Choose This Day Whom You Will Serve

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

I've been hearing a lot about the Republican tax-cuts.  We all have.  It's doubtful anyone who has listened to a radio or a TV in the past month is unaware of the matter.

In one way, it's not at all a "spiritual issue."  Other than general scriptural admonitions (such as Romans 13:8's "Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another..."), there are probably no specifically "Christian" issues involved; at least, not in the way that the political manipulators make issues "Christian" issues today.

But of course no human thoughts or deeds are ever truly "non-spiritual."

I know very little about financial matters; especially governmental financial matters.  But it looks to me like all the evidence is that the Republicans' "middle-class tax-cut" will primarily benefit the already-wealthy, and corporations.  That's the finding of the non-partisan Congessional Budget Office, whose job it is to tell Congress (and us) how their legislation will play out in financial reality.

The Republicans' plan seems very similar to Republican Governor Sam Brownback's 2012 tax-plan for Kansas, and predicated on the same "conservative" theory.  That theory is that if businesses pay less in taxes (Brownback eliminated corporate taxes altogether), they will use their increased wealth to create more jobs, and we will all benefit from a stronger economy.

That theory hugely failed in Kansas.  It essentially bankrupted our state.  And every citizen of Kansas suffered because of it, in cuts to our state's education-system, roads, and health-care.

They say that true insanity is doing the same thing again, and expecting different results.  By that rule, Republicans are insane.  I'm not.  If the Republicans impose their failed "tax-cut" theory on America ...if it passes the Republican Congress, and is signed into law by the Republican president who's been demanding it...I expect it will do unimaginable damage on our country, the way it did to Kansas.

I could be wrong.  I'm little knowledgeable about financial matters, especially governmental financial matters.  I can only go by the realistic financial analysis of those whose job it is to do realistic financial analysis, and our experience of Kansas' disastrous tax-cut "experiment" (as Sam Brownback called it.

If the Republicans' "tax-cut" becomes law, as it now looks like it will, and proves as disastrous as it seems it will, we'll probably see a great many people turning against Trump and the Republicans.  No doubt that will include many of their "Evangelical base" who have overwhelmingly supported that faction and its candidates for 40 years.

I'd have to understand such economic "repentance" a profoundly spiritual event.

It seems very few of the "Evangelical base" have turned against their political deceivers because they teach evil.  Because of Reagan's doctrine of rebellion ("Government IS the problem"), for example; or the anti-Christ Mormon spirit Mitt Romney worships; or George W. Bush's blasphemy that "the ideal of America" is the light of the world; or their continual lying (who'd Jesus say is "the father of lies" ?), like the current president.

The "Christians" who comprise those politicians' "Evangelical base" have shown no discernment, and no fear of offending God, in their willlful disobedience to Him when His commands contradict their political "principles."  And acting by their political "principles," they have inflicted great harm on our country.

So if the "Evangelical base" finally turns against their political (and their "Christian") (mis-) leaders because of economic collapse, it would be a good thing...though probably too late.

But what does it say about a people who willfully ignore The King's commands, continually offending the God they say they love...if they finally "repent" when their financial well-being suffers ?

My spiritual take-away would be that it shows the god they truly love, and trust in, and serve, and worship in their heart, is Mammon.

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

Two Choices

                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                              

There seem to be two choices being enacted among American Christians in these dark days.

Probably some actually believe their (or their mis-leaders') justification that Donald Trump is a Christian, and "God's choice man."  Maybe I'm too charitable, but I think very few Christians truly, wholeheartedly, believe that.

My perception is that most Christians actually see what Trump is (it's impossible to miss)...but want to believe they are justified in supporting him.  When we want something, even (especially) if we know better, we all have infinite capacity for self-delusion.

But there seems to be a division in the ranks of Trump's supporters who (thus far) can still see the truth.  After a year of his foolish misrule, they are going one of two spiritual ways.

Some have turned decisively against the lies from Trump and about Trump.  And thus far, God is still merciful to forgive any of us who admit doing wrong, and being wrong.  Thank God, some who were not fully deceived, but persuaded themselves to follow lies anyway, have now turned back to God, and repented.

Others are still in danger.  They see even clearer, as the lies come thicker and faster, that there is no truth in Trump and his way.  But they still want to support him...

The rationales I hear from friends in that situation are, "That's just Trump," or "He doesn't really mean that," or "It's just politics."  All of which are ways of saying "I choose to accept lies."

Their danger is incremental acceptance of evil: the "cooking lobster" effect.  We eventualy become comfortable with every "new normal."  We persuade ourselves that it's O.K. that our country is being led in the spirit of lies. or that mass-shootings can be expected to happen every month or so.  After we cross God's inflexible moral line against evil, we easily adjust and accept it when evil becomes only slightly worse next week, then a bit moreso with the passage of a month, and moreso a year on.

Perhaps some in that dangerous position think they'll be safe because they can still see the evil.  Perhaps they persuade themselves that being able to see, they will be able to spot the moral "point of no return," and will not follow after evil past it.

They delude themselves.  Without the Spirit of God's illumination, no one can discern between good and evil.  There is indeed a "point of no return"...but we do not determine it.  The point beyond which no one can any longer see Truth (Who Jesus said He IS), and can no longer choose to turn back from following evil to its destructive end, is when God chooses to withdraw His Spirit from our lives.

He withdraws His Spirit from those who continue in refusing the Spirit's illumination...those who can see what's evil, but continue to WANT to follow it, making excuses to themselves for following evil.
God's "point of no return" may be very near for some today: much nearer than they delude themselves it is.