Anti-tax. Anti-welfare. Anti-immigration. Anti-affirmative action. For too much of my life, I was pretty much anti-anything that would hinder my accumulation of wealth and prestige…and give it instead to those who were too lazy to get a job and make their own way.

I was the poster boy for the GOP. Trickle-down economics? Gimme some of that. I surmised that the extra money I had in my pocket as an affluent, well-educated citizen would eventually find its way into the hands of those who couldn’t figure it out on their own. They were, after all, lucky to be living in this country rather than a foreign land where the freedoms they enjoyed as Americans were suppressed.

That is, if they indeed were Americans. More likely, many came here unlawfully to sponge off of our overly-generous welfare system.

Global warming? Who cares? Wasn’t my problem. Future generations would figure out the climate thing…if it really was a thing.

After all, it’s all about TODAY. Why worry about the mushrooming national debt incurred to fund my tax cuts? That was just another burden that could be pushed down the road to my kids and grandkids. Of course, they would be insulated by familial wealth accumulated thanks to GOP dogma.

Born Again

I’m not proud of it, but that’s a pretty good description of my disturbing perspective. I wince as I read and re-read what I have admitted. But I become physically ill in the knowledge that the horrible things I confessed to comprise the societal blueprint for our POTUS and his GOP acolytes.

I am forever thankful that the Lord, in His boundless love, led me to Him. I became a new creation – one passionate to understand His will for those of faith. He opened my eyes and my heart to that of which I was being truly “anti-:“ Anti-love. Anti-grace. Anti-mercy. I was, in essence, anti-Christ.

My awakening led me to change many things in my life, including my political affiliation. I was compelled to leave the GOP – not for the Democrats who have challenges of their own – but to re-classify as unaffiliated. Still, I could no longer be part of a political constituency whose leadership demands followers subvert the character of Jesus Christ.

Consider:

• Jesus was compassionate and loving. He demonstrated deep care for the suffering, the marginalized, the poor, the sick and those considered outcasts (e.g., lepers, tax collectors, Samaritans). He healed the sick, fed the hungry, forgave the sinful and welcomed the sojourner.
• Jesus was humble and obedient. In His time on earth, Jesus lived simply, serving others rather than being served. His humility was demonstrated by washing the feet of His disciples…and His obedience to God the Father by going submissively to the cross.
• The Lord preached mercy and forgiveness, teaching that “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” He also embodied it, forgiving those who betrayed, denied and crucified Him.
• Jesus was courageous and just in the face of religious hypocrisy, injustice and oppression, even when it put His life at risk.
• He spoke the truth, and did so with conviction and profound wisdom.

The Greatest Commandment

In summary, Jesus’ character was defined by love, compassion, humility, integrity, mercy, justice, faithfulness and truth.

All of this is reflected in the Lord’s teaching of the greatest commandment:

“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).

I do not know the heart of Donald Trump, nor those of his groupies. I only know what I see from him…and what I do not. For instance, I do not see love. I do not see compassion. I do not see humility, mercy or truth. What I see instead are political and social pursuits that do not simply subvert – but invert – the teaching of Christ.

I see hate rather than love; cruelty rather than compassion; narcissism rather than humility; disdain rather than mercy; lies rather than truth.

One more thing I do not see: those in Trump’s orbit speaking truth to power. And with the exception of American heroes like Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, much of the GOP is in lock-step with their demigod.

For many years, I was among those cloaking myself in the American flag – justifying the pursuit of self-serving political and societal ambitions as patriotic and just. But just as Trump is who he is, the sycophants among the GOP are what they are. And as I came to understand, God sees the hearts, minds and souls of those that enable, empower and encourage the inversion of God’s will.

I, for one, refuse to be one of them. I pray you will as well.