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| What does God think of Trump? |
Critics of the president continually react with exasperation and it seems fruitless. Maybe a virus has been going around entering the brains of conservatives and Republicans. If we're comparing schools and churches on the practicality scale for re-opening, shouldn't we consider that older people are far more vulnerable than kids? Even this assumption is not rock solid as we see this headline on Drudge: "Cases of kids hospitalized with inflammatory syndrome growing fast."
Politicians cannot restore normal order in American life by fiat or proclamation. We'll discover the Trump base is a smaller minority than we think, as we observe people's actions. Defying the so-called "Trump haters" is one thing, self-preservation is another. A decree will not erase the bad things that are happening, because people have instincts. They'll applaud some of the Trump rhetoric, then they'll make sure they personally do things to ensure health and safety.
As long as we're discussing the average brainpan of these people, let's try to assess what religion really is. Most any pastor will tell you it's not the building. People remain totally free to develop their own spiritual thoughts and commitments. The "done with church" movement reminds us that our legacy (long-time) religious customs come from a time when the local pastor might be the best-educated person in the community. We needed inspiration and education from an in-person leader who held forth Sunday morning. Not so true today. Today the Internet is an asset that provides succor for anyone seeking personal religious answers.
What niche for church?
People in common labor jobs - they sucked, right? - probably liked church as a relief valve. Those jobs have faded. None of this is to say that church isn't still nice. I have judged church to be like a weekly "home base." It's a weekly reminder of our better side, our better traits. It's a weekly opportunity away from one's normal regimen, to assess where you're at in life.
The fellowship? I have mixed thoughts on that. Church can reinforce "cliques" in any community. Because of my wariness about that, I have long suggested that my church of First Lutheran be totally in league with Faith Lutheran, the other ELCA church. One Sunday morning when some people at coffee hour were casting about for possible new faces on the council - ahem, yours truly mentioned - I said my top agenda item would be to promote a feeling of oneness between First and Faith. We need to reinforce each other in this time when politics has reared its head in such an ugly way in Christianity. The Trump-ites are loud.
I'd argue that my church is an oasis away from that. Our critics would say we're part of the problem in that we embrace "liberal" ideas. Eat your heart out, man. Keep cheering for those Trump rallies on TV. Nothing we can do to stop you. We can try to mobilize and get new political leadership in America, for example a new younger generation of female leaders. We can hope for this - and I'll suggest pray - but there's hardly any guarantee. Trump is going to use every fiber of his being, complemented by the power of Bill Barr, to get an edge as election-time nears. Suppress mail-in balloting. Oh, and the big new Howitzer: threaten the withholding of Federal funds to states who irritate him in some way.
Trump makes statements that are prima facie ignorant. I as a mere online writer would blush doing this - and no matter, all the throngs of people with virus-infected brains (allegedly) cheer like heck. "Make America great again." Where did all these people come from? And now they hear their leader say church is "essential" and he'll wield his power like a hammer regarding it? Shouldn't we be scared of so much power consolidated in Washington D.C.? Isn't this a slippery slope to dictatorial rule? Will the Trump rallies someday be viewed through a lens just like the Nuremberg rallies?
Of course, if Trump and his following win the cultural battles, they'll be able to define what is "good." I personally just make assumptions about what is good. Then again, I don't have the brain virus.
Having a spiritual side and spiritual commitment might be judged "essential." Might be. But the building, the paid church staff and the formal services? Oh heck no. We read that the actual virus is invading Trump country. It's in Monument Valley, "symbol of the American West." I researched about Monument Valley after seeing the movie "The Last Wagon" with Richard Widmark. I wrote about it.
Skip the food on a stick
Drudge tells us that our Minnesota State Fair is canceled. Lordy! I'm embarrassed to say I haven't been there since about 1980, so long ago I remember seeing Rodney Dangerfield at the grandstand. He was in his big run after the movie "Caddyshack." I remember he got irritated with the crowd. The crowd became rambunctious and silly - lots of my generation there.
I have heard that the fairgrounds crowd has gotten so thick, people are literally shoulder to shoulder.
I suppose Trump fans are going to be upset hearing the news about the State Fair. Will they really go to church again starting this Sunday, as Trump has directed everyone to do? Obviously church is a gathering place for older people - bless them. Hey, I'm 65. I'd love to go again. But haven't you heard: even if you don't die from the virus, it's no picnic to endure. It can do lots of weird things to you. You shouldn't want any of your loved ones to take the slightest risk, n'est-ce pas?
But Trump assumes his bully pulpit and says he'll take action against states that try to limit in-person church. So again I'm writing about religion, would prefer not to really. Someone needs to issue a clarion call. But I wouldn't serve on a church council. My old friend the late Glen Helberg said "Brian, if you ever serve on a church council, you'll find that it's all about money."
- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com
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