Trump Turns Religion Political

churches have been closed during coronavirus pandemic

Trump Turns Religion Political

God’s Word

Trevor K. McNeil

Rights, Right?

It takes the sense of a perceived attack to bring the issue of civil rights into focus.  The measures used by states to stop the spread of COVID-19 and save lives are now being challenged as unconstitutional. Those arguing against lockdown whining about their rights to do things that aren’t actually rights by any known criteria. Trump tacitly supporting all of them, as part of his half-cocked campaign to downplay the pandemic crisis in case it makes him look bad. While in fact, magnifying the fact that he is an incompetent boob who is not qualified to run a school bake sale, let alone a country.

God Save America

Most recently, Trump has hitched his rickety re-election wagon to the push to reopen churches. A notion on par with putting oil drums in front of the target on shooting ranges, in terms of terrible and deadly ideas. How many pastors and parishioners need to die before people get it though their heads that meeting in large groups in an enclosed space with an airborne disease killing tens of thousands is not the best of ideas? The right to religious freedom not at all withstanding.

Narrow Definition  

That isn’t to say that the right to religious freedom isn’t important and should be, or indeed has been, suspended. Trump has said, “we need more prayer, not less,” but I know lots of religious folks who know full well that this is a false dichotomy. One does not need to be in church to pray. And if there is anyone who is praying less because their holy house of choice happens to be closed at the moment, says more about them and their religious conviction. Trump’s statement is yet another example of the depths of his religious ignorance, including and especially the one he claims to practice in a cynical attempt to appeal to his evangelical Christian base. Going so far as to argue that church is an “essential service.” An absurd statement, not least in terms of the separation of church and state.

In the Text

Had Trump actually read the Bible he would have seen the bit where Jesus preaches on the hill side. Also known as “The Sermon On the Mount.” It’s kind of important and pretty famous. Taking this to it logical extreme, there are several churches, such as Liberal United Church of Canada that hold services outside. There are also numerous congregations of all denominations that live-stream their services. Some churches have taken to doing big screen services to people in their cars. Quite frankly, there are evangelicals that have been pulling in huge audiences and even bigger donation plates via television for no less than fifty years. There is no lack of access to pastors, or their preaching.

Actually It’s the Opposite

There are actually sections of the Bible that specifically go against the idea of going into a church to pray. Such as, (Matthew 6:5): “And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are. For they love to pray in the synagogues and the corners of the streets that they may be seen of men”.  (Mathew 6:6): “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly”. Ultimately, Jesus demonstrates through His own life that prayer provides an avenue to the Father. The New Testament tells us (Luke 5:16): Jesus “often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.  He was actively carving out time alone to meet with the Father in prayer”.

Translation, don’t pray in public to impress other people with your piousness;  you vain, hypocrites.

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