You have heard it said, love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say unto you: Love your enemies. Do good to those who mistreat you. —Jesus of Nazareth
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Today is a great day for Christians and for children who love jellybeans and magical tales. Once upon a time, overwhelming hatred killed a good man, but overwhelming love brought him back to life. Bunnies hop hither and yon, spreading the joyful news.
Faith, hope, and love abide. But the greatest of these is love.
(Someone needs to tell the US Secretary of Holy Crusades.)
Today is Easter. According to orthodox Christianity, Jesus was crucified, dead, and buried, and on the third day rose from the tomb, bodily.
You can be a Christian without believing that. You just can’t be an evangelical Christian.
And that’s okay.
Many Christians aren’t evangelical, orthodox, or even theist. Many are pantheists, humanists, or agnostics. Many believe that God is being itself, not a being. Most Christians believe God is love and just leave it at that.
St. Francis, St. Clare of Assisi, William Wilberforce, Corrie ten Boom, Florence Nightingale, Mary “Mother” Jones, Rosa Parks, Bishop Tutu, Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King Jr., Jimmy Carter, James Talarico.
None of those people are Christian nationalists.
Pete Hegseth is.
He’s also a jerk.
He takes God’s name in vain. He takes Christ’s name in vain. He takes America’s name in vain. He’s wicked. He’s blasphemous. He’s dangerous.
He delights in war, violence, and vengeance without mercy. He struts. He gloats. He bloviates.
He and his type deserve to be obliterated from the face of the earth. But that’s not gonna happen. God is too good for that. And that’s a shame.
If I could, I’d redirect Hegseth’s March 22nd Pentagon worship service prayer. My prayer would target him and his ungodly minions. The whole damn lot. All in the powerful name of Jesus, to boot!
Almighty God, who trains our hands for war, behold now the wicked who rise against your justice and the peace of the righteous. Snap the rod of the oppressor, frustrate the wicked plans, and break the teeth of the ungodly. Pour out your wrath upon those who plot vain things. Blow them away like chaff before the wind. We ask these things in the mighty and powerful name of Jesus Christ, King over all kings.
If Jesus overheard Hegseth’s prayer, he’d be sick to his stomach.
But Jesus being Jesus, he still loves Pete. Good for Jesus. I can’t get there.
Come to think of it: I’m not a Christian.
Not yet.
