Tag Archives: Truth

Politics

Everyone Could See that Trump is a Liar and a Wannabe Dictator in the Debate

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Donald Trump lost big in his debate with Kamala Harris when, among other things, he rambled about Joe Biden not being president, that everyone attending Harris’s rallies are paid actors, and that immigrants eat cats and dogs in the small town of Springfield, Ohio.

The latter was corrected by the debate moderator, who said that Springfield’s authorities have denied this, but Trump protested like a five-year-old and shouted, “I saw it on television!!”

The most bizarre part of the debate, however, was when Trump boasted that a dictator likes him. Kamala Harris had just pointed out that Trump tried to undemocratically hold onto power after he lost the 2020 election like a dictator and that even people who worked with him called him a “disgrace.” And how did Trump respond?

“Viktor Orbán, one of the most respected men—they call him a ‘strongman’—he’s a tough person, smart… He said: You need Trump back as president.”

For normal people, it’s not a good sign when a racist dictator who persecutes journalists and condemns “mixed-race nations” endorses you, but Trump is incredibly impressed by dictators and wants to be like them. Kamala Harris pointed out: “These dictators and autocrats are rooting for you to be president again… You adore strongmen instead of caring about democracy.”

This is far from the first time Trump has praised a dictator and expressed himself in an anti-democratic way:

Trump praised President Xi in China for consolidating power in order to become president for life, saying he wanted to try the same thing.[1]

Trump has repeatedly “joked” about serving longer than the legal limit of two terms.[2]

Trump has repeatedly praised authoritarian leaders, including Putin, Duterte, Erdogan, el-Sisi, and Orbán.[3]

Trump praised the brutal dictator Kim Jong Un, calling him “strong, funny, and smart.”[4]

At a G7 summit, President Trump loudly asked, “Where’s my favorite dictator?” while waiting for the Egyptian dictator.[5]

Trump has defended those who stormed the Capitol to prevent Joe Biden from being democratically elected and said he would pardon them if he becomes president again.[6]

Trump has looked up to the sky and declared that he is “the chosen one.”[7]

Trump shared a tweet in which he was called the King of Israel and the Second Coming of God, and he thanked them for the compliment.[8]

Trump has explicitly written that the U.S. Constitution should be suspended to prevent him from losing elections.[9]

Trump told his supporters that they wouldn’t need to vote again after this election.[10]

Recently, Trump has repeatedly said that he would “only” be a dictator on day one if he’s re-elected and would use presidential power dictatorially to get revenge on his political enemies.[11]

He also recently claimed that all his political enemies will be arrested when he comes to power.[12]

Trump is the greatest threat to U.S. democracy we have ever seen. Let us pray and act so that he loses big in November!

Micael Grenholm is a Swedish church historian, author and an editor for PCPJ.

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Pentecostals & Charismatics for Peace & Justice is a multicultural, gender inclusive, and ecumenical organization that promotes peace, justice, and reconciliation work among Pentecostal and Charismatic Christians around the world. If you like what we do, please become a member!

References:

  1. Deutsche Welle – US President Donald Trump praises China’s Xi Jinping for consolidating grip on power
  2. CNN – Donald Trump just keeps ‘joking’ about serving more than 2 terms as president
  3. The Atlantic – Nine Notorious Dictators, Nine Shout-Outs From Donald Trump
  4. Fox News – Trump praises Kim Jong Un as ‘strong,’ ‘funny,’ ‘smart’ and a ‘great negotiator’ in Hannity interview
  5. Wall Street Journal – Trump, Awaiting Egyptian Counterpart at Summit, Called Out for ‘My Favorite Dictator’
  6. The Guardian – Trump says pardoning Capitol attackers will be one of his first acts if elected again
  7. BBC – President Trump: ‘I am the chosen one’
  8. CBS – Trump tweets quote calling him the “second coming of God” to Jews in Israel
  9. Fox News – Why Trump’s ‘termination’ of Constitution, demanding reinstatement or do-over, has set off alarms
  10. The Guardian – Donald Trump repeats controversial ‘You won’t have to vote any more’ claim
  11. Associated Press – Trump’s vow to only be a dictator on ‘day one’ follows growing worry over his authoritarian rhetoric
  12. NBC – Trump is increasingly vowing to prosecute political foes and others he says are ‘corrupt’ if he wins
Politics, Spirituality

Evangelical Hypocrisy extends far beyond Jerry Falwell Jr.

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I’m sad to say that I wasn’t surprised when I saw that Jerry Falwell Jr. resigns as the president of Liberty University after posting a sexual photo from his yacht on social media and allegedly having approved of an extramarital affair between his wife and a business partner (including watching from a corner while they were having sex).

The allegations concerning the bizarre sex games are disputed, but the photo alone gave Liberty University enough reason to question Falwell’s leadership, as the evangelical university has some very strict guidelines concerning sexuality, dress code and alcohol consumption (Falwell is holding a drink in the photo, writing in the caption “I promise it’s just black water in my glass”).

If a student at Liberty University had posted the same photo, the consequences would likely have been more than $9,000 in school fines and 900 hours of required service, and possible expulsion.

There’s one word that people keeps coming back to when describing this situation: hypocrisy. The very thing that Jesus warned his disciples against over and over again. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy”, the Lord said. “There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.” (Luke 12:1-2). Continue reading Evangelical Hypocrisy extends far beyond Jerry Falwell Jr. →

Politics

Blessed Are the Leakers

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by Bob Ekblad. Originally published at his blog, reposted with permission.

Followers of Jesus have a spiritual obligation to bring into the light offenses or injustices otherwise hidden from sight. While discernment is certainly needed in knowing how and when to speak, prohibiting leaks is like silencing the prophets, who in Scripture carried out a function in Israel similar yet far beyond that of WikiLeaks or the best investigative journalism.

Jesus himself taught: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled,” affirming all who long for truth and justice. This hunger and thirst will lead us to walk in the light ourselves through personal confession and repentance, and also to expose injustices that affect the vulnerable.

Think of confession of sin as the exposure of our own hidden secret attitudes and actions that the Holy Spirit brings up. The Spirit sounds our hearts, “leaking” our sins into our conscious awareness, bringing conviction and inviting confession, renunciation and new, life-giving choices. Continue reading Blessed Are the Leakers →

Spirituality

Hearing God’s Truth in Silence

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For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.  – 1 Cor 2:11

Hi. I’m (almost) 28 years old, I grew up in a Christian family, up until this day I have been part of six (!) different Pentecostal and Baptist churches, visited a lot more. A few years ago I took a one-and-a-half-year break from church life to retreat, refocus, re-scrutinize my life of faith. Oh, the questions from my brothers and sisters I had to answer during that time. I didn’t necessarily intend to go back to church life the way I was used to it (I did, but that is a different story). So, I really had a time off.

It felt like quitting an unwanted job, finishing school or ending a friendship that was no good to you. Suddenly there was a relief, like an invisible burden had been taken off of me. Which made me wonder what kind of burden I have dealt with. Such a big one, I know now.

Growing up in a Christian environment, I considered myself a spiritual person that is used to take part in church life. I attended Sunday service, ministered in worship, prayer, preaching, painting, cooking, cleaning, smiling, shaking hands… countless sermons I’ve heard, courses, classes, groups, I’ve attended. Nice things, you know. They helped me a lot along the way. Continue reading Hearing God’s Truth in Silence →