Presidential Politics: The De-evolvement”

Pastor Rasheed Baaith
Pastor Rasheed Baaith

Presidential Politics:  The De-evolvement”

By Pastor Rasheed Z Baaith

“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…” (Proverbs 23:7)

In this campaign of such deeply flawed candidates, we should be at the point where what one of them does or has done, says or has said should not be surprising. However…

Astounding may be too small a word for the latest Donald Trump spew of recorded verbal diarrhea.  It was braggadocio filled with filth, obscenities, and confessions of sexual assault. He spoke of groping women as if it were a fine art and if it were his right to do so.  How I wondered, do you justify that kind of talk and behavior to your wife and daughters?  Let alone your supporters.

As for it being “locker room talk,” Donald Trump was not 16 and that bus was not a locker room. He was over 50 years old at the time of that taping and he has the same mentality now he had then. But what is more alarming than the prideful smut we heard from Donald Trump’s mouth is how many people are prepared to excuse his behavior. Men and women, including people of color have said the tape does not matter.

So does that mean these people would not be angry or appalled if their wife or daughter or any other family member is sexually violated by Trump or someone with the same sick thinking?

It speaks to an obvious and growing fear in those who support Trump.  Including Christians.  And this fear is so great and pervasive people have let it overwhelm their faith, their sense of what is morally acceptable and fair play, their understanding of democratic principles and their belief in America being a pluralistic society.

They are afraid of Isis, the economy, today’s technology, America’s place in the world, the inadequacy of our schools, the color of people’s skins and the inconsistency of the Church and its leadership.

Still, it has amazed me from the on-set of this Presidential campaign how people, in particular people of color, could support a man who is every negative “ist” one could think of.  Racist, mysogist, isolationist, and while I don’t think he’s a rapist in the strictest sense of the word, I think he sure pushed the boundary of the act using his persona and wealth to intimidate women into having sex with him.  How could anyone want that kind of individual as the President of this country?

But people do and they do in large numbers.  They are part of a desperation wave blanketing  America that seems to negate anything despicable Trump says or does.  Anything. It is a desperation that should not be ignored or diminished. In particular to those of us who claim to be Christian.

We more than anyone else, should not be infected with this sense of desperation. We love to talk about how much we trust God, how we have sold out to Christ, and how our economy is in Heaven. It’s a good conversation but that’s all it seems to be for many of us.

Truth be told if the Church truly believed what the Bible teaches and walked in those beliefs, it wouldn’t matter who sat in the White House be-cause our governance would be God through Jesus Christ. But we keep putting aside our beliefs to satisfy our feelings. God isn’t interested in our feelings, He’s interested in our obedience.

He wants to know if we have Proverbs 3:56 in our hearts or just in our mind, “Trust is the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

So here’s the breakdown, whomever God allows to sit in the Oval House for the next four years, be it Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump, it’s all part of a Divine Plan. Nothing happens unless the LORD allows it to happen, whether we like what happens or not. For me that’s an absolute.

I’m not suggesting that Christians not vote or have a deep interest in politics. But I am suggesting that the measurement for ourselves is more important than how we measure candidates. Are you supporting who you support out of fear, and are you casting your vote in desperation because you’re worried God is not in control?  What’s your motivation in all of this?  What part does your faith play?

Think about it.

About Carma Henry 24455 Articles
Carma Lynn Henry Westside Gazette Newspaper 545 N.W. 7th Terrace, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33311 Office: (954) 525-1489 Fax: (954) 525-1861

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