stfranman Church Life, Religious Extremism, Spirituality/Religion

The Church and the Tragedy of Trump

It’s an unfortunate and baffling fact that lots of Church goers in the US believe with all their heart that Donald trump is a Christian.

But the observable fact is that trump’s embrace of Christianity is about political expediency and is 100% phony. His actions could make an observer conclude that he—or someone on his staff who’s advising him—did a serious study of the life and teachings of Jesus and then proceeded to do—intentionally—the exact opposite at every opportunity.

He’s the best example I can think of of a wolf in sheep’s clothing. The majority of Christians who have not jettisoned Jesus to join The Cult of Trump, can easily see right through his act.

It’s a tragedy that some of his most ardent, brain-washed followers fall for the act. Many of them claim to be Christians, yet embrace his hateful and transparently-unchristian statements and actions.

By the way, one of the consequences of this unfolding tragedy is that more and more Evangelical Christians who aren’t fooled by trump’s charade are exiting the Church and are becoming disaffected, solitary believers. The Church in America will be dealing with the consequences of this for a generation or more.

The certain result will be hundreds of denominations and the Church writ large greatly discredited and weakened. In fact, this process has been underway for years; It was merely accelerated by trump’s takeover of a vast segment of the Church in the US.

The unfortunate truth is that this mass-exodus and the resulting discrediting and weakening of the Church will never be reversed.

Ben Lawrence Basile

© 2024 Ben Lawrence Basile

stfranman Church Life, Living Life, Spirituality/Religion

What the hell did you expect me to do?

This short piece really caught my attention. Pastor and author Chris Kratzer sums up perfectly why the modern-day Evangelical movement seems so foreign and so fake to millions of us who were raised in it. Foreign, fake and extreme. Please give this a read. It’s so well worth the next 3 minutes of your day.

What the hell did you expect me to do?

You told me to love my neighbors, to model the life of Jesus. To be kind and considerate, and to stand up for the bullied.

You told me to love people, consider others as more important than myself. “Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight.” We sang it together, pressing the volume pedal and leaning our hearts into the chorus.

You told me to love my enemies, to even do good to those who wish for bad things. You told me to never “hate” anyone and to always find ways to encourage people.

You told me it’s better to give than receive, to be last instead of first. You told me that money doesn’t bring happiness and can even lead to evil, but taking care of the needs of others brings great joy and life to the soul.

You told me that Jesus looks at what I do for the least-of-these as the true depth of my faith. You told me to focus on my own sin instead of trying to police it in others. You told me to be accepting and forgiving.

I paid attention.

I took every lesson.

And I did what you told me.

But now, you call me a libtard. A queer-lover.

You call me “woke.” A backslider.

You call me a heretic. A child of the devil.

You call me a false prophet. A reprobate leading people to gates of hell.

You call me soft. A snowflake. A socialist.

What the hell did you expect me to do?

You passed out the “WWJD” bracelets.

I took it to heart.

I thought you were serious, apparently not.

We were once friends. But now, the lines have been drawn. You hate nearly all the people I love. You stand against nearly all the things I stand for. I’m trying to see a way forward, but it’s hard when I survey all the hurt, harm, and darkness that comes in the wake of your beliefs and presence.

What the hell did you expect me to do?

I believed it all the way.

I’m still believing it all the way.

Which leaves me wondering, what happened to you?

Grace is Brave. Be Brave

Pastor and Author Chris Kratzer
http://ChrisKratzer.com

stfranman Church Life, Holy Days and Holidays, Spirituality/Religion

For All the Saints

The Feast of All Saints or All Saints’ Day falls on the 1st of November each year and is often an Autumn afterthought, truth be told.

Halloween sucks all the oxygen out of the room, so to speak, even though it’s true that its relevance, its meaning can be elusive unless seen in context as the prelude to All Saints’ Day.

The same is true of All Souls’ Day, which is the cherry on the Sundae, so to speak. In many places–in Mexico, in particular–it often goes by Day of the Dead or Dia De Los Meurtos and is quite a celebration.

I hope this day becomes a day for you to reflect on those who’ve gone before.

Those who have been called Saints in a formal or official way. And folks in your blood family or simply folks whose Faith and acts of love, fidelity and compassion have inspired you and informed your own Faith journey.

Blessings to you all on the Feast of All Saints, 2021.



Ben Lawrence Basile

© 2021 The Fellowship of St Francis, Inc.

stfranman Church Life, Spirituality/Religion

The Pandemic and Big Changes

The COVID Pandemic and the early lockdowns which were put in place to mitigate its spread led to so many changes in the ways we go about our lives. Zoom meetings and all forms of virtual get-togethers became common, for example.

The changes most certainly have affected the ways the Church goes about its business. Especially when it comes to “gathering” for worship.

It would be hard to overstate how big and thorough-going these changes are and will be for how the Church operates. This article from Religion News Service treats shines a light on this issue and it’s well-worth the next few minutes of your day.

Changes come. We adapt. The Church adapts.

We move forward, hopefully, into our future.

Ben Lawrence Basile

© 2021 The Fellowship of St Francis, Inc.