MAGA

MAGA: Have You Read the 9th Commandment?

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

“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” Exodus 20:16

While the Ninth Commandment is sometimes narrowly interpreted as prohibiting lying in court, the broader biblical context illustrates its intended condemnation of all forms of falsehood, slander, misrepresentation and unjust testimony that injure others.

Exodus 23 makes this fact indisputable. Verses 1 and 2 amplify the chapter’s theme:

“You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with a wicked man to be a malicious witness. You shall not fall in with the many to do evil, nor shall you bear witness in a lawsuit, siding with the many, so as to pervert justice.”

These verses expand the relevance of the Ninth Commandment far beyond personal honesty. They bring condemnation of falsity and its purposeful proliferation – into the realm of public life, politics and social movements.

You, MAGA, have “joined hands with a wicked man to be a malicious witness.” You, MAGA, have purposefully proliferated the nonstop falsehoods that spew from your demigod’s mouth 24/7. You, MAGA, have not offered correction or pushback. Instead, you double-down on deceit because it fits your false narrative about what is moral and what is not.

Let’s be clear: your leader is NOT a moral man. Perhaps that does not matter to you since you applaud him for lowering your taxes by pulling SNAP benefits from the hungry and medical care from the sick. But your sycophantic acceptance and propagation of his self-serving lies put you in direct violation of the Ninth Commandment.

What lies, you ask? Really? Fact checkers estimate that he fabricated more than 30,000 “facts” in his first term alone. It seems he has made at least that many in the past three months regarding the war in Iran. But as a reminder, here are some whoppers:

  • The 2020 election was stolen
  • Obama was not born in the US
  • Mexico would pay for the border wall
  • He would end the Ukraine-Russian conflict within 24 hours
  • “I know nothing about Project 2025”
  • He didn’t pay off Stormy Daniels
  • “I had the largest inauguration crowd ever”
  • No new wars

Obedience to God’s command for truth does not simply mean that we should not invent lies. Equally malevolent in His eyes is the spreading of lies.

Or, perhaps you are just an apologist for POTUS’ falsehoods. That makes you an enabler. And if you are a Christian, it also makes you a hypocrite. Scripture is clear: the Lord hates hypocrisy.

But the deceit you enable and perpetuate does not merely damage reputations and put your salvation at risk; it corrupts entire systems of justice and governance. When leaders, citizens, media figures or activists knowingly spread falsehoods, trust erodes and justice becomes harder to achieve.

Viewed through Exodus 23, the Ninth Commandment is not simply a prohibition against lying. It is a call to reject misinformation, resist groupthink, avoid false accusations, and pursue justice by remaining faithful to the truth—even when the truth is inconvenient to your preferred political cause.

MAGA Christians: ”Why Do You Call Me ‘Lord, Lord’…”

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

“…and do not do what I say?”

In Luke 6:46, Jesus is confronting people who profess allegiance to Him while refusing obedience to His teachings. Is He asking this of Donald Trump?

It would be difficult to argue otherwise.

Trump has frequently proclaimed his faith and engineered his photo shoots with the false prophet pastors of the prosperity gospel. The central issue in the passage, however, is not verbal profession, but obedience and fruit. Consider behavior that is undeniably disobedient:

  • blatant rejection of Jesus’ command to love,
  • public humiliation of anyone who does not bend the knee,
  • hateful rhetoric toward immigrants and non-whites,
  • absolute lack of repentance or humility,
  • prioritization of power and personal loyalty over constituent welfare,
  • deceit and corruption,
  • indifference toward the vulnerable,
  • adultery.

Case closed. No one can consistently display pride, cruelty, dishonesty, vindictiveness, greed and contempt and still credibly present themselves as aligned with the teachings of Jesus. The Lord is clearly asking this question of Donald Trump.

But what about those who enable, endorse and encourage POTUS’ disobedience to God? MAGA Christians…I’m talking to you. Christ’s warning against claiming Christian identity while living contrary to His commands applies to all of us. And while your demigod’s behavior suggests his case is open and shut, I believe that your cheerleading does the same.

Consider the Lord’s teaching:

  • Love your neighbor as yourself – not just those that look or believe as you do (Luke 10:27)
  • Be charitable toward the poor (1 John 3:17)
  • Have compassion for the stranger (Matthew 25:35)
  • Reject cruelty and vengeance (Romans 12:21)
  • Be merciful and you will receive mercy (Matthew 5:7)
  • Obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29)

MAGA, it appears your intent is to reduce welfare to the indigent, take healthcare from the vulnerable, remove anyone who doesn’t look like you from your orbit, and exact retribution from those who see things differently. At the very least, you enable, endorse and encourage an administration that has clearly pursued such intentions.

Again, Jesus asks “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord’ and do not do what I say?”

Perhaps these words from the epistle of James will resonate:

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.” James 1:22-25

What is your political posture? Does it reflect the character and commands of Jesus to love all others, bless those who curse you, give generously, avoid hypocrisy and bear good fruit?

Asking for a friend.

He Can’t Help Himself

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

Donald Trump is not shy about professing his Christianity. He often surrounds himself with religious leaders who display their fealty – many of whom are active practitioners of the heretical prosperity gospel and declare POTUS to be the hand of God.

I am incapable of judging Trump’s heart and, thus, his faith. That alone is the realm of our God in heaven.

“Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.” (1 Corinthians 4:5, NIV)

But I am quite capable – obligated, actually, as are we all – to judge the defiance to God’s word that is plainly on display and gives evidence of a cankerous soul.

The problem for POTUS – and for all of us given the political clout granted him by his sycophants, including those in the Supreme Court – is that while he professes his faith, he is entirely impotent in the face of his narcissism. That is, he is utterly incapable of taking any action that does not make him feel good about himself. Needless to say, this is problematic for the leader of our nation.

In a previous post, I argued that Trump appears ignorant of the wisdom proffered by Solomon in Proverbs 28 in which he warns against greed, dishonesty, corruption and pride in leadership. The king, Solomon, that is, praises honesty, compassion, justice, generosity and accountability.

Honestly, I don’t know if POTUS is a wise man. Whatever wisdom he may indeed possess is smothered by his lack of humility, his compulsion for vengeance and his indifference to the truth. He acts not on the basis of wisdom – and certainly not on God’s great command to love your neighbor – but on his enormous, uncontrollable self-worth.

This personality disorder has manifested in so many ways that are not only devastating to the constituents that Trump has pledged to serve, but to our democracy and way of life.

  • Nowhere is his narcissism on greater display than his prioritization of personal fealty over professional competence and institutional integrity. Many officials have been fired or sidelined for not showing personal loyalty, even when they were fulfilling their legal or ethical duties. Such behavior undermines legislative effectiveness and stifles candor.
  • Trump’s leadership is further compromised by decision-making that is impulsive, ego-driven and entirely self-serving. The cost: collaborative, evidence-based policymaking.
  • His rhetoric typically centers on grievance and personal slights, intensifying divisions and deepening the “us v. them” narratives that preclude national healing and unity. Witness his deranged holiday tweets.
  • Dangerously, POTUS has unpretentiously normalized falsehoods. He flouts truth in order to create a narrative that feeds his monumentally narcissistic character. And while the most blatant and notorious example is that of his knowingly false claims of election fraud, his ceaseless fabrications run the gamut from trivial to treacherous – from cheating on the golf course to denying credible government statistics, making false claims about immigrants, denying climate change, characterizing white supremacists as “very fine people” and pretty much anything else that comes out of his mouth.

A textbook example of Trump’s treachery is the recent firing of BLS chief Erika McEntarfer, guilty only of being the messenger to the disappointment of the Trump economy. Concerned that the monthly jobs report reflected poorly on his performance, POTUS immediately looked to scapegoat McEntarfer, knowing his minions would be fooled by his maneuvering. Trump not only cruelly upended the life of a civil servant, but compromised the integrity of future reports. He didn’t do this because of anyone’s incompetence or deceit – he did it ONLY to escape any accountability for bad numbers and to intimidate McEntarfer’s successor.

This is the man in charge of the nuclear codes. This is the man elected to care for our hungry and indigent. This is the man charged with caring for the afflicted. This is the man who is supposed to be a custodian of our planet. This is the man some believed would deliver world peace.

This is the man destined to be an example for our children.

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)