At a rally in Michigan in 2015, a Republican candidate for President “asked a crowd how many had read his own book The Art of the Deal. ‘It’s my second favorite book of all time,’ he said. ‘Do you know what my first is? The Bible!’ Nothing beats the Bible!”
“Not long after, the then-candidate was asked during an interview with Bloomberg to expound on one of his favorite chapters from his favorite book and he demurred. ‘I wouldn’t want to get into it. Because to me, that’s very personal,’ he said. “The Bible means a lot to me, but I don’t want to get into specifics.’
“Asked if he could at least choose between the New and Old Testaments, he again passed. ‘Probably equal. I think it’s just incredible.'”
So it is interesting that Robert Hendrickson, Rector, Saint Philip’s in the Hills Episcopal Church, recently noted this. “This is an awful man, waving a book he hasn’t read, in front of a church he doesn’t attend, invoking laws he doesn’t understand, against fellow Americans he sees as enemies, wielding a military he dodged serving, to protect power he gained via accepting foreign interference, exploiting fear and anger he loves to stoke, after failing to address a pandemic he was warned about, and building it all on a bed of constant lies and childish insanity.”
“A book he hasn’t read”? As someone who has read the Bible regularly, including all the way through at least thrice, I do find it odd that there isn’t something that stands out for him. The stories, such as Joseph in Egypt, or Noah and the flood, or Danel in the lion’s den. Some Jesus story or maybe the Beatitudes. How about a Psalm or two?
A few of his favorite commandments?
Did he read it, but not understand? I’m thinking about for example the 10 Commandments. “You shall have no other gods before me.” What does that mean today? “An idol is anything or anyone other than God that we allow to drive our lives.” I nominate Twitter as his god.
“You shall not make for yourself a graven image.” He has always erecting altars to himself. “His name, emblazoned on every building he builds, reminds all who see it what Donald Trump thinks of himself.”
“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.” My wife’s favorite scripture is Micah 6:8. “What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” He does none of those things. And he’s a vulgarian to boot.
“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.” He demands houses of worship be opened, then goes golfing.
“Honor your father and your mother.” He reveres his father, but his mother, not so much. His “immigration ban and border security measures fly in the face of the freedom that his own mother celebrated by immigrating to the United States. He dishonors her memory when he attempts to shut down immigration, belittle and bully those who clean and cook for his hotels and withhold wages from those who perform vital work for his projects.”
And a few more…
“You shall not kill.” He famously said he could stand in the middle Of Fifth Avenue, shoot somebody, and not lose any voters. Moreover, his lawyer claimed he would not be prosecuted. Worse, though, has been his response to the environment, COVID-19, racism, plus his general corruption is killing people.
“You shall not commit adultery.” He seems pleased of his marital infidelity and blatantly sexist tendencies.
“You shall not steal.” From his phony charities to his violation of the emoluments clause, he’s always ripping off others. This goes back to when he would burn subcontractors on building contracts.
“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” He lies at least 23 times a day. And ” he seems impervious to the threat of detection or harsh public opinion.”
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house, nor his wife, his man-servant, his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.” He seems to crave the power that dictators have. But he also preoccupied with Barack Obama. He wants his inaugural crowd size, his popular vote victory, and so much more.
I recommend that he actual DO the reading he claims.
I cannot argue with any of the things you’ve brought up. He certainly doesn’t look like someone who follows Christ. But, in my opinion, there are a lot of politicians who say they do and act differently. When Ms. Pelosi stood in front of the camera and pulled a partial quote out of Ecclesiastes, I wondered if she had ever actually read the book or understood it’s underlying meaning. And, then I think about Judah who certainly didn’t look like a follower of faith when he sold his brother, Joseph, into slavery and lied about it to Jacob; when he unfairly judged Tamar when it was actually God who took his sons lives for their wickedness; when he slept with a supposed prostitute (Tamar) and then judged her again for becoming pregnant before knowing whose children she was carrying. How many commandments did Judah routinely break during his lifetime? And don’t even get me started on Jacob! And through all this dysfunction and bad behavior, God chose Judah and his descendants to change the world and bless the nations. We are not privy to God’s plans or who he uses for his purpose. The bible does not have a lot of stellar examples of people with high character. Instead it’s a book for and about broken people who God uses to advance his glory. I think that continues in this day and age as well. Every one of us are accountable for our actions….and the intent of our hearts.
Lisa – I wouldn’t necessarily argue your points. But I don’t get to vote for Nancy Pelosi or Mitch McConnell.
As you WELL know, the “heroes” in the Bible are often flawed. Jacob stealing his brother’s birthright. At least a couple folks (Abram was one) lying that their wives were their sister. And David sends off a guy to his death so he could have his wife. (All of this I know YOU know.) Mysterious ways, indeed.