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.