine. Scripture is unambiguous that He prefers love, compassion, humility and sacrifice to cash. The Christian theology is one that worships God – not use Him.

Ironically, this pastor seems to have conveniently skipped past verse 1 of this same chapter which warns as follows…

“Do not spread false reports. Do not help a guilty person by being a malicious witness.”

… while verse 2a offers wisdom to those who may be vulnerable to dubious solicitations:

“Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong.”

In his letter to Titus, Paul is writing about false teachers and those who undermine Christian teaching through hypocrisy and moral failure. Those who claim to know God but live in disobedience to His word are the subject of his warnings, representing the greatest threat to the Christian Church in their hypocrisy.

As to why POTUS deemed this individual to be the right choice to lead the White House Faith Office, one can only speculate. I have my thoughts but leave the reader to nurture their own. However, as with many similar choices, this one was made with fealty to him in mind – not to serve the faithful in this country.

“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them —bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.”

2 Peter 2:1-3

The Lamp of the Body

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“The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!”

Matthew 6:22-23, NKJV

These verses, spoken by the Lord Jesus in His Sermon on the Mount, have particular relevance in today’s politically-charged culture. How we see and respond to the exceptional circumstances confronting this world reveal the integrity and faithfulness of our hearts.

As one whose eye was in need of correction for much of his adult life, I am particularly appreciative of the Lord’s teaching. My “bad eye” saw the world only as an opportunity to pursue false idols – those that satisfied my insatiable pride. Wealth. Gluttony. Lust. You get the picture.

My body was “full of darkness.” Praise God, He saw fit to perform a vision correction at a time of particular desperation. My eye – for the first time in my adult life – became a lamp that illuminated His word and His will.

A “good” eye allows light to enter the body and irradiate the heart – characterizing a faithful servant, spiritually focused and aligned with God’s truth. What truth is that? We need only revisit the Lord’s Sermon on the Mount – specifically the Beatitudes.

As I came to see, God treasures humility, empathy, repentance, mercy and a righteousness that comes only through faith. He blesses the pure in spirit – those that serve Him with an undivided heart – indifferent to the adoration of peers. He rewards the peacemakers who bring reconciliation rather than anxiety. This is evidence of a “good eye.”

“But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.”

Unfortunately, we live in a world with poor eyesight. Too many – including countless Christians – fail to see God’s truth and blessings, obsessing instead on the temporal, the self-serving and the immoral. They witness, for example, a POTUS whose behavior is vindictive, dishonest, pompous, merciless and corrupt. Their bad eye sees not a man in need of a changed heart that will save his soul – but a redeemer to be encouraged and empowered.

Such are those deceived by darkness – selling out their righteousness while hiding behind the bluster of a demigod. I know. My demigod was my pride by which I rationalized my disobedience.

And just as I pray to God for the salvation of Donald Trump and the blessing of a new heart, I ask Him also to give those incapable of seeing their hypocrisy new eyes that will illuminate their souls. For as warned by Scottish author and minister George MacDonald:

 “One day you will be compelled to see, nay, to feel your heart as God sees it; and to know that the cankered thing which you have within you, a prey to the vilest diseases, is indeed the center of your being, your very heart.”

Are your thoughts and actions guided by God’s truth? Do you strive to emulate the love, mercy, humility and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ? If so, your eye is good and your body is full of light.

If instead you exalt and empower the behavior of those who consistently, flagrantly and unapologetically demonstrate disdain for God’s word, your heart may indeed be a “cankered thing.”

“If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!”

A Test of Faith

Tom Ratkovich, , , , , , , 3 Comments

In a post shared in May of 2023 (Navigating the Deception of Trump-Love: Insights on God’s Sovereignty and the Works of Darkness), I argued that Donald Trump’s ascension was the work of God – that Trump’s immorality and narcissism were so blatantly obvious and patently evil that only God could blind so many to these truths.

As one who believes in the inerrancy and infallibility of scripture, I view Romans 13:1 as confirmation:

“…there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”

Left unanswered in that prior post is the question of why? – why would He who knows all and sees all elevate this man to the highest office in the land?

I had no answer in May 2023 and chose not to speculate on God’s reasoning. Instead, I acknowledged that His ways are higher than my ways, and that I am to trust in God.

I continue to trust in His purposes. But that trust no longer precludes me from speculating as to what those purposes might be.

Scripture leads me to believe that the Lord God will test His creation. Such stalwarts of faith as Abraham, Moses, Job, Peter and Paul were often put to the test to build character and deepen their dependence on God. They passed far more often than they failed. But, as descendants of Adam – the first to fail his test – each bungled God’s trials at times. Thankfully, we have a merciful, loving God. Our failures – of which there are many – are forgiven through repentance, faith and the Lord’s work on the cross.

So, does God test us? Of course, He does. God tells us as much in scripture:

I, the Lord, search the heart,
I test the mind,
Even to give every man according to his ways,
According to the fruit of his doings. (Jeremiah 17:10)

Thus, my answer to the “why” question is this: God has elevated Donald Trump in order to validate and deepen our faith.

I suspect that my take on this subject will raise the ire of the MAGA acolytes who believe POTUS to be a demigod put on earth to single-handedly bully a misguided world into obedience with their righteous morality. I am of the belief, however, that God’s intentions are somewhat more obscure. I look to the Bible – specifically, Deuteronomy 13 for clues as to what those intentions might be.

Verses 13:1-4 are as follows (NIV):

“1If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a sign or wonder, and if the sign or wonder spoken of takes place, 2and the prophet says, “Let us follow other gods” (gods you have not known) “and let us worship them,” 3you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The Lord your God is testing you to find out whether you love Him with all your heart and with all your soul. 4It is the Lord your God you must follow, and Him you must revere. Keep His commands and obey Him; serve Him and hold fast to Him.”

Let’s see if we can put some modern-day context to these verses.

Deuteronomy 13 is a warning against false prophets and those who would lead others into idol worship. Let’s be clear…Donald Trump considers himself a prophet, essentially proclaiming himself God’s hand to fulfill a higher purpose. This alone, however, does not make him a “false” prophet. Nor does Trump’s promise of a return to power – even when “the sign or wonder spoken of takes place.”

Rather, Trump identifies himself as a false prophet by exhorting his acolytes, “Let us follow other gods and let us worship them.”

What are those objects of Trump’s idol worship? They are visible for all the world to see: Wealth. Power. Deceit. Lust. Gluttony. Envy. Retribution. It is his unrestrained and unrepentant pursuit of these that make him false – and condemns those that encourage, enable and follow in his idol worship.

How do these harmonize with such core Christian values as love, truth, forgiveness, humility, fidelity, hospitality and righteousness? Please ask yourself this question…because God is asking it of you. Again…

“The Lord your God is testing you to find out whether you love Him with all your heart and with all your soul. 4It is the Lord your God you must follow, and Him you must revere. Keep His commands and obey Him; serve Him and hold fast to Him.”

There are consequences to disobedience – and the failure to remain steadfast in the face of enticement to idolatry. As a reminder, Jeremiah 17:10 tells us that the Lord God searches the heart and tests the mind “to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.”

Do not exalt those who would lead you to worship false idols. Do not be led by those who repudiate the Lord’s commands for love, humility, truth and justice. In doing so you not only encourage but enable hate, deceit, retribution and greed.

Related: Evangelicals & Trump: Mutual Abuse of Biblical Proportions

Surrounded by Sin

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“They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.” (Romans 1:29-32, NIV)

Who are “they?”

Continue reading “Surrounded by Sin” →

The Cancer of Hypocrisy in Evangelical Christianity

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Anyone who has perused the pages of this blog knows that I am not a fan of a Donald Trump presidency. They will also know that I pray for his repentance and his salvation.

My concern with the return of DJT to the White House has little to do with democracy, policy or the direction of our country. I have put my trust in God, knowing that His ways are not my ways. And the Lord has warned us repeatedly that turbulent times are in front of us.

“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.” (2 Timothy 3:1-5, NIV)

Rather, my anxiety has far more to do with what Trump’s re-election says about the leadership and the integrity of the white evangelical Christian community in this country.

Donald Trump is, after all, the poster child for 2 Timothy 3:1-5. I confess that I do not know his heart. Only God does. But I can observe his behavior. What I witness is a narcissist, a lover of money, a proud, boastful and abusive man without love for his neighbor – unmerciful, slanderous, adulterous – well, you get the picture. This point cannot be argued; the evidence is prima facie. And let’s not forget that he is a twice-impeached convicted felon, has been found liable for sexual assault, faces four outstanding criminal indictments and has proudly boasted of how he impresses women by grabbing them by the p**sy.

Read that last paragraph one more time. This is the man white evangelical Christians were instrumental in returning to office. Instead of having “nothing to do with such people,” as instructed by the Apostle Paul, they have empowered, endorsed and encouraged the evil so forcefully illustrated and condemned in scripture. Wow.

I am ready for the turbulent times before us. Prayer and scripture have prepared me. I will strive to glorify God by living my faith. I will, of course, fall short and seek His mercy and grace – knowing that it is the only path to eternal life.

Unfortunately, however, many are unprepared, vulnerable to the disingenuous faith of those who seek righteousness not through God’s mercy and grace but through their noble morality. They seek to legislate their morality to coerce behavior they believe make them “good people” – removing the choice to be obedient to God out of love. In their moralism, like the Pharisees, they fail to see grace.

The vulnerable bear witness to the hypocrisy. Is it surprising that they build a wall around themselves and project an unwillingness to hear God’s word given that the messenger is so compromised? In these last days, we must encourage a willingness to hear and live the Gospel – not push those who have yet to accept Christ to the edge of the cliff through hypocrisy, selfishness and hate.

As Christians, our aspiration must never be to simply be a “good person.” Such a mindset puts the focus on our own conduct rather than on the saving grace of Lord Jesus. We are sinners in need of a savior. Our one and only goal must be to be more like Christ.

Christian Nationalists: The One Question They Get Right…and the Two They Completely Butcher

Tom Ratkovich, , , , , , , 1 Comment

In a recent post, I lauded the Apostle Peter for his response to the question posed by the Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 16:15: “Who do you say that I am?”

This is the question to which the Christian faithful have been gifted with the only answer that ensures eternity with the Lord:

“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16)

Continue reading “Christian Nationalists: The One Question They Get Right…and the Two They Completely Butcher” →

Christian Nationalists: The Modern-Day Pharisees

Tom Ratkovich, , , , , , 1 Comment

The Torah lists 613 laws covering various facets of Jewish life including worship, hygiene, food and family – 365 of which are prohibitions, 248 are positive instructions. Of the Mosaic law, the Ten Commandments are certainly the most famed.

To these 613, the Pharisees layered another 1500+ rules and regulations, elevating them to the level of scripture.

The Pharisees, of course, were frequently the object of Jesus Christ’s displeasure. He condemned their greed, hypocrisy and pride.

Continue reading “Christian Nationalists: The Modern-Day Pharisees” →

Evangelicals & Trump: Mutual Abuse of Biblical Proportions

Tom Ratkovich, , , , 5 Comments

Unless one sees the world through Trump-colored glasses, the use and abuse of the evangelical community by the former POTUS is astoundingly blatant. To those outside that community – as well as many within it – DJT’s ceaseless and unrepentant falsehoods, adulteries, invectives and narcissistic behavior suggest that he has yet to find his way to Christ. Yet his pandering to evangelicals has earned him widespread support among them.

Surely, one must question whether Trump truly subscribes to the conservative Christian agenda – or simply says what they need to hear to get their vote. Personally, I find it difficult to believe, for example, that he truly opposes abortion given his reputed carnal behaviors and the assertion by at least one of his partners that he disdains contraception.

That said, I truly wonder who is using who. While Trump obviously says what he must to get the evangelical vote, those same voters accept whatever they must for a man who promises a world that conforms to their legislative morality. They are not only enabling Trump’s moral corruption, they are encouraging it – committed to the belief that his hatefulness, spite and vengeance can be overlooked because they are the specific traits that will ensure the fulfillment of their righteous agenda.

Through their advocacy, these “Christian” supporters are selfishly discouraging DJT from displaying the mercy, grace and love commanded by Christ and essential for his salvation.

For instance, in His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy” (Matthew 5:7).

James’ discerning restatement of this truth is particularly relevant here:

“Judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy.”

James 2:13

Christians understand that we are undeserving of the Lord’s mercy; yet we need it for our salvation. In His unfathomable love and grace, He is most willing to give it. But as James cautions, to get it from God we must give it to others. Without His mercy, we are fated to eternity outside the presence of the Lord – and in someplace very unpleasant.

Yet, this is precisely that to which these cheerleaders would condemn Trump. Rather than offer correction as we are instructed to do in scripture – endeavoring to save his soul by encouraging obedience to God’s word – these “Christians” douse him with kerosene on the path to the eternal fire.

At the National Prayer Breakfast on February 6, 2020, Harvard professor Arthur Brooks echoed the Lord’s command to love your enemies. Former President Donald Trump responded to Brooks’ exhortation by saying, “I don’t know if I agree with you.”

As the president’s disagreement was not with Mr. Brooks but with God, it was an appropriate opportunity for his Christian advisors to deliver suitable correction.

Instead, when asked about DJT’s comments, Dallas pastor and Trump advisor Robert Jeffress replied, “I think the president was completely right in what he said.”

Donald Trump is who he is and he will face the judgment of our just and merciful God. But those who turn him from God by enabling and encouraging his disobedience will also face judgment.

“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.”

Matthew 18:5

The Future of Religion in America: Exploring Christianity’s Decline and Its Implications

Tom Ratkovich, , , 1 Comment

A recently released study from the Pew Research Center suggests that, in the United States, Christianity will likely lose its status as the religious affiliation of the majority in the latter half of this century.

Since the 1990’s, the study notes that “large numbers of Americans have left Christianity to join the growing ranks of U.S. adults who describe their religious identity as atheist, agnostic or ‘nothing in particular.’” In other words, the primary driver of this phenomenon is not the growth of other faiths in this country, but the falling away of those who themselves – or their parents – were Christians.

Continue reading “The Future of Religion in America: Exploring Christianity’s Decline and Its Implications” →