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“If You Identify As Christian…”

 Let me stop you right there, friend. I don’t “identify as” Christian; I am one. Baptized in the Triune Name nearly 25 years ago. I choose not to deal with other foolishness related to the language of “identify as” at this time. 

More to the point, I will not apologize for Donald Trump, Pete Hegseth, Paula White, or anyone else in the administration. You know why? I’m not them. Every human being baptized as a Christian is potentially an embarrassment to everyone else in the Body of Christ on the regular. The sheer arrogance of assuming that you should do this, because someone 1. Does something bad or that you disagree with; and 2. is holding political power, is truly breathtaking.

I just need John Pavlovitz, Ben Cremer, and Joash Thomas, (and other notable people of the Christian Left) and acquaintances Rebecca Miller and Lindsay Wilkins, to understand that—even if I had voted for President Trump—I speak for myself, and only myself. 

I have NEVER accosted an Obama voter, or the group as a whole, for something I profoundly disagreed with, or was embarrassed by. Never. I was one, once. Stop doing it; it’s performative; it angers people and shuts them down, instantly.

Maybe you’re just frustrated and angry that the Democratic candidates in 2016 and 2024 couldn’t beat this guy, eh? Heaven knows I’m still reasonably surprised. Then again, Democratic arrogance and out-of-touchness is evergreen. Sorry not sorry.

Politics-by-meme-or-tweet is garbage. It’s been garbage. Why do it? Do you want to persuade? If you’re having a moment, and you need a good cry, just do that instead.

For the record, I intend to vote only state and local, and US Congress, in perpetuity. My main focus will be the public schools, unless someone decides to enshrine abortion or euthanasia in my state as some sacred right. That’s it. Presidents, you’re on your own.

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